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XP 32 bit Memory
How much memory can XP 32 bit OS handle? I want to have Dell build a
dual boot Laptop with both Windows 7 OS & XP 32 bit OS on it. I would like to have 8 Gig of ram if it XP 32 will handle it. JPC |
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#2
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XP 32 bit Memory
Windows XP 32-bit supports a maximum of 4GB of RAM but due to address
space requirement for hardware addressing you will not be able to use the full 4GB, depending on the hardware installed in the machine the available RAM could be anywheres between 2.75 to 3.5GB. John John Callaway wrote: How much memory can XP 32 bit OS handle? I want to have Dell build a dual boot Laptop with both Windows 7 OS & XP 32 bit OS on it. I would like to have 8 Gig of ram if it XP 32 will handle it. JPC |
#3
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XP 32 bit Memory
Windows XP 32-bit supports a maximum of 4GB of RAM but due to address
space requirement for hardware addressing you will not be able to use the full 4GB, depending on the hardware installed in the machine the available RAM could be anywheres between 2.75 to 3.5GB. John John Callaway wrote: How much memory can XP 32 bit OS handle? I want to have Dell build a dual boot Laptop with both Windows 7 OS & XP 32 bit OS on it. I would like to have 8 Gig of ram if it XP 32 will handle it. JPC |
#4
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XP 32 bit Memory
On Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:54:18 -0500, John Callaway
wrote: How much memory can XP 32 bit OS handle? I want to have Dell build a dual boot Laptop with both Windows 7 OS & XP 32 bit OS on it. I would like to have 8 Gig of ram if it XP 32 will handle it. It will not handle it. Neither will Windows 7 (unless it's 64-bit Windows 7). Moreover, it's very likely considerably more than you can make effective use of in either operating system. Here's the scoop: All 32-bit client versions of Windows (not just Vista/XP/7) have a 4GB address space (64-bit versions can use much more). That's the theoretical upper limit beyond which you can not go. But you can't use the entire 4GB of address space. Even though you have a 4GB address space, you can only use *around* 3.1GB of RAM. That's because some of that space is used by hardware and is not available to the operating system and applications. The amount you can use varies, depending on what hardware you have installed, but can range from as little as 2GB to as much as 3.5GB. It's usually around 3.1GB. Note that the hardware is using the address *space*, not the actual RAM itself. If you have a greater amount of RAM, the rest of the RAM goes unused because there is no address space to map it to. -- Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003 Please Reply to the Newsgroup |
#5
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XP 32 bit Memory
On Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:54:18 -0500, John Callaway
wrote: How much memory can XP 32 bit OS handle? I want to have Dell build a dual boot Laptop with both Windows 7 OS & XP 32 bit OS on it. I would like to have 8 Gig of ram if it XP 32 will handle it. It will not handle it. Neither will Windows 7 (unless it's 64-bit Windows 7). Moreover, it's very likely considerably more than you can make effective use of in either operating system. Here's the scoop: All 32-bit client versions of Windows (not just Vista/XP/7) have a 4GB address space (64-bit versions can use much more). That's the theoretical upper limit beyond which you can not go. But you can't use the entire 4GB of address space. Even though you have a 4GB address space, you can only use *around* 3.1GB of RAM. That's because some of that space is used by hardware and is not available to the operating system and applications. The amount you can use varies, depending on what hardware you have installed, but can range from as little as 2GB to as much as 3.5GB. It's usually around 3.1GB. Note that the hardware is using the address *space*, not the actual RAM itself. If you have a greater amount of RAM, the rest of the RAM goes unused because there is no address space to map it to. -- Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003 Please Reply to the Newsgroup |
#6
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XP 32 bit Memory
John Callaway wrote:
How much memory can XP 32 bit OS handle? I want to have Dell build a dual boot Laptop with both Windows 7 OS & XP 32 bit OS on it. I would like to have 8 Gig of ram if it XP 32 will handle it. The most a 32 bit version of Windows can have is 4 GB. That said it is unlikely that you'll ever see more that 3.2 GB of free memory. This is because all of your devices attached to your PC take up memory address spaces for things they need to work (i.e. drivers, etc). -- Roy Smith Windows XP Pro SP3 |
#7
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XP 32 bit Memory
John Callaway wrote:
How much memory can XP 32 bit OS handle? I want to have Dell build a dual boot Laptop with both Windows 7 OS & XP 32 bit OS on it. I would like to have 8 Gig of ram if it XP 32 will handle it. The most a 32 bit version of Windows can have is 4 GB. That said it is unlikely that you'll ever see more that 3.2 GB of free memory. This is because all of your devices attached to your PC take up memory address spaces for things they need to work (i.e. drivers, etc). -- Roy Smith Windows XP Pro SP3 |
#8
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XP 32 bit Memory
On Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:03:02 -0600, Roy Smith
wrote: John Callaway wrote: How much memory can XP 32 bit OS handle? I want to have Dell build a dual boot Laptop with both Windows 7 OS & XP 32 bit OS on it. I would like to have 8 Gig of ram if it XP 32 will handle it. The most a 32 bit version of Windows can have is 4 GB. That said it is unlikely that you'll ever see more that 3.2 GB of free memory. This is because all of your devices attached to your PC take up memory address spaces for things they need to work (i.e. drivers, etc). OK. I get it. I'll only get 3 gig for ram. Now what do you think of the idea of a dual boot for XP 32 and windows 7 on the same laptop? Having XP 32 the default OS and using windows 7 when I choose, using a 64 bit processor around 3 gHrtz? I'm wondering about driver compatibility etc and using XP 32 bit OS with a 64 bit processor. JPC |
