4 GB limit on a 32 bit OS

N

There have been discussions on this forum on a 32 bit OS limiting the max RAM usage limit to 3.5 GB only. Found an interesting article here. Anybody tried this on Win 7 or XP 32 bit OS?
My new build will arrive soon, planning to try on it soon!

Yes this limit is universal and in Win 7 it uses 3.19 GB RAM if using 32bit OS.

PAE is the added ability of the IA32 processor to address more than 4 GB of physical memory. The following operating systems can use PAE to take advantage of physical memory beyond 4 GB:

Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition

Other 32 bit OS can support max 4GB of RAM (Out of which 500MB will be utilized by Windows or Other peripherals, leaving around 3.5 GB of available RAM). Get 64 bit OS if planning to get more than 3GB of memory.

Oops. Clicked the link that is shared.
Nothing came except the green background & some pictures of b**by girls on the top.

Waited for few minutes and can see the contents of "Windows 7 32-bit with full 4 GB or 8 GB RAM support"
beneath the pics of b**by girls

gameranand said:
Yes this limit is universal and in Win 7 it uses 3.19 GB RAM if using 32bit OS.

Does that there is no point in upgrading RAM from 3GB to 4GB in Win-7-32-bit OS?
The reason is - am using Win7-32-bit and have plans for upgrading my 2GB to 4GB!!

Gearbox said:
Does that there is no point in upgrading RAM from 3GB to 4GB in Win-7-32-bit OS?
The reason is - am using Win7-32-bit and have plans for upgrading my 2GB to 4GB!!

u can upgrade the RAM to 4GB but 32-bit OS will not utilize the full RAM..so instead 64-bit OS is recommended

Zangetsu said:
u can upgrade the RAM to 4GB but 32-bit OS will not utilize the full RAM..so instead 64-bit OS is recommended

Whether the RAM-limits are specific to Windows-7-Starter packs or the other Win-7-editions too?

In that article, it said

The kernel of the 32-bit version of Windows 7 has only a lock, which prevents access to more memory. More dramatically is this lock in the 32-bit version of Windows 7 Starter Edition: There the prohibition is much more rigorous and it only allows access to 2 GB of RAM:

W

Windows 7 editions - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
for 32bit windows 7 all editions have limit of 4gb except starter which has 2gb limit.for 64bit version there is no starter edition,home basic has 8gb,home premium has 16gb & rest have 192gb ram limit.

I should go with 3GB RAM (Existing-2-GB+ New-1-GB) then!

Better option would be to get a 4GB ram stick and install 64 bit OS.

C

4GB limit is just sad. My wireless adapter refuses to work properly on 64-bit OS.

reniarahim1 said:
Better option would be to get a 4GB ram stick and install 64 bit OS.

Is it possible to install 64-bit in 32-bit-installed system?
Wont there be any restraints based on Mobo/processor?

I don't think Microsoft will like this they will bring a patch or something...

Gearbox said:
Is it possible to install 64-bit in 32-bit-installed system?
Wont there be any restraints based on Mobo/processor?

A quick google search revealed, my Processor can handle 64-bit.
I will give it a try someday!

most of the modern desktop cpus supports 64 bit OS - so g ahead and install any 64 bit OS even if you don't have 4GB ram now .

If you have 4GB+ RAM then 64bit is essential, otherwise 32bit is fine.

For those who want to check, whether your processor can support 64-bit or not--->

Use SECURABLE in the below link.
GRC*|*SecurAble: Determine Processor Security Features*|**

It will tell you the MAXIMUM BIT LENGTH compatible with your processor.

J

I'm pretty sure a PAE kernel is either default or available through the package manager in Ubuntu 11.04, so 6GB should work just fine (any one process is still limited to 3GB virtual, but multiple processes plus the kernel can make good use of 6GB physical).

If we go to bit level ,This is, because it can hold 32 bit information so 2 ^32 =4294967296 this is approximately equal to 4GB

I think I am right....