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Vista And 4gb Ram So what's the final verdict?

#1 User is offline   TelMeDragon 

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Posted 01 September 2008 - 06:19 PM

I've googled around and can't seem to find a straight answer.

I understand that Vista won't recognize all 4GB of RAM, but will it still use all of it?
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#2 User is offline   DJBPace07 

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Posted 01 September 2008 - 10:34 PM

If you are using 32-bit Vista, you can install 4 GB or more of RAM. Due to memory addressing, only 3 to 3.5 GB is actually usable. Vista sees all 4, but can only use 3.5 or less. If you want to use all 4 or even more RAM you will need 64-bit Vista.
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#3 User is offline   lowtek_otc 

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Posted 02 September 2008 - 03:41 AM

View PostDJBPace07, on Sep 1 2008, 10:34 PM, said:

If you are using 32-bit Vista, you can install 4 GB or more of RAM. Due to memory addressing, only 3 to 3.5 GB is actually usable. Vista sees all 4, but can only use 3.5 or less. If you want to use all 4 or even more RAM you will need 64-bit Vista.


Yep, all true.

Here is detailed information direct from Micro$oft...
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605

#4 User is offline   Platypus 

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Posted 02 September 2008 - 03:41 AM

A further requisite to fully utilise 4GB of RAM is for the motherboard chipset to be able to address more than 4GB, and the upper 1GB to be remapped to above the 4GB point. This moves the physical memory out of the top 1GB of 32-bit address space where reserved addresses prevent real memory from being mapped in.

Edit: lowtek has posted the link

This post has been edited by Platypus: 02 September 2008 - 03:45 AM

Pleased to have been a Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) 2007/8, 2008/9

I pressed F5, and I'm feeling refreshed...

#5 User is offline   derdani 

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Posted 09 September 2008 - 12:26 PM

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946003/en-us

#6 User is offline   usasma 

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Posted 09 September 2008 - 01:26 PM

In short, the workaround posted by Microsoft includes this:

Quote

WORKAROUND
For Windows Vista to use all 4 GB of memory on a computer that has 4 GB of memory installed, the computer must meet the following requirements:
...
• An x64 (64-bit) version of Windows Vista must be used.

- John
**If you need a more detailed explanation, please ask for it. I have the Knack. **

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