RAM: 4GB vs 2GB?

Question

I'm planning on purchasing a quad-core (Intel extreme 2.66 or 2.93), dual graphics card (Nvidia 8800s) setup and was planning on adding 4GB of RAM.

Although I've discovered that only the 64bit Vista can support 4GB, which is apparetly primarily used by pro-gamers or scientists (as opposed to the 32bit used by most consumers).....what's the deal.......? Should I stick with 4GB and use the 64bit Vista or downgrade to 2GB and use the 32bit? How easy would it be to switch between the two, what's the necessary procedure?

Answer 1

I'd drop Vista. Install XP, put on the Vista Ultimate Transformation Pack (www.majorgeeks.com), then purchase a PCI Memory Expansion card. These cards do not depend on the hardware to use up to 16gb's of RAM. They use their own processor and software to incorporate the memory into the OS and common PC related memory tasks.

The cards range from 89.99 up to 249.99 (8gb - 16gb).

They currently support SDRAM and DDR thus far. FSB is configurable on the fly by the card which will permitt mixing of RAM types (PC2700 with PC3200).

Ebay em to get a decent deal.....

Answer 2

I dont know why the people here would claim that a 32bit OS doesn't take advantage of a dual-core cpu when it does. I have a dual core amd (4800+) and I am always having to use a special program which forces other exe files to run on a single core because they are incompatible with a dual-core cpu. If these people were right, this would not be happening because I am not using a 64bit OS.

As for the memory issue, the 32bit OS's are limited to 3gb physical RAM and 4gb total (1gb virtual) and 64bit OS's are not bound by this restriction. I do not know the limits of Vista64 but XP64 is 32gb physical.

If you really want to use 4gb physical RAM and a 32 bit OS to keep driver incompatability to a minimum, I recommend Server2003 as it can be configured as a desktop replacement (though some games might not work on this OS).

Answer 3

i does not do it. abode windows XP has a complete addressing ability of 4GB. a number of this area would be reserved for peripheral instruments etc. So the total volume of RAM that could be used via a 32 bit equipment is particularly decrease than 4GB. many human beings fall into the catch of procuring for 4GB after which finally end up with a equipment that doesn't have adequate handle areas, so the equipment crashes. shifting to sixty 4 bit is pointless till the game helps it. Many video games nevertheless do not even help hyperthreading a procedures much less multi center processors and 64bit addressing. stay with 2GB.

Answer 4

First, theres only a few programs that can actually use 4 cores, for what your going to spend on that processor, you could buy a whole pc and wait a year or 2 for the industry to catch up....most of todays intel boards will allow you to upgrade from a core2duo to a quad core....

If your going quad core, I would go with the 64bit O.S.......with a 32bit O.S your never going to use the full potential of that processor.....Most people today think because they have a dual core cpu that they are running 2 processors, wrong, without a 64bit O.S. they are only using 1 of those cores....

UPDATE: researching answer.....Here is a link to what I could find to be the best definition of 64bit technology...scroll down to "What 64-bit Computing Gets You"....When I bought my Athlon 64 last year I read up on the 64bit technology, but the material was limited, vague at best, (the response from the geek squad was even worse).....I can see now that the info I got was incorrect.....its not a matter of addressing multiple cores, it mostly deals with memory....
http://developer.apple.com/macosx/64bit.html

As for the first part of my answer, that was based on an article I read a few days ago...
Copied from link below....
"The testers underlined the fact that applications not optimized for quad core performance are not going to benefit from this technology."
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/pcs/quadcore-riot-intel-core-2-quadro-chips-hit-the-streets-211874.php
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1040_22-6132033.html

now now, this isnt a paid service where we get fired for being wrong....this is a community of people offering advice based on experience....and unfortunately, sometimes assumptions.... If I have not answered a persons request for additional input in the past its because I did not see their updated question and they did not send me an email as this person has done, which is why im now replying....anyone here is free to go through my questions, and I answer many. I almost always supply links to back up what im saying....and anyone that requested an update via email, would get an added line in my response that says

Update:

So its not that im throwing garbage out there and afraid to reply, quite the contrary, im very open to suggestions, and can admit when im wrong with no hesitation.....

Answer 5

Well first to answer the main question, to my knowledge Vista 32 will in fact work with 4GB, but I cannot be 100% sure of that. To be honest I would recommend you stick to 2GB anyway, 4GB is overkill at this time, although so are quad-cores for the most part, and dual 8800s are definately overkill, but that is up to you. If you do choose to go with such a powerful setup, I would suggest Vista 64 anyway. As for switching between the two, it is just like installing a new OS.

Now the second part, and the issue I have been asked by another user to address, is what Vincent said about only using 1 core of a dual core processor when using a 32 bit OS. That is absolutely 100% untrue. You can use both cores of a dual core in a 32 bit OS, and for that matter all four cores of a quad core, you don't NEED a 64 bit OS to take advantage of multiple cores, that is just completely false. Vincent has been asked by at least two users to provide evidence to what he said, and thus far has not.

UDPATE: Vincent has gotten back to me, and apparantly he had gotten some bad information, but he did admit his mistake.

UPDATE: Just to comment on YourTech's suggestion, umm, don't even bother, so many things wrong with that statement, just ignore it.

Answer 6

a study was done on pc world i beleive and it had concluded it is almost impossible to use all 4gb of ram, i'd say for you get 2 x 1gb and 2 x 512mb, this gives you 3 gb which is in my opinion the highest a computer can use, even for gaming. the 32 and 64 bit system cannot be switched, they are 2 different systems, and i beleive that 64 supports 8gb and 32 supports 4gb

Answer 7

You can't switch between the 2 they are different operating systems. It really depends on what ya wanna do, I'd always go for more RAM, but if you don't really need a 64bit operating system, I would avoid it. Vista has a feature called ready boost which allows you to use a flash drive to add RAM. So, you could get the 2GB of RAM and just use the ready boost feature with a flash drive if ya wanted.

Answer 8

Its pointless to go quad core, a pair of 8800's on a 32-bit OS.
Its just a huge waist of money.
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Edit: What’s the big deal? Many here give the best answer they can and unknowingly could give a wrong answer, others straight don’t give a **** and answer anything. I seen it in every forum I have visited. How childish can one be, get over it and move on with life. Both of you.

99% of the questions asked here have atleast 1 answer you would not agree to, if your going to bash all of them then go threw their answers giving thumbs down (like you did to me) its time to find a more constructive way of spending your time. I would suggest you get a woman.

I admitted I was wrong, grow up and get over it.

Answer 9

It's unlikely you'll be able to utilize the full 4GB, virtually all games are designed for 512MB-1GB of memory anyway, so you shouldn't notice any significant difference

Answer 10

32-bit Vista supports 4GB max RAM, unless you have Vista Starter edition, which only supports 1GB. 64-bit Vista starts out at supporting 8GB.