Hi,
I’m running windows xp pro 32bit. Is it worth getting 4 gb of ram? i heard applications max out at 3 gb, but maybe the other gig is left for running the os?
Or should I just get 3 gb of ram?
Thanks for any help
Yeah, if you’re going to get 3, you might as well get 4, if only for dual channel configuration concerns. Vista 32 caps at 3gb per app, but yeah, the OS also takes a bite of available ram.
[edit] Im sorry I misread your post. This is not accurate for win XP32. 4gb is waster under XP 86…the most the OS can use is 2 gb per application, unless you monkey wiht the 3 gb switch, which is not recommended in most situations.
Youd be far better off upgrading your OS to a 64 bit version to get the most out of 4 gb of ram.
I’d say it would be money well spent…Go with 4Gb of RAM, and look into the “3GB switch”, so your apps can use 3GBs of RAM, instead of the usual 2GB allowed by windows.
The “3GB Switch” being an additional line added to your boot.ini file
USE AT OWN RISK…your system/setup might be different so your additional command may be different…do a little homework…
Original boot.ini…
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS=“Microsoft Windows XP Professional” /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
I added the following line beneath the line above…
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS=“Microsoft Windows XP Professional 3GB” /noexecute=optin /fastdetect/3GB/USERVA=2816
The “USERVA=2816” is sort of optional, depending on your graphics card. Basically, it says, “Use slightly less than 3GB (2816 of 3072 available), so there’s a little left for my graphics card” If it’s not there, you’re graphics card might not work.
Now when my system boots up I have the option of either using default XP, or 3GB XP. I’ve been using for quite a while and it works great. Like I said though, do a little research first so you know what you’re getting into…
thanks fk,
do these instructions for for xp pro 32 bit
Yeah, that’s what I’m running.
Im sorry, I misread the original post…I thought you were getitng Vista 32.
No, 4 Gig is wasted under XP 32. The 3 gb switch is dangerous to mess around with , as it destabilizes some things.
The Max ram per application XP 32 can use is 2 (not 3, like Vista 32)gb.
You should upgrade to Vista 32, or a 64 bit version of Windows (xp or Vista) to really get use out of 4 gb of ram.
Im alittle hesitant with Vista. If I go windows xp pro 64bit, will this make use of the 4 gb? Thanks
I must say , I don’t know what it is exactly , perhaps windows vista 64bit is built upon a different architecture then the 32 bit version , but it’s like night and day for me. My laptop has 4 GB ram and runs vista ultimate 64 bit , runs like a dream. A pain to get everything working at first with Dell not supplying 64 bit drivers , but thx to forums , got it all working nicely.
I used 32 bit for a while on my desktop pc , but it was slow , froze , crashed and had my hard disks making a lot of noise.
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/PAE/PAEmem.mspx
in my case boot.ini is now:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS=“Microsoft Windows XP Professional” /3GB /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn /usepmtimer
It’s just the same before but added /3GB. The difference in photoshop, for instance:
without the /3GB uses 1750 MB of the 4 GB ram installed, now with /3GB uses 2750MB.
I think I will be upgrading to vista shortly. I have seven gigs of ram that are wasted and that would be the main reason. I run bootcamp under osx and if I had to do it all over again I would probably have gone for vista instead os xp. Just my two cents.
at zbrushcentral there are some topics about this issue of the limit of ram in a 32bit OS, the rule is:
max ram 4 GB
OS needs part of the 4th ram for system files
so the real max ram free for applications is 3.25 or less
This limits comes from the software architecture used since DOS and the 32-bit schema. If you need more than 4GB use a 64-bit OS or Unix based OS. For your change to vista 64 read this:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/vista-workshop,1775.html
couple of things.
the software I was mentioning earlier is not called sync but vmware fusion. (although you have to apparently get your tablet drivers working… I’ve heard) very good stuff. Also I have heard that the OS only gives you a little bit and won’t make much of a difference until Pixologic releases a 64 bit Zbrush. Unless I missed something?