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    How to use extra 1GB RAM on a 4GM RAM XP system?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by MDDZ, Jul 25, 2007.

  1. MDDZ

    MDDZ Notebook Deity

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    I use XP pro and have 4GB RAM. The system only detects 3GB RAM.

    I hope to use that extra 1GB RAM. For example, I would like to put some files there so that the system would be faster to get them instead of going to the hard drive for them. Is this somethign doable? How?

    I remember I read something like this before in this forum, but failed to find it after search.

    Thanks for your help!
     
    MDDZ, Jul 25, 2007
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  2. GridGI

    GridGI Notebook Consultant

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    This is not possible and you've read about Intel Turbo memory.
     
    GridGI, Jul 25, 2007
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  3. thegsrguy

    thegsrguy Notebook Deity

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    You need to run a 64-bit operating system to use all 4GB.

    Until then, that 1GB is just going to waste.
     
    thegsrguy, Jul 25, 2007
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  4. nurio

    nurio Notebook Guru

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    Check this out: http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/pae/default.mspx
    This is not a perfect solution, I am not sure it is worth it.
    If you really want to have a native 4GB support for your system you need a 64-bit OS as thesrguy suggested, either: Linux, Win XP x64 or Vista 64 (preferably Business / Ultimate). Make sure you have drivers for your system and devices, for instance, I haven't seen any Win XP x64 drivers for Lenovo.

    Regards
     
    nurio, Jul 25, 2007
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  5. MDDZ

    MDDZ Notebook Deity

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    No, I read something about using this extra 1GB on a XP system.
     
    MDDZ, Jul 25, 2007
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  6. GridGI

    GridGI Notebook Consultant

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    Hmm, I've never heard of any other way of putting files on the memory chip to make the system faster instead of using the hard drive.
     
    GridGI, Jul 25, 2007
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  7. thegsrguy

    thegsrguy Notebook Deity

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    The amount of usable memory in 32-bit Windows varies based on the motherboard...some people get 2.75GB, some get 3GB, some get more. It has to do with how your memory controller allocates the RAM.
     
    thegsrguy, Jul 25, 2007
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  8. nurio

    nurio Notebook Guru

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    You are absolutely right, but based on his signature he has a T61 (Santa Rosa), which support 4GB and therefore the only limitation is the 32 operating system. From what I have heard, with PAE (See the link in my previous post) can have more than 4GB supported on a 32 bit Windows XP. I have never tried it and I also heard that it is a mixed bag!
     
    nurio, Jul 25, 2007
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  9. MDDZ

    MDDZ Notebook Deity

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    Thanks for the info. It is really helpful. It is something I wanted to see.

    I found the page I was looking for and it was about RAMDisk
    http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=138423&page=2

    It seems that RAMDisk uses memory from within the 3GB my XP detects, unlike the information you provided.
     
    MDDZ, Jul 25, 2007
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