Just want to make sure I understand this.

[MrWizzard]

No reason for me to get 4GB of ram because vista 32bit will not see it, it also will not be able to use it. Correct? Lets say I have a 8800GTX.

If I want to run DDR then 2 gb is the best spot since I don't think they make 1.5 ram chips to get me to 3GB...

Is that correct?

Thanks

EDIT: from what I am reading it seems you can use all of it but not to it's full potential. Can't access it all at the same time.....

 

[Smilin]

it's a 32 bit OS. it can see and use up to 4GB physical ram just fine. It has the capability with physical address extensions (pae) to reference beyond 4GB but there is a soft limit imposed by MS at 4gb for 32bit desktop OSs.

It will only work with what is presented to it by bios. Some components (agp aperature for example) cause bios to present the amount of available ram in an odd way so the OS will only see somewhere between 3.25-3.8. Typically the amount missing isn't of great concern. Not enough to shift you towards 64bit at least.

To answer your question 2GB is a nice spot right now. Plenty do do everything today with some room to grow. 4GB would give probably far more than you need at this time and by the time you would need it the price would be much, much lower. 1GB would be the minimum I would recommend for Vista. Seeing as you are running an 8800...you sound like a guy that should have 2.

 

[MrWizzard]

ok Thanks!

 

[Nothinman]

EDIT: from what I am reading it seems you can use all of it but not to it's full potential. Can't access it all at the same time.....

Apparently you found some reading on AWE and/or the fact that 32-bit processes are limited to 2G of VM on Windows, neither of those are relevant to how much physical memory your OS sees and uses.