Question on upgrading to more than 3GB RAM

[ajn03001]

I built a comp to play 5 instances of World of Warcraft smoothly.
Q6600 Stock
8800GT 512MB
3GB DDR2 533
300GB SATA2
SB X-FI

Thing is, running 5 lags horribly. It takes 5 minutes to login, and after that I get unacceptable frame rates. Looking at task/resource monitor, CPU usage is 59%, so there's no need to OC yet. However, the memory usage is near max, ~2.8 MB. Graphics are fine, as no matter what settings max/high/low the sort of lag is identical. So right now I'm positive that I need to get more ram. WoW uses about a gig of ram per instance, plus vista uses about 600 MB so 5X1GB + 600MB ~ I need 6GB. I think this will solve the problem.
Could it be anything else? The HDD for instance?

But before I purchase I have a few questions. Does windows vista 32bit allow the USE of 6GB of memory? I read posts but am not clear whether 32bit OS's just don't SHOW larger than 3GB (patch fixable) or if >3GB ram has no effect at all. If so, then obviously I need to 'upgrade' to a 64 bit OS. If I need to do that, which is better for me - Windows XP 64bit, or Windows Vista 64?

I have another question. Would I also be better off getting additional hard drives for the instances to run separately instead of off one drive like now? I don't know much about hard drive configurations, but I hear about them. What would be the best option if I also wanted to go buy more hardrives, in terms of its configuration?

Thanks

 

[Modelworks]

You can muck around with command line switches, operating system and application tweaks, etc to use more than 3Gb in a 32 bit OS, but if your going to really be making regular use of 4GB plus, go ahead and go 64bit for the os.

It really does away with the need to even worry about whether this app or that can use what you have.

I like winxp x64.
Especially considering you can download it for free from microsoft.
The copy works like retail before it ask you to purchase it after 120 days.
http://www.microsoft.com/windo...64bit/facts/trial.mspx

Its free so why not try it out ?

 

[Jiggz]

Have you checked the settings in your bios? Ram multiplier and CPU speed, to make sure it's set accordingly? With 32bit OS you ca max'ed out rams to 4GB. The problem, sometimes Vista doesn't really like 4GB. With 4GB you will not see the entire amount of ram installed but it is there and being use. Check your bios first and see if there is a newer version also.

 

[her209]

How or why does someone play 5 instances of WoW?

 

[MegaVovaN]

Originally posted by: her209
How or why does someone play 5 instances of WoW?

Farming, challenge of controlling 5 chars...your own party, no need to wait for others...you get all the loot...power leveling etc.