#9
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XP 32 bit Memory
On Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:03:02 -0600, Roy Smith
wrote: John Callaway wrote: How much memory can XP 32 bit OS handle? I want to have Dell build a dual boot Laptop with both Windows 7 OS & XP 32 bit OS on it. I would like to have 8 Gig of ram if it XP 32 will handle it. The most a 32 bit version of Windows can have is 4 GB. That said it is unlikely that you'll ever see more that 3.2 GB of free memory. This is because all of your devices attached to your PC take up memory address spaces for things they need to work (i.e. drivers, etc). OK. I get it. I'll only get 3 gig for ram. Now what do you think of the idea of a dual boot for XP 32 and windows 7 on the same laptop? Having XP 32 the default OS and using windows 7 when I choose, using a 64 bit processor around 3 gHrtz? I'm wondering about driver compatibility etc and using XP 32 bit OS with a 64 bit processor. JPC |
#10
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XP 32 bit Memory
What would be the point? It is possible to dual boot, you'll have to visit
the laptop mfg's website to see if they provide Windows 7 drivers. There will be no compatibility issues between x64 hardware and an x86 operating system, it's been going on for years. -- -- "John Callaway" wrote in message ... On Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:03:02 -0600, Roy Smith wrote: John Callaway wrote: How much memory can XP 32 bit OS handle? I want to have Dell build a dual boot Laptop with both Windows 7 OS & XP 32 bit OS on it. I would like to have 8 Gig of ram if it XP 32 will handle it. The most a 32 bit version of Windows can have is 4 GB. That said it is unlikely that you'll ever see more that 3.2 GB of free memory. This is because all of your devices attached to your PC take up memory address spaces for things they need to work (i.e. drivers, etc). OK. I get it. I'll only get 3 gig for ram. Now what do you think of the idea of a dual boot for XP 32 and windows 7 on the same laptop? Having XP 32 the default OS and using windows 7 when I choose, using a 64 bit processor around 3 gHrtz? I'm wondering about driver compatibility etc and using XP 32 bit OS with a 64 bit processor. JPC |
#11
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XP 32 bit Memory
What would be the point? It is possible to dual boot, you'll have to visit
the laptop mfg's website to see if they provide Windows 7 drivers. There will be no compatibility issues between x64 hardware and an x86 operating system, it's been going on for years. -- -- "John Callaway" wrote in message ... On Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:03:02 -0600, Roy Smith wrote: John Callaway wrote: How much memory can XP 32 bit OS handle? I want to have Dell build a dual boot Laptop with both Windows 7 OS & XP 32 bit OS on it. I would like to have 8 Gig of ram if it XP 32 will handle it. The most a 32 bit version of Windows can have is 4 GB. That said it is unlikely that you'll ever see more that 3.2 GB of free memory. This is because all of your devices attached to your PC take up memory address spaces for things they need to work (i.e. drivers, etc). OK. I get it. I'll only get 3 gig for ram. Now what do you think of the idea of a dual boot for XP 32 and windows 7 on the same laptop? Having XP 32 the default OS and using windows 7 when I choose, using a 64 bit processor around 3 gHrtz? I'm wondering about driver compatibility etc and using XP 32 bit OS with a 64 bit processor. JPC |
#12
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XP 32 bit Memory
In message , Roy Smith
writes: [] The most a 32 bit version of Windows can have is 4 GB. That said it is unlikely that you'll ever see more that 3.2 GB of free memory. This is because all of your devices attached to your PC take up memory address spaces for things they need to work (i.e. drivers, etc). Is this why many netbooks have a maximum of 2G? -- J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf ** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously outdated thoughts on PCs. ** "Bother," said the Borg, "we assimilated a Pooh." |
#13
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XP 32 bit Memory
In message , Roy Smith
writes: [] The most a 32 bit version of Windows can have is 4 GB. That said it is unlikely that you'll ever see more that 3.2 GB of free memory. This is because all of your devices attached to your PC take up memory address spaces for things they need to work (i.e. drivers, etc). Is this why many netbooks have a maximum of 2G? -- J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf ** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously outdated thoughts on PCs. ** "Bother," said the Borg, "we assimilated a Pooh." |
#14
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XP 32 bit Memory
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , Roy Smith writes: [] The most a 32 bit version of Windows can have is 4 GB. That said it is unlikely that you'll ever see more that 3.2 GB of free memory. This is because all of your devices attached to your PC take up memory address spaces for things they need to work (i.e. drivers, etc). Is this why many netbooks have a maximum of 2G? No that's a hardware limitation and has nothing to do with Windows RAM size limit. -- Roy Smith Windows XP Pro SP3 |
#15
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XP 32 bit Memory
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , Roy Smith writes: [] The most a 32 bit version of Windows can have is 4 GB. That said it is unlikely that you'll ever see more that 3.2 GB of free memory. This is because all of your devices attached to your PC take up memory address spaces for things they need to work (i.e. drivers, etc). Is this why many netbooks have a maximum of 2G? No that's a hardware limitation and has nothing to do with Windows RAM size limit. -- Roy Smith Windows XP Pro SP3 |
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