How much Memory can Vista 32 bit support?

[Jon Acord]

A word of caution: You might have seen the occasional Windows Server
deployment in which there was a /3GB switch used in the server’s BOOT.INI
file. The /3GB switch changes the memory allocation so that Windows is only
allocated 1 GB of address space, and user mode processes are allocated 3 GB
of address space. Splitting the address space like this helps Windows to
better manage high demand applications such as Exchange Server. However,
Windows is configured to have a 2 GB address space for the operating system
for a reason. If you use the /3GB switch, you can severely impact Windows
ability to run multiple applications simultaneously. Furthermore, you should
never use the /3GB switch on Small Business Server or on a domain controller.

[Jon Acord]

More wisdom: So what does this 4 GB limit mean for 32-bit machines running a
Windows operating system? Windows is designed to address a full 4 GB memory
space. Windows splits the 4 GB of available memory address space into two
separate 2 GB address spaces. One of the 2 GB address spaces is used by the
Windows operating system, and the other 2 GB address space is used for user
mode processes (applications).

[Mike C.]

It's not just Windows, it's all systems. This is not OS specific, this is a
result of the BIOS. The system cna only "address" up to 32-bits of ram. When
hardware communicates, you're really just sending data to it just like you
would store data in memory. This is why hardware in your system uses a
"memory range".

There is no way around it in 32-bit processing, no special switches, no file
replacements, no nothing. The maximum addressable space is 4GB--period. Your
SYSTEM (not OS) has to use a certain amount of that to be able to
communicate with devices.

A 64-bit OS does not run into this limitation.


"Jon Acord" <JOn@theacords.biz> wrote in message
news:3AAB32B6-78E6-4430-81F3-74515D8DFCAE@microsoft.com...
> More wisdom: So what does this 4 GB limit mean for 32-bit machines
> running a
> Windows operating system? Windows is designed to address a full 4 GB
> memory
> space. Windows splits the 4 GB of available memory address space into two
> separate 2 GB address spaces. One of the 2 GB address spaces is used by
> the
> Windows operating system, and the other 2 GB address space is used for
> user
> mode processes (applications).
>
>

[Tim Draper]

Jon Acord wrote:
> My machine has 4 GB of RAM. I need to know absolutely if Vista 32 Bit RTM
> will support this? I know for a fact that Windows XP Professional 32 bit
> only supports up to 3 GB. I am certain Vista 64 will. Please do not answer
> this question unless you are certain.
>
> Thank you

1st hand experience m8...... i have 4x 1gb sticks in my rig. ran 32bit
vista, and it was the same ram limitaion than XP 32bit does - around
2.8gb seeable/useable.

for me to see ALL 4gb (4096mb to be precise) i've had to goto vista 64bit.
not quite as simple as that tho..... different versions of vista have
max limitations

see http://support.teloep.org/vistaver.htm for more info. gives both
32bit and 64bit limitations.

so just ya know, 100% definate on above info. 1st hand experience.
tim

[Mike Hall - MS MVP Windows Shell/User]

It supports/addresses 4gb.. it may see and be able to actively use as much
as 3.25gb or as little as 2.85gb depending upon the motherboard design..


"Jon Acord" <JOn@theacords.biz> wrote in message
news:3AEB6966-1AE2-4C29-B289-65298D7BFDF1@microsoft.com...
> My machine has 4 GB of RAM. I need to know absolutely if Vista 32 Bit RTM
> will support this? I know for a fact that Windows XP Professional 32 bit
> only supports up to 3 GB. I am certain Vista 64 will. Please do not
> answer
> this question unless you are certain.
>
> Thank you

[Bill]

"Jon Acord" <JOn@theacords.biz> wrote in message
news:87855CD7-A351-454C-95CE-9EE10CA9D7BD@microsoft.com...
> Tom: Because it is almost impossible to find some 64 bit drivers
> for my
> hardware.
> As I study the problem further, I see that Windows 32 bit actually
> does use
> up to 4 GB of RAM. The system apparently reserves 1 GB of RAM for
> use, such
> as onboard graphics, etc.


