4GB Ram with Windows Vista 32 bit

[ktmj61]

I realize Vista basic 32-bit only recogizes 3.25GB of RAM, but if you had 4GB installed would the extra 1GB be used by your Video?

 

[r_manic]

You mean by your video card right? I don't think so. The sharing of memory is done through the OS, which means your card can only "see" what Windows does.

You can try upgrading to Visa 64 to maximize your RAM.

 

[gamerk316]

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/258528-30-explained

A 32-bit OS only has 4GB address space, or space where memory addresses can be mapped. After space is put aside for the motherboard (256MB is what I use for my comparisions), any device that takes up RAM needs to be subtracted. As such, if you have a 512MB video card, you get:

4GB - 256MB - 512MB = 3.25GB of avaliable system memory.

Note, dual GPU cards behave diffrently; a 1GB dual card only takes up 512MB address space, as the second 512MB is not used (and not mapped as a result), which is why a 32-bit OS can boot 2x 4870X2's (2GB each).