Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Quick 32 bit OS memory question

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Liverpool
    Posts
    61
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Quick 32 bit OS memory question

    Right, I know 32 bit OS' can only support 4GB of total system memory. Right now i'm running 4GB of RAM and a 1GB HD4850 on XP 32 bit. I know, I'm not getting full use of my RAM but I messed up my Win7 64bit install and haven't gotten around to reinstalling it yet. Basically my question is, since Windows tells me I'm using 3.5GB of RAM, am I only using 512MB of my HD4850 RAM? Or is Windows reporting it wrong, and I'm using 3GB of RAM and the full 1GB of VRAM?

    Cheers

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Posts
    445
    Thanks
    17
    Thanked
    18 times in 12 posts
    • spac3d's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS M4N82 Deluxe
      • CPU:
      • X4 940 @ 3.6GHz
      • Memory:
      • Corsair 4GB - PC28400 800MHz
      • Storage:
      • WD AAKS 500GB + 120GB Corsair SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 560Ti
      • PSU:
      • 600W CoolerMaster Silent Pro
      • Case:
      • CoolerMaster ACTS840
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 x64 Home
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 24" U2410
      • Internet:
      • BeThere 20MB ADSL2+

    Re: Quick 32 bit OS memory question

    Graphic card ram has nothing to do with it mate, just your system memory. You can only use 2^32, which is 3-3.5GB of system memory yes, 1GB is probably going to waste.
    Hello, i'm spaced. Lover of mountains and lakes.

  3. #3
    Fried Chip Extremist alsenior's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Stafford
    Posts
    2,949
    Thanks
    103
    Thanked
    191 times in 145 posts
    • alsenior's system
      • Motherboard:
      • DFI Lanparty Jr x58-T3H6
      • CPU:
      • Core i7 920
      • Memory:
      • 6 x 2GB ocz Gold
      • Storage:
      • 1 TB Samsung F3
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 1gb 4890 vapor-x xfire
      • PSU:
      • xfx 850W
      • Case:
      • Lian-li Pc7
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 X64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2208WFP
      • Internet:
      • 30mb Virgin media

    Re: Quick 32 bit OS memory question

    the ram on you graphics card (and the sram on just about every other device on you machine) is subtracted from the 4GB limit. while windows says it can address 3.5GB in reality ot can only address about 2.75 GB
    Quote Originally Posted by Jay View Post
    What kind of emergency would need Windows 95? I think you are already in a bad state of emergency when your backup plan is Windows 95.
    Beginners guide to raid Beginners guide to raid post edition Hexus.Social - FAQ

  4. #4
    Lovely chap dangel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Cambridge, UK
    Posts
    8,398
    Thanks
    412
    Thanked
    459 times in 334 posts
    • dangel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • See My Sig
      • CPU:
      • See My Sig
      • Memory:
      • See My Sig
      • Storage:
      • See My Sig
      • Graphics card(s):
      • See My Sig
      • PSU:
      • See My Sig
      • Case:
      • See My Sig
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • See My Sig
      • Internet:
      • 60mbit Sky LLU

    Re: Quick 32 bit OS memory question

    The limit isn't memory - it's 32bits worth of addressing which has to be shared with every system device - memory included. This has been covered ad infinitum on here
    Crosshair VIII Hero (WIFI), 3900x, 32GB DDR4, Many SSDs, EVGA FTW3 3090, Ethoo 719


  5. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Liverpool
    Posts
    61
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Re: Quick 32 bit OS memory question

    Quote Originally Posted by dangel View Post
    The limit isn't memory - it's 32bits worth of addressing which has to be shared with every system device - memory included. This has been covered ad infinitum on here
    Sorry, having a bit of a slow day. Can you put that into context for my situation, with the 4GB of RAM and 1GB of VRAM? How much is being used and all that.

    Cheers

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Posts
    445
    Thanks
    17
    Thanked
    18 times in 12 posts
    • spac3d's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS M4N82 Deluxe
      • CPU:
      • X4 940 @ 3.6GHz
      • Memory:
      • Corsair 4GB - PC28400 800MHz
      • Storage:
      • WD AAKS 500GB + 120GB Corsair SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 560Ti
      • PSU:
      • 600W CoolerMaster Silent Pro
      • Case:
      • CoolerMaster ACTS840
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 x64 Home
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 24" U2410
      • Internet:
      • BeThere 20MB ADSL2+

    Re: Quick 32 bit OS memory question

    In simple terms, the way a 32-bit Windows OS is programmed, it cannot physically use the more than 2^32 address spaces, which works out in the real world as 2.75 GB of ram being physically used. So if you have more RAM, windows 32-bit cannot utilise it.

    64-bit OS is 2^64, so alot more address space.

    Your graphics card ram isn't part of this, it's completely seperate.
    Hello, i'm spaced. Lover of mountains and lakes.

  7. #7
    Get in the van. Fraz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Bristol
    Posts
    2,919
    Thanks
    283
    Thanked
    396 times in 230 posts
    • Fraz's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte X58A-UD5
      • CPU:
      • Watercooled i7-980X @ 4.2 GHz
      • Memory:
      • 24GB Crucial DDR3-1333
      • Storage:
      • 240 GB Vertex2E + 2 TB of Disk
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Water-cooled Sapphire 7970 @ 1175/1625
      • PSU:
      • Enermax Modu87+
      • Case:
      • Corsair 700D
      • Operating System:
      • Linux Mint 12 / Windows 7
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 30" 3008WFP and two Dell 24" 2412M
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media 60 Mbps

    Re: Quick 32 bit OS memory question

    Quote Originally Posted by spac3d View Post
    In simple terms, the way a 32-bit Windows OS is programmed, it cannot physically use the more than 2^32 address spaces, which works out in the real world as 2.75 GB of ram being physically used. So if you have more RAM, windows 32-bit cannot utilise it.

    Your graphics card ram isn't part of this, it's completely seperate.
    Hmm, you're saying one thing and then contradicting yourself. But basically, what you are saying regarding video RAM is incorrect.

    A 32-bit OS can access 32 bits of address space, as you say. 2^32 is 4294967296, or 4 GB exactly (well, 4 GiB technically). The graphics card RAM is indeed part of this, as it has to be addressable. Every single piece of addressable hardware gets subtracted from the 32 bit wide address space, with whatever is left over as being available for system memory.

    So, to me it sounds like your OS is lying to you, or you only have a 512 MB graphics card. If it truly is a 1GB graphics card, you should have some small amount less than 3GB of system memory once you've subtracted other things that take up address space (such as sound cards, etc).

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Just a quick question re DFI LP DK X48 T2R
    By spiderdany in forum SCAN.care@HEXUS
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 19-08-2008, 06:37 PM
  2. ASUS P5E3 Deluxe memory question
    By tomservo in forum SCAN.care@HEXUS
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 09-06-2008, 10:48 AM
  3. Another quick memory question...
    By bigblue in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 10-02-2008, 03:32 AM
  4. Replies: 1
    Last Post: 12-01-2008, 08:21 PM
  5. What’s better? Memory setup question
    By Jimmy Little in forum Help! Quick Relief From Tech Headaches
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 13-12-2004, 04:14 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •