Total memory in XP pro sp3

My friend wants to install an additional 2 GB of memory in her Dell
XPS 600 which has 2 GB already installed. The manual for her
computer says it only supports 2 GB for Windows XP SP3 with 32 bit
system. My Dell Dimension 8400 manual says it supports 4 GB memory
for Windows XP MCE SP3 with 32 bit. Why do they support different
amounts of memory?

Because that is the way the motherboard was designed( the Windows XP
32-bit part is immaterial). Why was it designed that why? You would need
to ask Dell.

granjan wrote:
> My friend wants to install an additional 2 GB of memory in her Dell
> XPS 600 which has 2 GB already installed. The manual for her
> computer says it only supports 2 GB for Windows XP SP3 with 32 bit
> system. My Dell Dimension 8400 manual says it supports 4 GB memory
> for Windows XP MCE SP3 with 32 bit. Why do they support different
> amounts of memory?
>
>

Okay...thanks for your reply. Seems really crazy to me but what do
I know. :-)

"Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:OitIjofRKHA.1280@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
: Because that is the way the motherboard was designed( the Windows
XP
: 32-bit part is immaterial). Why was it designed that why? You
would need
: to ask Dell.
:
: granjan wrote:
: > My friend wants to install an additional 2 GB of memory in her
Dell
: > XPS 600 which has 2 GB already installed. The manual for her
: > computer says it only supports 2 GB for Windows XP SP3 with 32
bit
: > system. My Dell Dimension 8400 manual says it supports 4 GB
memory
: > for Windows XP MCE SP3 with 32 bit. Why do they support
different
: > amounts of memory?
: >
: >
:

As Bob I said it's a motherboard design issue.
But I doubt even if it did support 4GB your friend
would see any improvements.

--
JS
http://www.pagestart.com



"granjan" <me@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:errRQgfRKHA.1268@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> My friend wants to install an additional 2 GB of memory in her Dell
> XPS 600 which has 2 GB already installed. The manual for her
> computer says it only supports 2 GB for Windows XP SP3 with 32 bit
> system. My Dell Dimension 8400 manual says it supports 4 GB memory
> for Windows XP MCE SP3 with 32 bit. Why do they support different
> amounts of memory?
>
>

granjan wrote:
> My friend wants to install an additional 2 GB of memory in her Dell
> XPS 600 which has 2 GB already installed. The manual for her
> computer says it only supports 2 GB for Windows XP SP3 with 32 bit
> system. My Dell Dimension 8400 manual says it supports 4 GB memory
> for Windows XP MCE SP3 with 32 bit. Why do they support different
> amounts of memory?

None of it really matters - if you (or your friend) are not using the memory
you currently have - purchasing more memory will do nothing for you.

First off - Windows XP 32-bit only 'supports' up to 4GB - and it won't even
make all that available to you. You'll end up with between 2.75GB and 3.5GB
available for use.

Second - it is highly unlikely you (or your friend) are even coming close to
using 2GB of memory - much less 4GB. Memory is not going to speed up your
computer if you are not already using the maximum level now. Unless you
edit videos, render 3D graphics or do some heavy calculations - it is
unlikely you even use 1GB.

Anyway - www.crucial.com...

Dell XPS 600
http://www.crucial.com/store/listpar...odel=XPS%20600
8GB maximum - but would need a 64-bit OS to utilize more than 2.75-3.5GB
anyway - which, again - it is unlikely you are even using 1GB.

Dell Dimension 8400 (Media Center Edition)
http://www.crucial.com/store/listpar...ia%20Center%29
4GB maximum - but would need a 64-bit OS to utilize more than 2.75-3.5GB
anyway - which, again - it is unlikely you are even using 1GB.

You sure on that model number for your friend?

As for your direct question - don't overthink. You said they were different
models - there's your answer.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

granjan wrote:
> My friend wants to install an additional 2 GB of memory in her Dell
> XPS 600 which has 2 GB already installed. The manual for her
> computer says it only supports 2 GB for Windows XP SP3 with 32 bit
> system. My Dell Dimension 8400 manual says it supports 4 GB memory
> for Windows XP MCE SP3 with 32 bit. Why do they support different
> amounts of memory?
>
>

The warning is repeated on the Crucial web site as well.

http://www.crucial.com/store/listpar...odel=XPS%20600

The limitation seems to be for real. (Max 2GB in WinXP 32 bit.)

http://en.community.dell.com/forums/...l=en&cs=&s=gen

My guess is, this is related to the BIOS design. There are other
(retail) brands of motherboards, using the Nforce4 SLI Intel chipset,
which don't have that memory limitation. I don't think we can blame
Nvidia for this.