Your earlier post seems to suggest that 32-bit Vista has built-in
drivers for the Adaptec card. If so, have you tried installing the
64-bit version to see if it's supported? If not, then nevermind.

I was worried about drivers for my hardware too, but I found that
everything I have working in 32-bit is also supported in 64-bit "out
of the box". The only thing I will need later is a video driver.

--
Happy Holidays!

[Bill]

"Jon Acord" <JOn@theacords.biz> wrote in message
news:87855CD7-A351-454C-95CE-9EE10CA9D7BD@microsoft.com...
> Tom: Because it is almost impossible to find some 64 bit drivers
> for my
> hardware.
> As I study the problem further, I see that Windows 32 bit actually
> does use
> up to 4 GB of RAM. The system apparently reserves 1 GB of RAM for
> use, such
> as onboard graphics, etc.


Your earlier post seems to suggest that 32-bit Vista has built-in
drivers for the Adaptec card. If so, have you tried installing the
64-bit version to see if it's supported? If not, then nevermind.

I was worried about drivers for my hardware too, but I found that
everything I have working in 32-bit is also supported in 64-bit "out
of the box". The only thing I will need later is a video driver.

--
Happy Holidays!

[daniel sawyer]

I'm using vista ultimate and i have 4gb of ram in my PC , i am using a program called PC booster and it said i have 2047 Mb total memory , when i was using xp 64 it said i have 4094 Mb total memory so i do not believe that windows visa 32 bit supports 4gb

EggHeadCafe - .NET Developer Portal of Choice
http://www.eggheadcafe.com

[Bif VanDerFluffy]

"daniel sawyer" wrote:

> I'm using vista ultimate and i have 4gb of ram in my PC , i am using a program called PC booster and it said i have 2047 Mb total memory , when i was using xp 64 it said i have 4094 Mb total memory so i do not believe that windows visa 32 bit supports 4gb
>
> EggHeadCafe - .NET Developer Portal of Choice
> http://www.eggheadcafe.com
>

It supports 3 gig, and says it will support more. I think your problem is
that you feel the need to use "PC Booster" - a completly pointless program
that does absolutley nothing on a Vista PC (and hardly anything on an XP
machine.)

To know what ram you have ACCURATELY, right-click My Computer in Start menu,
and choose properties. There you will find your "Vista Expeirence Rating".

Below that, your actual RAM amount, minus the couple of megs as usual.

Uninstall PC Booster- Vista is completly different from previous versions.
It is unneeded.

[John Whitworth]

"Bif VanDerFluffy" <BifVanDerFluffy@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:470CC1EB-1EA0-448C-98C6-216E2C769D6E@microsoft.com...
>
>
> "daniel sawyer" wrote:
>
>> I'm using vista ultimate and i have 4gb of ram in my PC , i am using a
>> program called PC booster and it said i have 2047 Mb total memory , when
>> i was using xp 64 it said i have 4094 Mb total memory so i do not believe
>> that windows visa 32 bit supports 4gb
>>
>> EggHeadCafe - .NET Developer Portal of Choice
>> http://www.eggheadcafe.com
>>
>
> It supports 3 gig, and says it will support more.

Well, it does support 4 gig of memory...it's just that you can't allocate
all of that to RAM, as it's required for the gfx and chipset etc. My machine
with a 256MB video card will allow me to have 3.2GB of RAM. I doubt many
people will see much higher than that with 32-bit Vista. Perhaps 3.3GB with
a 128MB video card...any less though, and Vista isn't going to be worth
having!

