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  3. Quick 4Gb RAM Question...

Quick 4Gb RAM Question...

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  • J Jon Rista

    Well, a 32bit system can only address up to 4Gigs total. That means that windows has no option but to map ALL memory from everything, including bios, any other ROMs, and yes, even video memory, onto that full 4Gb of address space. Its usually system dependent, but if you have a 512Meg video card, you'll get anywhere from 3.15 to 3.4 gigs of usable memory. If you have other periferals plugged into the motherboard, they may also have their own memory...and your available system memory will be reduced even more. There is a feature...called PAE (Physical Address Extension), that MIGHT be able to 'extend' your 4Gb a little farther by changing how periferals are mapped by sort of sharing some address space until sharing isn't possible. There is no guarantee it will work, and if you make heavy use of all the devices with memory at the same time, the dynamic mapping will have no recourse but to consume the full amount for all other sources of memory plugged into your system. Use the following command to enable PAE: BCDEdit /set PAE forceenable

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    Stuart Dootson
    wrote on last edited by
    #11

    Jon Rista wrote:

    There is a feature...called PAE (Physical Address Extension), that MIGHT be able to 'extend' your 4Gb a little farther by changing how periferals are mapped by sort of sharing some address space until sharing isn't possible

    It doesn't - at least on 32-bit XP - we were trying that at work this week and we still only got 3.25GB rather than 4GB.

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    • S Stuart Dootson

      Jon Rista wrote:

      There is a feature...called PAE (Physical Address Extension), that MIGHT be able to 'extend' your 4Gb a little farther by changing how periferals are mapped by sort of sharing some address space until sharing isn't possible

      It doesn't - at least on 32-bit XP - we were trying that at work this week and we still only got 3.25GB rather than 4GB.

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      Jorgen Andersson
      wrote on last edited by
      #12

      It's only implemented for advanced and datacenter servers.

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      • J Jorgen Andersson

        It's only implemented for advanced and datacenter servers.

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        Stuart Dootson
        wrote on last edited by
        #13

        Jörgen Andersson wrote:

        It's only implemented for advanced and datacenter servers

        That's not what Microsoft say[^] - and certainly the computer properties dialog said that PAE was active.

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        • S Stuart Dootson

          Jörgen Andersson wrote:

          It's only implemented for advanced and datacenter servers

          That's not what Microsoft say[^] - and certainly the computer properties dialog said that PAE was active.

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          Jorgen Andersson
          wrote on last edited by
          #14

          I stand corrected. What I meant to say is that it only allows you to access more than 4GB on advanced and datacenter server. On the other versions it is implemented for compatibility reasons, but it won't allow you to access more memory.

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          • J Jorgen Andersson

            I stand corrected. What I meant to say is that it only allows you to access more than 4GB on advanced and datacenter server. On the other versions it is implemented for compatibility reasons, but it won't allow you to access more memory.

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            Jon Rista
            wrote on last edited by
            #15

            It doesn't allow you to access "more" than 4GB at all...it just optimizes how devices are mapped onto the 4GB space to minimize waste, and overlap/share the same space when possible.

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            • M Miszou

              If I have a machine with 4GB RAM and 512MB Video RAM, should I use a 32-bit or 64-bit Operating System? That is all, thank you. ;)

              The StartPage Randomizer - The Windows Cheerleader - Twitter

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              El Corazon
              wrote on last edited by
              #16

              Miszou wrote:

              32-bit or 64-bit Operating System?

              which operating system?

              _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb) John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others."

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              • M Member 96

                I've been using a 64bit windows xp pro as a host for my virtual 32 bit machines I work on and to be honest I don't think I'd install a 64bit os again unless it becomes the standard. There is no appreciable difference in speed for all the little weirdnesses you have to contend with.


                "It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it." -Sam Levenson

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                El Corazon
                wrote on last edited by
                #17

                video editing, photo touch ups, compression, all are faster in 64bit native. but 32bit software on 64bit ends up the same.

                _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb) John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others."

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                • E El Corazon

                  video editing, photo touch ups, compression, all are faster in 64bit native. but 32bit software on 64bit ends up the same.

                  _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb) John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others."

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                  Member 96
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #18

                  Well I've only personally used it for photo touch ups and compression and found no difference at all other than half the tools won't register as a shell option when you click on that file type with their 64 bit versions. Theoretically faster perhaps, stopwatch or noticeably faster...not in my experience.


                  "It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it." -Sam Levenson

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                  • M Member 96

                    Well I've only personally used it for photo touch ups and compression and found no difference at all other than half the tools won't register as a shell option when you click on that file type with their 64 bit versions. Theoretically faster perhaps, stopwatch or noticeably faster...not in my experience.


                    "It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it." -Sam Levenson

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                    El Corazon
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #19

                    John C wrote:

                    Theoretically faster perhaps, stopwatch or noticeably faster...not in my experience.

                    in larger memory activities, still below the 4gig, it is about 10% +-. So if the activity takes 10 minutes you notice it a lot better than if the activity is 10 seconds. Thus you really have to be using large files for compression, or heavy memory use settings for compression, or touch ups that involve significant movements of memory. These are generally advanced activities, but they are definitely stop-watch and noticeably faster. of course above the 4gig boundary there can no longer be any comparison.

                    _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb) John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others."

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                    • M Miszou

                      If I have a machine with 4GB RAM and 512MB Video RAM, should I use a 32-bit or 64-bit Operating System? That is all, thank you. ;)

                      The StartPage Randomizer - The Windows Cheerleader - Twitter

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                      Rocky Moore
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #20

                      If you are talking about Vista or Windows 7 and you have 64 bit CPU, go 64 bit. No real reason for 32 bit unless you have some old DOS programs :) As for speed though, you will not notice much of a difference unless you are running 64 bit apps. Some of Microsoft's server apps are now moving 64 bit.

                      Rocky <>< Recent Blog Post: Doughboy – R.I.P. Thinking about Silverlight? www.SilverlightCity.com

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