question re: 32-bit OS memory recognition & dual channel mode

[Sunny129]

i'm currently running WinXP Pro 32-bit. i understand that Windows won't recognize all 4GB (2 x 2GB) of my memory b/c its a 32-bit OS (it sees approx. 3.25GB to be more exact)...which leads me to my question:

when i have 4GB of memory (specifically, 2 x 2GB sticks) installed in dual channel mode, does WinXP recognize the entire 2GB of memory on one stick and only 1.25GB on the other? or does WinXP recognize roughtly 1.625GB of memory on each stick?

the reason i ask is b/c i'm planning on upgrading some components soon, and although a 64-bit OS is not one of my planned upgrades, DDR3 memory is so cheap these days that i'm thinking of picking up 8GB (2 x 4GB) just to future proof myself against the day that i actually upgrade to a 64-bit OS. if i upgrade to 8GB (2 x 4GB) of memory, i'm worried that dual channel mode won't work (based on the assumption that WinXP will recognize all ~3.25GB of memory on a single 4GB stick, as opposed to recognizing ~1.625GB of memory from each stick).

what say you?

TIA,
Eric

 

[Blain]

i'm currently running WinXP Pro 32-bit. i understand that Windows won't recognize all 4GB (2 x 2GB) of my memory b/c its a 32-bit OS (it sees approx. 3.25GB to be more exact)...which leads me to my question:

when i have 4GB of memory (specifically, 2 x 2GB sticks) installed in dual channel mode, does WinXP recognize the entire 2GB of memory on one stick and only 1.25GB on the other? or does WinXP recognize roughtly 1.625GB of memory on each stick?

It doesn't work like that... It's a "total" not percentages of each DIMM.

 

[hanspeter]

or does WinXP recognize roughtly 1.625GB of memory on each stick?

Like that.

 

[Sunny129]

thanks for the replies. i'll go ahead and buy 8GB of memory in the form of 4GB sticks since i now know they'll work in dual channel mode in WinXP 32-bit.

 

[exdeath]

Multi channel is parallel. So "used" memory is stripped equally across all DIMMs.

The system board, BIOS, and CPU will see it no problem. It's just the 32 bit OS that won't be able to address all of it due to lack of virtual address space.