Memory limit

CableDude · Post by **CableDude** » Thu Sep 09, 2010 8:54 pm

Have I been wrong all these last few years. I was under the impression that the 32-bit version of Vista Business would only see up to 3 GB even though I have 4 installed?

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Thu Sep 09, 2010 9:08 pm

CableDude wrote:Have I been wrong all these last few years. I was under the impression that the 32-bit version of Vista Business would only see up to 3 GB even though I have 4 installed?

It will use I think 3.25 of the 4, it will display 4 but not use it all.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Thu Sep 09, 2010 9:16 pm

Depending on your hardware and other variables like certain drivers, a 32 bit OS will usually see and use between 3.0 to 3.6 out of 4 gigs. I suppose if you have some insane graphics card setup with over a gig of RAM you can get the OS usable RAM to dip down below 3 gigs. The amount of RAM on your graphics card causes a big variable on this...plus memory addresses for all of the rest of the hardware on your system, motherboard, etc.

Note that some manufactures still customize system drivers do that device manager may indeed show you all 4.0 gigs (so people won't freak out or wonder if they got ripped off)...but your OS won't be able to utilize it all.

CableDude · Post by **CableDude** » Thu Sep 09, 2010 9:39 pm

I will let you guys know what it says in the system properties tomorrow.

The only reason I brought this up was because a tech said the 32-bit would see all 4 GB.

CableDude · Post by **CableDude** » Thu Sep 09, 2010 9:42 pm

Just remoted to my win 7 32-bit.

4 GB installed (3.21 usable)

CableDude · Post by **CableDude** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 6:07 pm

The Vista Business ones show up as

4 GB Memory.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 6:22 pm

I unbuckled a new laptop for a client today, Dell Latitude 15" model, Win7 32, i5, 4 gigs, it showed 3.41 usable.

CableDude · Post by **CableDude** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 6:44 pm

CableDude wrote:Just remoted to my win 7 32-bit.

4 GB installed (3.21 usable)

That's off my Dell Optiplex... Setup by me.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 2:43 pm

Setting up some new Dell Latitude 4310 laptops I got in for a client today, Win7 32 bit, showing 4.00 GB (3.43 GB usable) in system properties.

terrancelam · Post by **terrancelam** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 4:45 am

CableDude wrote:I will let you guys know what it says in the system properties tomorrow.

The only reason I brought this up was because a tech said the 32-bit would see all 4 GB.

ur tech needs his certs updated. Or the very least some more experience with 32bit vs 64bit. I think YOS said it all, no 32bit os will see more than 4gb (which includes Windows XP, Vista or 7 in any flavour of home/professional/business). 64bit is great for new stuff, but sucks when it comes to be compatible with older software (i.e Acrobat Pro 7 doesn't work well with Windows 7 64bit)

Ken · Post by **Ken** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 12:29 pm

This article explains the tech aspects of the restrictions... (I couldn't remember where I had read it, but I finally found it!)

In a 32-bit computer, the memory addresses are 32 bits long and stored as binary (base 2) numbers. There are approximately 4 billion possible different 32-bit binary numbers (2^32=4,294,967,296). Because of this, there is a 4GB limit for addressable memory in a 32-bit computer.

http://www.petri.co.il/pagefile_optimization.htm