Can Win XP utilize more than 2GB of RAM?

RaistlinZ

Diamond Member
Oct 15, 2001
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It's been a long time since I tinkered with my computer but it's been slowing down lately under heavy gaming. I currently have 2GB (4x512MB DIMMs). Can I up it to 3GB, or does Win XP only make use of 2GB?

Thanks. :)
 

RaistlinZ

Diamond Member
Oct 15, 2001
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Sweet, ty. I'll go ahead and pick up some more. Newegg has some nice Kingston 1GB PC3200 DDR CAS 2.0 for $36.99 retail. :) I'm glad old-school RAM is cheap nowadays.
 

Fayd

Diamond Member
Jun 28, 2001
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More precisely, all 32-bit operating systems have a 4GB barrier, but they can only make use of up to 3.25 gigs (mine sits at 3.23).

not exactly.

they can use up to 4 gigs of addressable space. that space gets taken up by video card memory, sound card memory, cache, etc. prior to the system memory. the fact you see 3.23 means you have .75 gigs of stuff taking up addressable space.
 

Slugbait

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Yes, I know about reserved device addressing. Thank you. Please notice the word "but" after the comma.

My point was how much memory Windows can actually make use of in the real world, not the theoretical "up to 4 gigs".
 

Fayd

Diamond Member
Jun 28, 2001
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Yes, I know about reserved device addressing. Thank you. Please notice the word "but" after the comma.

My point was how much memory Windows can actually make use of in the real world, not the theoretical "up to 4 gigs".

except you're wrong about how much it will use.

mine allowed for 3.33 gigs when i still used XP. that's why i corrected you. your post said the max RAM that a 32 bit OS can use was 3.25 gigs, and that's simply wrong.

it falls down much more to individual implementation exactly how much RAM a 32 bit OS can use. thus, i spell it out in detail for the OP.
 

Slugbait

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Never heard of anyone reach that high. Lucky you. But I digress...

You win the pissing match. Congrats.
 

Fayd

Diamond Member
Jun 28, 2001
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Never heard of anyone reach that high. Lucky you. But I digress...

You win the pissing match. Congrats.

it's not a pissing match or a contest. you were giving misleading information.

FWIW, you can get much higher than 3.33. use an integrated video card that steals as little as possible of system ram. use onboard sound. use no add-in cards, use a single hdd, and use a motherboard that has as few as possible onboard features. the point is there is an available pool of 4 gigs of addressable space, and all components draw from it before system ram.

dont be a douchebag.