3gb vs. 4gb of RAM on 32bit OS

[Harvey]

I put 4 GB of RAM in my HP lappy running XP Pro, SP3 because the onboard video "borrows" RAM from the available pool, which, I believe is independent of the OS. If that's correct, installing 4 GB maximizes the amount of RAM available to Windows.

You know the video is indpendent of the OS because you get a startup screen before the machine even knows about a hard drive, let alone an OS or how many bits it is.

 

[maniac5999]

I put 4 GB of RAM in my HP lappy running XP Pro, SP3 because the onboard video "borrows" RAM from the available pool, which, I believe is independent of the OS. If that's correct, installing 4 GB maximizes the amount of RAM available to Windows.

You know the video is indpendent of the OS because you get a startup screen before the machine even knows about a hard drive, let alone an OS or how many bits it is.

You sure? Remember the computer itself has no idea what it has until windows takes inventory. If windows can only count to 4gb, and it starts by counting the BIOS, then the HDD controler, then the VRAM, then that leaves less than 4gb worth of numbers for it to count the RAM with.

Also, I ran Memtest for 14 hours (7 passes) last night, and it came up clean. I did realize this morning that I'm running rightmark to reduce CPU voltage. (0.925v in BIOS, corrected to 0.825v in rightmark) If Rightmark is also dragging down the memory controler or RAM voltage, causing instability memtest wouldn't show it, so I probably should run a windows based memory tester. What's the best windows based memory tester? OCCT?

 

[jvroig]

What's the best windows based memory tester? OCCT?

Memtest HCI

Free, easy to use. I use it everytime I OC the RAM to check for stability.

 

[tweakboy]

Lets kill this subject been enough.

32bit is one lane it can only read up to 3.2GB ,, if you put int 4GB

Soo 200mb ram is nothing just go with 3GB ram... and lets end this thread. lol

 

[FishAk]

Oh, and Microcenter was out of the $10 1gb stick, so I bought the 2gb, and because I only have 1HDD and an IGP the OS can address 3.5gb

You missed a post there, partner...

 

[jvroig]

Lets kill this subject been enough.

Don't worry, as FishAk mentioned one post up, this subject has been killed :thumbsup: The OP already bought a 2GB stick of RAM. I missed it myself, no harm done.

 

[maniac5999]

Don't worry, as FishAk mentioned one post up, this subject has been killed :thumbsup: The OP already bought a 2GB stick of RAM. I missed it myself, no harm done.

Well, to be honest, there is still the thread drift into the two questions "What is the maximum amount of RAM 32bit windows can address?" (I see 3.5gb, but I don't know if it's really using that much) and "WTF is a Hypertransport Sync Flood Error, and how do I fix it." but feel free to continue bickering over if this thread is finished or not as well.

 

[jvroig]

but feel free to continue bickering over if this thread is finished or not as well.

Not really the thread, merely the 'subject' of 2GB vs 1GB, which was what Tweak chimed in to supposedly "put to rest"

I did miss a few turning points in your thread, which I assumed was over:

What is the maximum amount of RAM 32bit windows can address?" (I see 3.5gb, but I don't know if it's really using that much)

Whatever you see in your "My Computer -> Properties" is what is used, because Windows won't report whatever it couldn't address in the first place, as it is effectively invisible. The rest of the RAM that is not used is either unaddressable because VRAM takes a part of the address as well, or (in your case) is used as shared video memory to integrated graphics. Around .25GB is reserved all the time and used for all other things that Windows needs to address as well aside from RAM and VRAM.

In my case, for example, I only see 3.25GB out of 4GB in Windows XP SP3. That's because of the ~.25GB reserved, then .5GB (512MB, actually) VRAM of my HD 4770. So Windows only has enough addresses for 3.25GB, and thus only "sees" and uses 3.25GB, 0.75GB of my RAM being effectively useless (unlike in your case where part of the "unaddressed" RAM is actually being used as VRAM)


Alas, I have not encountered any Hypertransport Sync Flood Error myself, and I've had 3 MSI motherboards in the past 4 years, including a netbook. If it happened when you added RAM, the RAM is highly suspect, unless you can follow the routine suggestions of increasing DRAM voltage, but that is unlikely in a netbook.


