If I understand correctly, a 32-bit operating system will only recognize 3 gigabytes of RAM instead of the theoretical 4. Does this mean 3 gigabytes per core per processor, or just per processor?
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Thread: RAM limitations on 32-bit OS
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06-04-2009, 03:05 PM #1
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RAM limitations on 32-bit OS
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06-04-2009, 04:09 PM #2
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Re: RAM limitations on 32-bit OS
The 32 bit OS is capable of using 4G of memory. But, that includes your graphics memory so if you have a video card with 512 of memory the OS will only see the other 3.5G
The processor does not actually use the memory, that is a function of the application/s being run. If you have a total of 3.5G usable that is all the application can use n o matter how many cores are in use.Asus M8Z77-V Deluxe
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06-08-2009, 04:15 PM #3
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Re: RAM limitations on 32-bit OS
My system sees 3.25GB of my 4GB kit and I only have a 256mb GDD3 G.Card I had some OCX 2GB Reapers and with 4GB its even more snapper.
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06-15-2009, 03:16 PM #4
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Re: RAM limitations on 32-bit OS
32-bit memory addressing is a full 4GiB and this is totaly independent of number of processors or processing cores.
However, everything must fit into those 4GiB of addresses, and since hardware resources reserve a number of addresses for themselves the most you usually see on a 32-bit OS is ~3.25GiB.
And yes, VRAM eats these addresses as well. So, if you have a GPU with a lot of memory you will have even less system memory available.
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