Vista & RAM

[Myrm]

I have 4GB RAM insatlled on my pc, which shows in the BIOS. I also have Vista Home Premium (32-bit) installed.

I noticed today that when I went into MSCONFIG>BOOT>ADVANCED OPTIONS that the maximum memory was set at 3072MB. I tried to increase it to 4GB so that all my RAM was being used, but it would not allow me to increase the value over 3072MB. So although I have 4GB RAM installed on my pc, 1GB of it is sitting there doing nothing. Guess I'll have to wait for the 64-bit version to become more 'user-friendly'; I am lead to believe that the 64-bit version allows more than 3GB RAM

[BertImmenschuh]

That is an issue with the 32-bit versions of WinVista and from what I've read it is better with the 64-bit versions, actually can use much more RAM.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/64bit.mspx

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/d119bbe6-f604-4eb1-9c75-bbbc45cce1da1033.mspx

[Myrm]

Many thanks for that.

Following the first link on your post I have just been on the MS website and ordered a copy of the 64-bit version of Windows Vista Home Premium for £7.88 (so cheap as I have a full copy of the 32-bit version of Vista HP).

Well, for seven quid I can't go far wrong! :)

[BertImmenschuh]

You're welcome. I'm going to have to build a 64-bit computer soon just to take advantage of the Vista Ultimate 64-bit disk I have.

[BenJr]

I'm hoping that you guys are still around.
I'm a little confused and I have a question:
I'm running Vista Home Premium 32bit, and I wanted to go to 4GB of RAM. Are you saying that that would be a waste, because the maximum that it can run is 3GB? :confused:

[Myrm]

I'm hoping that you guys are still around.
I'm a little confused and I have a question:
I'm running Vista Home Premium 32bit, and I wanted to go to 4GB of RAM. Are you saying that that would be a waste, because the maximum that it can run is 3GB? :confused:

In short; yes. 32-bit will only allow 3072MB of RAM to be used, even if you have more than that installed, as I found out. 64-bit allows me to use my full 4GB RAM.

[BenJr]

Thanks for clearing that up Myrm.
I need to add some more RAM but why go to the 4GB if it's just going to waste.
I guess 3GB should be enough for my usage. All I can say is that the 1GB has got to go. It's just not enough.

[Myrm]

Yes, these days 1GB RAM really isn't enough in many cases, especially if you have or are planning to have Vista and/or run 'heavy' games. 3GB RAM is plenty, there's no real need for 4GB RAM in my honest opinion. I chose to have 4GB RAM just to look hard! ;) :D

[tffh]

You might want to check with Billy Gates (His ROYAL Hind-***) because Vista treats everything the way it wants too. You HAVE 4 GB Ram but it wants to show 3 GB Ram. Thats the way Microsucks wants it!!! Try another application to read the amount of RAM. (PCTools - Norton - etc...). Hope this helps.

[BertImmenschuh]

For others following this thread, you can have 1GB or 2GB on the computer but if occasionally needing more RAM you can plug in one of the memory sticks in the 1GB to 4GB range to gain more memory space. It's called ReadyBoost.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/features/details/readyboost.mspx

[mfishmike]

You're welcome. I'm going to have to build a 64-bit computer soon just to take advantage of the Vista Ultimate 64-bit disk I have.

I've built the ultimate Vista 64 bit system and it is a total nightmare. The OS itself is very stable and the computer is very, very, fast with the hardware shown in my signature.

The downside, I've donated a HP scanner and had to purchase a new 8800 Canon Scanner; got rid of my standby Epson B & W laser printer, moved my OKI 5150 color laser to my XP system and had to buy another new HP color laser (High Capacity Cartridges) printer. My Canon D880 Image Class multifunction printer won't run on it either and they have no intentions of making a driver. It took 3 firm emails to find that out. I told Canon to quit the run around "were sorry answers" and give me a straight answer about their intentions when I finally found out they weren't going to make one.

Most software won't run on it including Registry Mechanic and Spyware Doctor, and about 30 other programs that I have. They just won't run on the 64 Vista. Wait a year until the support runs out on January 31 of 2009 for XP.

By then hopefully these software companies advertising "Vista Compatible" will actually be Vista 64 compatible. Most software advertising Vista compatible won't run on 64, a violation of the Federal DTPA.
My .02 cents......