4GB memory

Is it true that to use 4GB memory you need 64 bit Vista?

Thank you,

Hi,

Essentially, yes. The 32-bit version has 4GB of address space, but a portion
of that will be used for the hardware. Typically, this is about .7-1.2GB,
leaving 2.8-3.3GB of address space for the installed physical memory.

With SP1 installed, the system will report the correct amount of installed
memory, but this does not change the limitations imposed by the available
address space.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"JBrown" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Is it true that to use 4GB memory you need 64 bit Vista?
>
> Thank you,

On Sun, 14 Dec 2008 11:35:41 -0500, "JBrown" <>
wrote:

> Is it true that to use 4GB memory you need 64 bit Vista?



Yes. Two points:

1. All 32-bit client versions of Windows (not just Vista/XP) have a
4GB address space. That's the theoretical upper limit beyond which you
can not go.

But you can't use the entire 4GB of address space. Even though you
have a 4GB address space, you can only use *around* 3.1GB of RAM.
That's because some of that space is used by hardware and is not
available to the operating system and applications. The amount you can
use varies, depending on what hardware you have installed, but can
range from as little as 2GB to as much as 3.5GB. It's usually around
3.1GB.

Note that the hardware is using the address *space*, not the actual
RAM itself. The rest of the RAM goes unused because there is no
address space to map it too.

2. For most users of Vista, that average value of 3.1GB is as much RAM
or even more RAM than most people can make effective use of. Unless
you run particularly memory-hungry programs, installing more RAM than
that does next to nothing for you and is a waste of money.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

"[signious] ^ 2" <> wrote in message
news:49456e78$...
>> It's usually around 3.1GB
>
> wrong, its usually around 3.3 GB
>
> range is 3.1 to 3.5
>


Wrong.
That would be the median.
Not the mean.

"[signious] ^ 2" <> wrote in message
news:494573d4$...
> what I say is based on experience looking at many many many computers
>
> you need a graphic card with more than 512 mb to go as low as 3.1
>
> and how many have more than 512? not so many......
>


That may be true.
Yet you gave a range....then a deduced 3.3.
You are mathmatecically challenged ... as you gave a median ...not an
average.
You would need a proven sampling size based on a population in the 100's of
millions.
You don't wanna play statistics with me.

"Claude Hopper" <> wrote in message
news: ...
> JatCar wrote:
>> if you want windows to USE more than 3.3-3.5 gigs or ram, yes you need to
>> switch to 64 bit
>>
>> however if you have installed 4 gb on vista sp1 it will work but it will
>> use about 3.3 of those
>>
>> "JBrown" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>> Is it true that to use 4GB memory you need 64 bit Vista?
>>>
>>> Thank you,
>>
>
> That's retarded in this day and age. There should be no RAM limits.


My PC has 6000 GB of RAM.
Yet I can only address 3 of 'em.
Get a book.
You can read, yes ?
try calculating what 8-bit, 16-bit ,32-bit, 64-bit means.
Then learn decimal, binary, and hexadecimal number systems.

Then relax.

Claude Hopper <> wrote:
>
>>> Is it true that to use 4GB memory you need 64 bit Vista?
>>
>> if you want windows to USE more than 3.3-3.5 gigs or ram, yes you need to
>> switch to 64 bit
>>
>> however if you have installed 4 gb on vista sp1 it will work but it will
>> use about 3.3 of those
>>
>
> That's retarded in this day and age. There should be no RAM limits.


Yeah! And why don't they print more money? Then we all can be rich!

ss.

The 32 bit edition of Windows Vista will only utilise around 3.3 to 3.5GB of
memory therefore to use more than 3.3/3.5GB you will need the 64 bit
edition.

--

--
John Barnett MVP
Windows XP Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..


"JBrown" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Is it true that to use 4GB memory you need 64 bit Vista?
>
> Thank you,

On Sun, 14 Dec 2008 22:33:02 +0200, "[signious] ^ 2" <>
wrote:

> > It's usually around 3.1GB
>
> wrong, its usually around 3.3 GB
>
> range is 3.1 to 3.5


No, the range, as I said, goes from as little as 2GB to as much as
3.5GB. My estimate of what it usually is an approximation. Whether my
3.1GB or your 3.3GB is right hardly matters, since the difference is
tiny. I think my number is reasonably accurate, since it's what my
experience has shown, but it depends on what hardware is installed and
it's clearly not 100% accurate.



> "Ken Blake, MVP" <> wrote in message
> news:...
> > On Sun, 14 Dec 2008 11:35:41 -0500, "JBrown" <>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> Is it true that to use 4GB memory you need 64 bit Vista?
> >
> >
> >
> > Yes. Two points:
> >
> > 1. All 32-bit client versions of Windows (not just Vista/XP) have a
> > 4GB address space. That's the theoretical upper limit beyond which you
> > can not go.
> >
> > But you can't use the entire 4GB of address space. Even though you
> > have a 4GB address space, you can only use *around* 3.1GB of RAM.
> > That's because some of that space is used by hardware and is not
> > available to the operating system and applications. The amount you can
> > use varies, depending on what hardware you have installed, but can
> > range from as little as 2GB to as much as 3.5GB. It's usually around
> > 3.1GB.
> >
> > Note that the hardware is using the address *space*, not the actual
> > RAM itself. The rest of the RAM goes unused because there is no
> > address space to map it too.
> >
> > 2. For most users of Vista, that average value of 3.1GB is as much RAM
> > or even more RAM than most people can make effective use of. Unless
> > you run particularly memory-hungry programs, installing more RAM than
> > that does next to nothing for you and is a waste of money.
> >
> > --
> > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
> > Please Reply to the Newsgroup

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

"John Barnett MVP" <> wrote in message
news:%...
> The 32 bit edition of Windows Vista will only utilise around 3.3 to 3.5GB
> of memory therefore to use more than 3.3/3.5GB you will need the 64 bit
> edition.
>

And yet ... 64 bit Windows can't possible hand off 4 GB of RAM to 32 bit
applications.

Untill applications catch up ...64 bit Windows is a lone dog with too many
fleas.

So the stupid PC's sold with 8 GB RAM are a cheap scam.