Just ordered new system

[adairusmc]

I just ordered a new system to replace the one in my sig, and I have a question about the memory.

I ordered a 2x2gb kit of DDR2-800. Right now I am running Windows Vista 32bit, and I know that it will not show up as 4gigs. Is it going to hurt the memory to not have all of it addressed? I plan eventually to get a copy of vista64bit, but not right now (not everything I use is 64bit compatible). I was just curious as to if that will damage the memory for some reason.


Here are the components I ordered, hopefully there is no issue with the selection.

Memory

CPU

Motherboard

CPU Fan

I will be using the hard drives, case, optical drives and video card that I have now for the rest of the components.

Thank you for any input.

 

[krotchy]

Actually, as I understand it, Vista 32 can do 4 Gigs, XP 32 only does 3.

 

[adairusmc]

Hmm, I was doing some searching and supposedly vista does the same thing, unless you have PAE turned on. I don't know either way though, never used 4gigs of RAM before.

What about using PAE, or is that just a hack that is not worth using? I am mostly curious as to whether I can use this RAM in 32bit vista without worrying about damaging it or anything, until I make the switch to 64bit windows. Unfortunately when I bought vista I only got the OEM version, so I don't have the other 64bit disc.

 

[adairusmc]

What about the components I ordered, will there be any major compatibility isssues? This is my first home-built intel system since my northwood P4 2.8c, and have never messed with anything in LGA775.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I don't see why these components won't work fine. I see other people using the GSKILLs with boards using the 680i chipset.

Make sure you flash the latest BIOS revision to the motherboard early in the game. Your board and mine (ASUS STriker Extreme) had early BIOS versions with discrepancies between "set" voltages and monitored values, and possibly "set" voltages and "real" values. If you run everything to the motherboard's defaults -- fine. If you OC, newer BIOS revisions should resolve the discrepancies I mentioned.

Especially, those early-BIOS problems with voltage-setting and voltage reporting are mostly resolved in the later BIOS -- I'm fairly sure especially for my motherboard. And if you're not going to manually increase any voltages much, then I wouldn't tell you to be a little cautious.