Should I buy a different operating system? Upgraded from 1GB to 4GB, should I change the GB? This is a gift for my son and I know nothing about computers but I want it ready to go when he gets it. Help!
2007-12-10 22:09:00 · 5 answers · asked by Carolyn S 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Laptops & Notebooks
I believe it won't support over 3 gigs of RAM. This is true for 32 bit operating systems.
What you need to do is.... nothing.
If it is a gift for your son, I would highly recommend getting a 32 bit operating system and not a 64 bit OS.
If you have 4 gigs of RAM (as I do) on a 32 bit machine (as I), then it just simply won't use that other 1 gig of RAM.
I also have Vista 32 bit and Vista 64 bit, but only the 64 bit is installed on my machine, along side Windows XP. Now when I boot up, I can choose which operating system I want to use.
64 bit operating systems allow the full use of all your RAM.
32 bit operating systems have a limit on 3 gigs of RAM, no matter how much RAM is installed on the machine. You can have 8 gigs installed, but it will only use 3 gigs.
In the future, your son may want to upgrade the operating system. It would sure be nice if the 4 gigs of RAM was there so that he wouldn't have to upgrade the RAM as well.
In closure, I would keep it just like you have it.
Hope this helps.
2007-12-10 22:26:49 · answer #1 · answered by Brent T 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a similar setup :)
Apparently the only version of Vista is 64bit Ultimate (I _think_), which can facilitate some obscene amount of RAM. I would keep the 4GB RAM, since 3.5 is great anyway, and it leaves you with more options in the future. The problem with the 64bit (or whatever it is) version of Vista is that it currently has compatibility issues with some games and programs, so what I would do (am doing) is wait till these problems are ironed out and then upgrade the operating system. The great thing about waiting is that the operating system will be cheaper then, too :D
2007-12-10 22:17:39 · answer #2 · answered by Ghan 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Vista, I assume, and I'll bet your son suggested a minimum of 4 GB of RAM. Kids!!!
Relax, 2 GB RAM will be more than enough for most programs, and only a few high-end video games DEMAND more than that. But then, most laptops are horrible gaming platforms.
The laptops that are good for gaming are more than $2000, due to expensive built-in video adapters. So, for all but the most demanding games, 3 GB is "Icing on the cake".
2007-12-10 23:16:53 · answer #3 · answered by ELfaGeek 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
order the operating system with 64bit.
for example window vista ultimate 32bit or 64 bit
only 64bit os uses all the memory available.
2007-12-10 22:17:05 · answer #4 · answered by HanZ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Windows uses the remaining 1GB for the kernel-mode address space. It is still being used by the OS up to 4GB.
if you were not seeing the 3GB than i would recommend using the /3GB.
2007-12-12 04:56:21 · answer #5 · answered by Joshua M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