Question: 4GB Limit on a 32-Bit System

[allesist]

Hi!
I got a question about a new computer. As we know, the 32-bit architecture just supports an adress space of 4 GB. In my new system following space is taken:

-> The CPU needs 6 MB Cache
-> The GPU (graphic card) got 1792 MB Cache/RAM
-> The RAM does take 2048 MB of the address space.
-> The HDD got 32 cache.

That would mean the hardware does take 3878 MB of the 4000 MB limit of the 32-bit architecture. But now my question: Does the OS (Windows XP) will reserve some adress space too?

Does the 2048 MB of RAM get used totally with this system? Or are there other things which are needing more MB then aviable? Plx help me!

[Dragonshadow]

WTF gfx card do you have?
Don't worry about the cpu cache.
Don't worry about the HDD cache.
the GFX card with 2GB ram will work just fine.

[allesist]

WTF gfx card do you have?

Well, i havent bought this system yet :> but those are two GeForce GTX 260 (SLI) :>

[Dragonshadow]

Erm why are you using a 32bit OS then? You are going to bottleneck yourself to hell with only 2gb ram.

Get 4-8GB and run vista x64.

[Mages]

I thought the 4gb limit was only on RAM =). The rest of them don't matter. And personally, I do not enjoy 64bit because of the driver signing.

[ace_012]

Yes, the 4gb limit is only for system RAM. In actuality, if you stick 4gb of ram in a computer, and boot up a 32-bit OS, you will only be able to use ~3GB.

@allesist
Everything else is irrelevant to the question you are asking, with a 32-bit OS you should only get around 3GB of RAM, but with 64bit, you can get however much your mobo supports in most cases. Your cache numbers are weird though O.o Like for the proc, what proc has 6mb of cache? Is that L1 and L2 added together on a quad core or something?

Cache is basically on board ram sorta, like the 32mb cache on the HD is on the HD and isn't factored into the System RAM very noticeably.


So yea, sorry for the long post but if your going to be using 2 260 GTX's, then your best bet would be to either just install like XP Pro 64 bit, or Vista Ultimate 64 Bit, and if you get a disc with both 32 bti and 64 bit on it then dual boot the OS's. That way if you run into a problem with the 64-bit compatibility, then just boot up into the 32 bit OS. Other then that you can play say Crysis in the 64 bit, with at least 4GB of RAM with that setup to prevent bottlenecking

Hope my post helped.

[MaiN]

It's 4096 MB
Alright, the 'upper' part is adressed first, as you said:
Cache
Graphic cards
Some misc stuff which takes some.
So you will be able to adress ~2000 MB of RAM.
If you're running Vista you would wanna get 4-6GB RAM (or 8 xD) and upgrade to 64-bit, else it'll just go in XP. But I recommend upgrading.

[ace_012]

The reason you never get 4GB of RAM from a 32bit OS is gfx and such takes up the extra 1gb, forgot to mention that for informative purposes. Mobo stuff and extra gfx card mapping starts at the end of the address range though, so technically, going from 4096mb to 0b, it is addressed at the upper portion. Better to say at the end of the 4096mb.

But either way, any 32bit OS will only have about ~3GB of RAM availiable for use. No matter how much you put in there (well 3gb or more) you will only have around 3GB of usable RAM. It doesn't matter which OS your getting, you are better off getting a 64-bit version to not bottleneck

Vista doesn't get enough credit imo. Just turn off UAC w/ sp1 and it's better than XP imo if your of course running modern programs (like WoW) and have adequate hard ware.

Found a diagram that is helpful: http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...sourcesnew.jpg

[thebignoob]

ok i have a better question unless you were 5 way multiboxing on one system why the **** do oyu need 4 gigs I can run 3 wows just fine with 2 gigs

[Dragonshadow]

ok i have a better question unless you were 5 way multiboxing on one system why the **** do oyu need 4 gigs I can run 3 wows just fine with 2 gigs

Why not?

Extra ram = more of the system running in ram = less paging to the page file = more responsive system.

[ace_012]

Many people need more than 2GB of RAM. For instance, stock brokers or graphic design artists! I prefer the first one, much more profitable.

Try and "multibox" with Crysis and you will find out quick you need tonz of RAM! lol

[Dragonshadow]

Many people need more than 2GB of RAM. For instance, stock brokers or graphic design artists! I prefer the first one, much more profitable.

Try and "multibox" with Crysis and you will find out quick you need tonz of RAM! lol

Learn what mutliboxing is before you make a stupid statement like that.

Multiboxing is the act of playing two or more characters (in world of warcraft specifically) at the same time.

You can't multibox crysis.

[MaiN]

Learn what mutliboxing is before you make a stupid statement like that.

Multiboxing is the act of playing two or more characters (in world of warcraft specifically) at the same time.

You can't multibox crysis.

I just guess that's why he put it in quotes. He probably just means to double run it.

[Dragonshadow]

I just guess that's why he put it in quotes. He probably just means to double run it.

facepalm.png

[ace_012]

Wow your lame. Sheese, it was in quotes for a reason, like MaiN said.

Maybe you should read the "The Final Solution to the MMOwned Problem" thread by Verye before you even make another post. Let me emphasize the """QUOTES"""" just incase you don't see them again. At least make a constructive post instead of a stupid one next time.