I checked around the Dell forums, and it doesn't look like anyone
has managed to defeat that limitation.

Paul

What seems crazy? They can design around whatever memory type and amount
they believe will satisfy a price point. People buying computers
should review the specs if they are concerned about future upgrades.

granjan wrote:

> Okay...thanks for your reply. Seems really crazy to me but what do
> I know. :-)
>
> "Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:OitIjofRKHA.1280@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> : Because that is the way the motherboard was designed( the Windows
> XP
> : 32-bit part is immaterial). Why was it designed that why? You
> would need
> : to ask Dell.
> :
> : granjan wrote:
> : > My friend wants to install an additional 2 GB of memory in her
> Dell
> : > XPS 600 which has 2 GB already installed. The manual for her
> : > computer says it only supports 2 GB for Windows XP SP3 with 32
> bit
> : > system. My Dell Dimension 8400 manual says it supports 4 GB
> memory
> : > for Windows XP MCE SP3 with 32 bit. Why do they support
> different
> : > amounts of memory?
> : >
> : >
> :
>
>

On Oct 5, 9:11*pm, "granjan" <m...@nowhere.com> wrote:
> My friend wants to install an additional 2 GB of memory in her Dell
> XPS 600 which has 2 GB already installed. The manual for her
> computer says it only supports 2 GB for Windows XP SP3 with 32 bit
> system. *My Dell Dimension 8400 manual says it supports 4 GB memory
> for Windows XP MCE SP3 with 32 bit. *Why do they support different
> amounts of memory?

Windows XP Home is limited to 2 GB of RAM (Microsoft's decision.)

Windows XP Professional is supposed to be limited to 4GB of RAM

Windows MCE is a "tweaked" verison of Windows XP Pro for enhanced
video playing and TV. Since it is based on XP Pro, it gets the XP Pro
limit.

However, all these different RAM sizes are "moot" since these are
based on 32 bit processor coding and at most your will get 3.25 to 3.5
GB of RAM. This is the extreme limit because of most 32 bit
processors are limited to this.

(Only the limited Windows XP Pro 64bit can start to use the 4GB of
RAM. However, support / drivers are very limited.)

Thanks to all of you for the good information. I guess that settles
that question...she has to stick with 2 GB.

"smlunatick" <yveslec@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:56a6042a-a8c0-4380-b59d-b1aac66a5b31@v20g2000vbs.googlegroups.com...
On Oct 5, 9:11 pm, "granjan" <m...@nowhere.com> wrote:
> My friend wants to install an additional 2 GB of memory in her
> Dell
> XPS 600 which has 2 GB already installed. The manual for her
> computer says it only supports 2 GB for Windows XP SP3 with 32 bit
> system. My Dell Dimension 8400 manual says it supports 4 GB memory
> for Windows XP MCE SP3 with 32 bit. Why do they support different
> amounts of memory?

Windows XP Home is limited to 2 GB of RAM (Microsoft's decision.)

Windows XP Professional is supposed to be limited to 4GB of RAM

Windows MCE is a "tweaked" verison of Windows XP Pro for enhanced
video playing and TV. Since it is based on XP Pro, it gets the XP
Pro
limit.

However, all these different RAM sizes are "moot" since these are
based on 32 bit processor coding and at most your will get 3.25 to
3.5
GB of RAM. This is the extreme limit because of most 32 bit
processors are limited to this.

