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Hitman
01-01-2009, 05:46 PM
Right, after reading through Mykes thread I have a question about RAM. My PC is running 32bit Vista, and it says "4GB of RAM" on the Control Panel thing... but 32 bit can only use 3GB or something... so is it using 3 or 4 because it detects 4...

Bit silly of PC World to put in 4GB of RAM if it can only use 3...

Somebody clear it up. Thanks! :P
Stephen!
01-01-2009, 05:52 PM
Take away the amount of graphics card RAM you have from the 4GB. That will give you how much the system can use.
Recursion
01-01-2009, 05:52 PM
Vista Service Pack 1 will show 4GB, but not use it all.

It will use 3.whatever depending on how much RAM your graphics card has.
Hitman
01-01-2009, 05:58 PM
Hmm on the box my PC was in it says 256MB to 1535MB (for the gfx card)... So It could be just using 2.5GB of RAM?
Stephen!
01-01-2009, 06:00 PM
What type of GPU is it? Integrated or card?
Hitman
01-01-2009, 06:04 PM
What type of GPU is it? Integrated or card?
No idea... it's a nVidia GeForce 7100, if that helps...

I found out this info btw...

http://www.tehupload.com/uploads/10263fb7203c1eahmm.png

From that it says it can use 3GB, right?
Recursion
01-01-2009, 06:36 PM
It will be sharing your RAM to increase its RAM size.
Hitman
02-01-2009, 11:23 AM
Hmm is it possible for a 32bit os to ever use 4GB of RAM and the gfx, etc? Will Windows 7 do it?

Kinda annoying... when I have quite a few things open my RAM usage is at 38% and it never seems to exceed that...
Recursion
02-01-2009, 11:24 AM
Nope, its physically impossible
N!ck
02-01-2009, 11:27 AM
You can make it emulate a 36-bit, meaning 64GB RAM is possible but i would strongly advise not trying it.
Hitman
02-01-2009, 11:47 AM
Nope, its physically impossible


You can make it emulate a 36-bit, meaning 64GB RAM is possible but i would strongly advise not trying it.

Okey dokey. My PC has one years warrenty and I dunno if reinstalling the OS voids it, it's a Packard Bell... can you install a 64bit version using intel core 2 quad q8200?

And aren't some things incompatible with 64bit? Like software always says 32bit and I never see 64 bit...
Recursion
02-01-2009, 12:25 PM
98% of the time software will work on Vista 64

I just run anything that doesn't work on my laptop or a Virtual Machine
N!ck
02-01-2009, 12:42 PM
Q8200 is x64 compatible...
Hitman
02-01-2009, 05:24 PM
Okay thanks... I think I'll download an untouched x64 Vista iso.

I'm using 'Packard Bell Recovery Management' to backup all of my drivers and applications, but to reinstall them all surely I'll need PBRM already installed? Meh.

Also, do you think this will void my warranty (reinstalling the OS)?
Recursion
02-01-2009, 05:51 PM
It shouldn't void your warranty, that'd be rediculous if it did.

I wouldn't back the drivers up as you will need to download 64-bit drivers for your hardware, I would also reinstall the software instead of installing backups.
Hitman
02-01-2009, 05:53 PM
It shouldn't void your warranty, that'd be rediculous if it did.

I wouldn't back the drivers up as you will need to download 64-bit drivers for your hardware, I would also reinstall the software instead of installing backups.

Ah, everything has to be 64bit-ified.

I've emailed Packard Bell support just to be sure - it's silly though, I can't even install PCI cards because theres a warranty sticker on the panel and the back. :(

Just wondering, where should I go for the drivers...? The PB website only has the 32bit drivers. :(
Agnostic Bear
02-01-2009, 06:07 PM
Nope, its physically impossible

No it's not, PAE.
Hitman
02-01-2009, 06:11 PM
No it's not, PAE.

I had no idea what that was, so I used google and found this...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_Address_Extension

Can somebody explain? Please!
N!ck
02-01-2009, 06:26 PM
I had no idea what that was, so I used google and found this...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_Address_Extension

Can somebody explain? Please!

Basically what I was saying about making it 36-bit. Don't do it though.
Hitman
02-01-2009, 06:38 PM
Basically what I was saying about making it 36-bit. Don't do it though.Ah right, okay cheers.

Well, if I can find my drivers in 64bit then I'll "upgrade", but I can't find the drivers... I think Packard Bell only install 32bit...
DaveTaylor
02-01-2009, 06:49 PM
Ye I agree with nick don't do 36-bit, your motherboard might go bang, experience talking here.
Hitman
02-01-2009, 06:51 PM
Ye I agree with nick don't do 36-bit, your motherboard might go bang, experience talking here.

Haha okay, it'd probably void the warranty anyway... thanks. :D

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