Question

How to setup Windows XP 64 bit to see 8 GB of RAM?

Asked by: javier_rodz

How to setup Windows XP 64 bit to see 8 GB of RAM?

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Asked On
2009-06-24 at 05:13:45ID24517743
Tags

Windows XP 64 bit

,

RAM

Topics

Windows XP Operating System

,

Computer Memory (RAM)

,

Memory Boosters

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Answers

 

by: arixsinPosted on 2009-06-24 at 05:18:09ID: 24700278

There is no setup required. Just install the memory. The OS will detect it automatically.

 

by: arixsinPosted on 2009-06-24 at 05:19:01ID: 24700283

If it does not see it, it is because your motherboard does not support more than the amount that is detected by the OS.

If all of it is not detected, update your BIOS and check it again.

 

by: javier_rodzPosted on 2009-06-24 at 18:22:59ID: 24707384

The motherboard is a 6-Quad/S-series from Gigabyte.  When i execute msinfo32.exe top view system information, the information shows that the computer has 8 GB of RAM, but when I right click on my computer to view properties the general tab shows only 2.25 GB of RAM.  I am not  sure if indeed the OS sees the total amount of ram despite showing less on my computer properties.

Here are the memory test results from crucial. http://www.crucial.com/systemscanner/index.aspx

The following is a list of what our scan was able to detect:
System Manufacturer:  Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System Model: X48-DS5
Motherboard Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
Motherboard Model: X48-DS5
 
Your Computer Specifications
 
2048 MB  2048 MB  2048 MB  2048 MB
Maximum Memory Capacity:  4194304 MB
Currently Installed Memory:  8192 MB
Available Memory Slots:   N.A.
Total Memory Slots:  4
Dual Channel Support:   N.A.
CPU Manufacturer:  GenuineIntel
CPU Family:  Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU X6800 @ 2.93GHz Model 15, Stepping 6
CPU Speed:  2933 MHz

 

by: javier_rodzPosted on 2009-06-24 at 19:06:07ID: 24707564

Revision!  The system has Windows XP 32 bit and not 64 bit.  I

 

by: arixsinPosted on 2009-06-24 at 20:16:22ID: 24707803

You can not use more than 3.25GB (approximate) or RAM in 32bit.  Technically it can see 4, but not all of the 4 is available for the OS. The reason why yours is reporting 2.25, i'm not really sure of. I thought maybe because of it sharing memory for the on-board graphics, but yours doesn't have it.

You have no choice but to upgrade to a 64bit OS. Might as well just download the free Windows 7 64bit Release Canidate from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/download.aspx

 

by: PCBONEZPosted on 2009-07-06 at 01:37:23ID: 24783436

Sort of.
Memory has to have an address assigned to it to be used by the OS.
The address map for a 32-bit OS only has 32-bits worth of addresses and that equates to 4GB.
Windows reserves some of those addresses for system use and those reserved addresses aren't available to be assigned to RAM.

The exact amount reserved depends on what parts [IC chips] are in the system and it will vary a little.
XP typically reserves 0.5 to 0.75 GB of addresses leaving ~ 3.25-3.50 GB available to assigned to RAM.
Vista reserves much more than XP and only having 2.25 GB of addresses left for RAM isn't uncommon.
[That's all with 32-bit versions of course.]

64-bit OS's have a bigger memory map and so they can assign more addresses to RAM.
.

 

by: javier_rodzPosted on 2009-08-17 at 09:37:59ID: 31595872

N/A

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