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    Specific RAM and XP question

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    Stigma
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    Post by Stigma Sun May 18, 2008 1:50 pm

    I sort of got information on this subject as it was discussed on the side in other posts here, but I have a specific question that I need answered. Okay, so I know XP only recognizes a total of 4GB of RAM. I also know that if you have an onboard video card that card's RAM subtracts from the total RAM XP recognizes; i.e. my 512MB card subtracts half a gig from my total list.

    Here's my question: if I have 4GB of physical RAM installed (4x1GB sticks), and a 512MB RAM video card, should XP be reading 3GB of non-video RAM, or 3.5GB of non-video RAM? Right now my system thinks I only have 3GB of RAM, even though my BIOS correctly identifies all four sticks. So I'm wondering if XP just ignores the entire fourth slot of RAM (thus costing me 1GB), or if it should be recognizing 512MB from that last GB stick, and maybe there's something wrong with one of the RAM sticks I have.
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    Specific RAM and XP question Empty Re: Specific RAM and XP question

    Post by daeka Sun May 18, 2008 1:53 pm

    Win32 bit only recognizes 3.5ish MB RAM due to the way it address memmory. so in your case minus your shared video memmory would only leave you with 3GB, so windows IS reporting correctly so to speak. and no, windows will not read the shared video memmory and add it to the dedicated system memmory. in order to recognize more then 3.5GB you would have to upgrade to a 64bit OS.
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    Roca
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    Specific RAM and XP question Empty Re: Specific RAM and XP question

    Post by Roca Sun May 18, 2008 1:56 pm

    Basically, any 32bit OS can only address up to 4G of RAM....like you alluded to, some of that address space must be used for other system resources. So, 3-3.5G (something like that) is all Windows in 32bit mode, will recognize and use.

    http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366778.aspx
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    Post by Bullarky Sun May 18, 2008 5:12 pm

    contrary to belief, video memory does not take away from addressable system memory. Video memory is used by the video card only to render graphics and is not accessed by the CPU... only by the GPU.

    So the fact that you have a 512mg card is a coincidence.

    Bios, chipsets, and motherboards determine how much addressable memory is taken away from the 4gb limit. It is possible that the above could take 1gb of memory.

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