4 GB Windows XP 32-bit question

[pennylane]

quick question

I'm running Windows XP 32-bit with 4 GB of RAM installed. Right now I'm using onboard graphics (Biostar Tforce TA790GX) and I'm not exactly sure how much RAM that has (I'm new to this sideport stuff), but I see only 3.25 GB of RAM with Windows.

If I replaced the onboard vid card with a 1 GB video card, how much RAM would Windows XP see? What if I got a 512 MB card?

Thanks.

 

[taisingera]

With XP 32bit, and a 512MB card and 4GB RAM, I was able to see only 3GB.

 

[JAG87]

Usually you lose VRAM + 512MB.

So for a 1GB card, you would see only 2.5GB.

 

[Nothinman]

The amount of video memory isn't directly related to the amount of MMIO the card will use, the only way to know for sure is to get one and see.

 

[Elixer]

Originally posted by: fanerman91
quick question

I'm running Windows XP 32-bit with 4 GB of RAM installed. Right now I'm using onboard graphics (Biostar Tforce TA790GX) and I'm not exactly sure how much RAM that has (I'm new to this sideport stuff), but I see only 3.25 GB of RAM with Windows.

If I replaced the onboard vid card with a 1 GB video card, how much RAM would Windows XP see? What if I got a 512 MB card?

Thanks.

XP (32bit) can only handle ~3.5GB. The Video Card RAM is totally separate*.
(It just happens that your onboard gfx card is eating up 256MB of main RAM)

If you want more RAM for your OS, then you must upgrade to a 64bit OS.

The vid card RAM can have as much as it is made to handle.

edit:
*I guess it isn't totally, it depends on the address mode used.
Though, I would think that driver writers would consider this when deciding how to handle it. Or in other words, they could only map to 512MB (or 1GB), then handle the ugly swapping on the card itself (at a cost on performance) Bah! screw it, everyone move to 64bit, and get 8GB systems.

 

[theAnimal]

http://episteme.arstechnica.co...7909774/m/604006158831

 

[pennylane]

Thanks. I think bottom line is if I want 3 gigs of RAM (without extra work), I should have no bigger than a 512 MB vid card, which is fine since I don't game too much and not at high resolutions (ie, not 1920x1200).

 

[Blain]

It's such a trivial issue, it doesn't matter.
Don't worry about the slight difference. If you want a 1GB card, get one.