(Only the limited Windows XP Pro 64bit can start to use the 4GB of
RAM. However, support / drivers are very limited.)

smlunatick wrote:
> On Oct 5, 9:11 pm, "granjan" <m...@nowhere.com> wrote:
>
>>My friend wants to install an additional 2 GB of memory in her Dell
>>XPS 600 which has 2 GB already installed. The manual for her
>>computer says it only supports 2 GB for Windows XP SP3 with 32 bit
>>system. My Dell Dimension 8400 manual says it supports 4 GB memory
>>for Windows XP MCE SP3 with 32 bit. Why do they support different
>>amounts of memory?
>
>
> Windows XP Home is limited to 2 GB of RAM (Microsoft's decision.)
>
> Windows XP Professional is supposed to be limited to 4GB of RAM
>
> Windows MCE is a "tweaked" verison of Windows XP Pro for enhanced
> video playing and TV. Since it is based on XP Pro, it gets the XP Pro
> limit.
>
> However, all these different RAM sizes are "moot" since these are
> based on 32 bit processor coding and at most your will get 3.25 to 3.5
> GB of RAM. This is the extreme limit because of most 32 bit
> processors are limited to this.
>
> (Only the limited Windows XP Pro 64bit can start to use the 4GB of
> RAM. However, support / drivers are very limited.)

Citation for that 2 GB limit please?

Only Starter Edition has constraints
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...s_window s_xp

"smlunatick" <yveslec@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:56a6042a-a8c0-4380-b59d-b1aac66a5b31@v20g2000vbs.googlegroups.com...
On Oct 5, 9:11 pm, "granjan" <m...@nowhere.com> wrote:
> My friend wants to install an additional 2 GB of memory in her Dell
> XPS 600 which has 2 GB already installed. The manual for her
> computer says it only supports 2 GB for Windows XP SP3 with 32 bit
> system. My Dell Dimension 8400 manual says it supports 4 GB memory
> for Windows XP MCE SP3 with 32 bit. Why do they support different
> amounts of memory?

Windows XP Home is limited to 2 GB of RAM (Microsoft's decision.)
===========

Incorrect. Home is not limited to 2GB.

===========

Windows XP Professional is supposed to be limited to 4GB of RAM

Windows MCE is a "tweaked" verison of Windows XP Pro for enhanced
video playing and TV. Since it is based on XP Pro, it gets the XP Pro
limit.

However, all these different RAM sizes are "moot" since these are
based on 32 bit processor coding and at most your will get 3.25 to 3.5
GB of RAM. This is the extreme limit because of most 32 bit
processors are limited to this.

(Only the limited Windows XP Pro 64bit can start to use the 4GB of
RAM. However, support / drivers are very limited.)

smlunatick wrote:

>Windows XP Home is limited to 2 GB of RAM (Microsoft's decision.)

Says who?

See MS:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...s_wi ndows_xp

smlunatick wrote:

> This is the extreme limit because of most 32 bit
> processors are limited to this.

It is wrong to blame the CPU. 4GB is an artificial limitation in XP.

<want to see the entire conversation, not just this thread? click on the
link below>
http://groups.google.com/group/micro...286a59e5978977
<want to see the entire conversation, not just this thread? click on the
link above>



granjan wrote:
> My friend wants to install an additional 2 GB of memory in her Dell
> XPS 600 which has 2 GB already installed. The manual for her
> computer says it only supports 2 GB for Windows XP SP3 with 32 bit
> system. My Dell Dimension 8400 manual says it supports 4 GB memory
> for Windows XP MCE SP3 with 32 bit. Why do they support different
> amounts of memory?

smlunatick wrote:
> Windows XP Home is limited to 2 GB of RAM (Microsoft's decision.)
>
> Windows XP Professional is supposed to be limited to 4GB of RAM
>
> Windows MCE is a "tweaked" verison of Windows XP Pro for enhanced
> video playing and TV. Since it is based on XP Pro, it gets the XP
> Pro limit.
>
> However, all these different RAM sizes are "moot" since these are
> based on 32 bit processor coding and at most your will get 3.25 to
> 3.5 GB of RAM. This is the extreme limit because of most 32 bit
> processors are limited to this.
>
> (Only the limited Windows XP Pro 64bit can start to use the 4GB of
> RAM. However, support / drivers are very limited.)

dennis wrote:
> It is wrong to blame the CPU. 4GB is an artificial limitation in XP.

Some suggested reading:

for dennis:
http://www.geoffchappell.com/viewer....nse/memory.htm

for smlunatick:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...78(VS.85).aspx

general:
http://blogs.technet.com/markrussino...1/3092070.aspx
http://www.ofzenandcomputing.com/zanswers/1079

Enjoy.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Shenan Stanley wrote:

> Some suggested reading:
>
> for dennis:
> http://www.geoffchappell.com/viewer....nse/memory.htm

Yes, I have seen that one before. Why?