JW

> I think your problem is
> that you feel the need to use "PC Booster" - a completly pointless program
> that does absolutley nothing on a Vista PC (and hardly anything on an XP
> machine.)
>
> To know what ram you have ACCURATELY, right-click My Computer in Start
> menu,
> and choose properties. There you will find your "Vista Expeirence Rating".
>
> Below that, your actual RAM amount, minus the couple of megs as usual.
>
> Uninstall PC Booster- Vista is completly different from previous versions.
> It is unneeded.

[Tim Slattery]

daniel sawyer wrote:

>I'm using vista ultimate and i have 4gb of ram in my PC , i am using
> a program called PC booster and it said i have 2047 Mb total memory,
> when i was using xp 64 it said i have 4094 Mb total memory so i do
> not believe that windows visa 32 bit supports 4gb

http://members.cox.net/slatteryt/RAM.html

applies to 32-bit Vista as well as XP.

--
Tim Slattery
Slattery_T@bls.gov
http://members.cox.net/slatteryt

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

The system memory that is reported in the System Information dialog box in
Windows Vista is less than you expect if 4 GB of RAM is installed:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605/en-us

Understanding Address Spaces and the 4GB Limit - [H]ard|Forum:
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1035670
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry

<daniel sawyer> wrote in message news:20071016144143tonic1979@yahoo.co.uk...
> I'm using vista ultimate and i have 4gb of ram in my PC , i am using a
> program called PC booster and it said i have 2047 Mb total memory , when i
> was using xp 64 it said i have 4094 Mb total memory so i do not believe
> that windows visa 32 bit supports 4gb
>
> EggHeadCafe - .NET Developer Portal of Choice
> http://www.eggheadcafe.com

[Brian W]

"John Whitworth" <sexyjw@G_EEEEEE_mail.com> wrote in message
news:0AC182E4-97A9-406F-8095-56C6ACCF8A9F@microsoft.com...
>
> Well, it does support 4 gig of memory...it's just that you can't allocate
> all of that to RAM, as it's required for the gfx and chipset etc. My
> machine with a 256MB video card will allow me to have 3.2GB of RAM. I
> doubt many people will see much higher than that with 32-bit Vista.
> Perhaps 3.3GB with a 128MB video card...any less though, and Vista isn't
> going to be worth having!
>
I get 3582MB with a 320MB graphics card, maybe I'm the lucky one!

[joel406]

Why don't you grow up idiot.


--
joel406

[Colin Barnhorst]

"F Oh'Ff vist- A" <Mitch@niene.de> wrote in message
news:487fdf65@newsgate.x-privat.org...
> Micah wrote:
>> Well, its sad to see misinformation out there about 32bit 4gb limits...
>> Its VERY sad...
>>
>> Its an **OPERATING SYSTEM LIMIT**. Not a hardware/bios/32bit/etc limit.
>> I have 8GB of memory in my desktop system. Guess what. All 8GB are being
>> seen FINE by Debian, Ubuntu-Server, and FreeBSD; all of which are, get
>> this.... 32bit OS's!
>>
>> So, tell me again how this isn't a MASSIVE oversight by Microsoft?
>
> Windows server editions that are 32 bit can see more than 4 gb ram too, by
> utilizing the PAE technology.. there is a catch though that applies to all
> 32 bit operating systems... if you have 8 gb of ram the OS uses 2 chunks
> of 4 gb each
>
> In windows the applications must be created so that they will be aware of
> this PAE technology and most aren't...
>
> As for vista? Its stupid.. crap... and a piece of junk
>
>
> google these keywords "PAE WIKIPEDIA"


Server can use PAE for addressing because support for that is written into
the OS. That support is NOT written into Windows clients so it doesn't
matter whether or not an app is written to use PAE. The support is not
there in the client OSs. PAE has very limited applicability to Windows
clients (issues involving DEP) and the ability to address more than 4GB is
not one of them. Full support of PAE also requires care to insure only PAE
compliant hardware and software is in use. That's why it is not supported
in 32bit clients.

Notice in the article at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_Address_Extension the phrase, "...used
in 32-bit systems, given appropriate operating system support."