Do you know if your computer is wasting its precious ram? Well if you have 4GB of ram and are running a 32-bit version of Windows XP or Vista, then your computer is wasting 1/4th of the memory that it has installed! What?! Really?! Yes!
To check how much ram your computer is using, it's as simple as
--For Windows XP: Press Start->Right click My Computer->Select Properties
--For Vista: Press Start->Right click Computer->Press the Properties
If you have 4GB of ram installed, then the number will say 3.12GB. Never noticed this before? Are you indeed running 4GB of ram? It is normal to be a bit angry right now. Why does it say that though? If your computer supports 4GB of ram, and you have 4GB installed, then why aren't you getting your 4GB?!? Well here is why =]
32-bit versions of Windows (XP and Vista), can only support a Maximum of 4GB of memory. This is because 2 to the power of 32 is equal to 4,294,967,296 bytes (which is the same as 4GB). Unfortunately, you cannot reach that 4GB using the 32-bit version of windows. The reason for this is that 32-bit Windows save a chunk of memory to be used for devices that may need it. So even if you have the full 4GB installed, you will only be able to use 3.12GB for programs that you want to run.
The only way that you can fix this...is to upgrade your OS to a 64-bit version. Once you do that, then your ability to upgrade memory is basically endless in theory (2 to the power of 64 is equal to 18,446,744,073,709,551,616 bytes which is the same as 17 billion gigabytes lol) But this "endless ability to upgrade in theory" is also limited to hardware and your OS.
--Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit can only have a maximum of 8GB of physical Random Access Memory (Ram)
--Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit can only have a maximum of 16GB of physical Random Access Memory (Again, Ram)
--Windows Vista Ultimate, Business, and Enterprise 64-bit can only have a maximum of 128GB (only 128? lol) of physical Random Access Memory (A third time, Ram)
--Windows XP pro x64 can only have a maximum of 128 GB (yet again, only 128GB? lol) of physical Random Access Memory (For the last time, Ram =])
So if you want to break that 4GB maximum supported by 32-bit versions (really 3.12GB no matter how much you have installed) then you need to upgrade the operating system to something that supports more. Once you do that there are even more obstacles in your path to uber memory.
--Your Motherboard must support more than 4GB of address space. If your motherboard can hold 8GB of Ram (or more) then it supports it.
--The CPU has to support 64-bit instructions.
--Your Motherboard BIOS need to have memory remapping so that you can change where it saves memory for devices from the normal 3.12GB-4GB to something above 4GB
--You need to be ready for how sexy your computer will be when it has over 4GB of memory being used
Once you have done all of that, you can upgrade your RAM "to infinity, and beyond!" If you don't want to (or don't have the means to) upgrade your OS to a 64-bit version, then don't buy more than 3GB of ram. If you don't care about how much bang you are getting for your buck though, you can go out and get that 4th GB of ram just to get the .12GB it will offer you =].
So, when you decide to upgrade your computer, or when you are putting together a new system, you need to remember this important rule. "No matter how much you can get of something, it's use is always limited by something else". In this case, the amount of RAM that your computer can support.
--32-bit OS versions can support a maximum of 4GB, but this is limited to 3.12GB because the system reserves a chunk.
--64-bit OS versions can support a maximum of 17 billion GB in theory, but this is limited to a very maximum of 128GB because of OS supports, and then even lower to a maximum of however much your Hardware can Physically support.
"No matter how much you can get of something, it's use is always limited by something else"
-Brett Ledyard
For much more computer help, visit My Computer Blog