EDIT:
By the way, have you had success using Memtest HCI? If it passes that, bad RAM (or even bad RAM + any software like Rightmark that activate in Windows) can be ruled out.

 

[maniac5999]

Alas, I have not encountered any Hypertransport Sync Flood Error myself, and I've had 3 MSI motherboards in the past 4 years, including a netbook. If it happened when you added RAM, the RAM is highly suspect, unless you can follow the routine suggestions of increasing DRAM voltage, but that is unlikely in a netbook.

EDIT:
By the way, have you had success using Memtest HCI? If it passes that, bad RAM (or even bad RAM + any software like Rightmark that activate in Windows) can be ruled out.

It happened before but not as frequently (I had 2 random reboots the first night after installing the RAM. Unfortunately, I haven't done any tests yet, as I'm at work and can only mess around with my netbook after I get home. (but my employer does let me surf the web a lot while 'working' )

 

[Emulex]

winy7 manages the shared memory - xp more or less takes a passive role.

most of my servers get near 4gb of usable ram because they only have 8 or 32 meg of video ram.

i've got a nvs290 video card (dual 24") that lets you have over 3.5gb since it doesn't need a big window (less ram on vid card more ram for o/s).

 

[tweakboy]

Ok Close the thread now this is pointless the guy has been told 32 bit has limit of 3.2GB ,,, 64 bit has dual lanes and can have as much RAM as you wish to put in. end this thread. close this thread admins plz. Thanks

gg and tc

 

[mv2devnull]

In my case, for example, I only see 3.25GB out of 4GB in Windows XP SP3. That's because of the ~.25GB reserved, then .5GB (512MB, actually) VRAM of my HD 4770.

It is not that simple. I've got 4 GB physical memory (2*2GB), a 1 GB HD 5770, and XP 32-bit says: 3.25 GB.

Whatever the counting rules actually are, I think I've seen believable explanations of them somewhere on the INET.


Cannot help with the sync flood. But, as note: sometimes memtest finds no flaw, yet the chips are still flawed. Memory errors can be awfully tricky.


@tweakboy: The continuing discussion within this thread can still provide useful information to maniac5999 on a topic that is a consequence of the resolution of the OP topic. Is that forbidden in the Forum posting rules?

 

[tweakboy]

If 200mb more RAM is something you desire then get 4GB. 32bit OS will see only up to 3.2GB.

End of story. Lets put this thread to rest come on now. :thumbsdown:

 

[maniac5999]

If 200mb more RAM is something you desire then get 4GB. 32bit OS will see only up to 3.2GB.

End of story. Lets put this thread to rest come on now. :thumbsdown:

A) we were still talking about the "Hypertransport Sync Flood Error"

B) I got the 2gb stick, win7 is reporting 3.5GB. Please explain that.

 

[mv2devnull]

@maniac5999: Would this help? (I do recall C2D era talk on how you must increase memory voltage if you put 4 memory modules into your desktop. Never had such issue myself, but who knows?)

@tweakboy: Please, do not repeat that "32bit OS will see only up to 3.2GB". It is an offending generalization.

 

[tcsenter]

Ok Close the thread now this is pointless the guy has been told 32 bit has limit of 3.2GB ,,, 64 bit has dual lanes and can have as much RAM as you wish to put in. end this thread. close this thread admins plz.

No. What are you talking about, single and dual lanes?

 

[maniac5999]

For what it's worth, I haven't had any more Sync Flood errors, and i ran the memory tester as many different ways as possible. Now if only I could figure out how to OC this beast.

 

[coolVariable]

You need 2x 2GB sticks for dual channel.
1GB + 2GB does not give you dual channel AFAIK.
32bit gives you 4GB less address space which usually comes out to 3.2GB-3.5GB (depending on video RAM and connected components).