Tom's Hardware > Forum > Motherboards & Memory > Memory > 32bit Windows and ram limit
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Tinto   06-04-2009 at 08:52:24 AM

What is the memory limit for WinXP home SP3? Does that include Vram or is that extra? Also, if I get 4 sticks of 1gb dual channel kits, and if winxp only uses 3.2(or whatever), do I still get the dual channel benefit and the same access speed, timings, etc... as before?

Second question is will it be a complete waste to go beyond 2gb for winxp home?

Third, I don't need a huge page file if I have 2gb of ram in XP right? Like 1gb would be enough?

Thank you.

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Message edited by Tinto on 06-04-2009 at 09:41:17 AM
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IH8U   06-04-2009 at 09:48:38 AM
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Personally I'd use 2x2GB sticks over 4x1GB. Yes 32bit can reconize up to 3.7* GB of RAM, however going slightly over won't hurt anything. As for the amount you need, it depends on what you are going to use it for.

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dokk2   06-04-2009 at 03:26:43 PM
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Tinto wrote :

What is the memory limit for WinXP home SP3? Does that include Vram or is that extra? Also, if I get 4 sticks of 1gb dual channel kits, and if winxp only uses 3.2(or whatever), do I still get the dual channel benefit and the same access speed, timings, etc... as before?

Second question is will it be a complete waste to go beyond 2gb for winxp home?

Third, I don't need a huge page file if I have 2gb of ram in XP right? Like 1gb would be enough?

Thank you.



1.If you go over 2g of ram go for 2x2 not 4x1,you might have timing problems,,plus you can stay with 1T in the bios rather than the slower 2T. AND 2x2 is easier to sell/upgrade,at a later date..
2. You certainly can install 4g of ram,but XP will only see/use about 3.5 or so,no harm done..
3. I have found that with 2g or more of ram I do not even need a page/swapfile..:)

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gamerk316   06-04-2009 at 07:07:21 PM
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http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/258528-30-explained

The 4GB limit applies to the total address space needed for all devices. Typically, the equation is:

4GB - 256MB (Motherboard) - GFX Card RAM - Sound card XRAM - other devices.

Assuming a 512MB GPU, you get 4GB - 256MB - 512MB = 3.25GB

------------------------------ http://valid.canardpc.com/cache/banner/622598.png
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Tinto   06-04-2009 at 08:59:52 PM
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dokk2 wrote :

1.If you go over 2g of ram go for 2x2 not 4x1,you might have timing problems,,plus you can stay with 1T in the bios rather than the slower 2T. AND 2x2 is easier to sell/upgrade,at a later date..
2. You certainly can install 4g of ram,but XP will only see/use about 3.5 or so,no harm done..
3. I have found that with 2g or more of ram I do not even need a page/swapfile..:)


What problem does 4 sticks of ram have? I already have 2 sticks of 1gb, and if I get the exact same dual channel kit, what problem can there be? And what is the 1T timing? I always set the timings manually according to the specs of my memory. I'm not planning to upgrade this system anymore.

@gamerk316, what are the "other devices"?

And is there any need for going above 2gb of ram for today's games under winxp 32bit?


Message edited by Tinto on 06-04-2009 at 09:10:33 PM
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Scotteq   06-04-2009 at 09:02:17 PM
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In a computer all bytes in the memory system need a unique name. This is called an address. For example, if you have 2 GB of main memory, then there are 2147483648 bytes of RAM in your machine, each of which require an address for the operating system to communicate to it. To give these all an address you need 31 bits to do it. Now, if/when you have 32 bits, you can name 4 GB (2 bytes to the 32nd power = 4GB).

This is why the total addressable space available in a 32 bit OS is 4GB – the OS runs out of addresses and cannot communicate/locate any more bytes of memory because of that.

You may think ”Hey, 4GB of address space… 4GB of RAM… What’s the problem” The problem is that memory isn’t the only thing needing an address. If you install a total of 4GB worth of RAM, the system will detect/use/display less than 4GB of total memory because of address space allocation for other critical functions, such as:

- System BIOS (including motherboard, add-on cards, etc..)
- Motherboards resources
- Memory mapped I/O
- Configuration for AGP/PCI-Ex/PCI
- Other memory allocations for PCI devices

Different onboard devices and different add-on cards (devices) will result of different total memory size. e.g. more PCI cards installed will require more memory resources, resulting of less memory free for other uses.

This limitation applies to most chipsets & Windows XP/Vista 32-bit version operating systems. Again, this is a limitation of the Operating System not having enough address space to allocate to the system *and* the RAM. Not allocating address space to devices renders them inoperable. Not allocating addresses to RAM simply results in the unaddressed section not being used in an otherwise fully functional computer. Therefore the OS designers assign RAM last.


If you install a Windows operating system, and if more than 3GB memory is required for your system, then the below conditions must be met:

1. A memory controller which supports memory swap functionality is used. The latest chipsets like Intel 975X, 955X, Nvidia NF4 SLI Intel Edition, Nvidia NF4 SLI X16, AMD K8 and newer architectures can support the memory swap function.

2. Installation of Windows XP Pro X64 Ed. (64-bit), Windows Vista 64, or other OS which can provide more than 4GB worth of address space.



Note: Windows Vista 32bit SP1 will display the installed amount of RAM. This is a display change only.


Message edited by Scotteq on 06-04-2009 at 09:03:48 PM
------------------------------ Which Chip? Well, it depends on which set of thieving b@stardz you choose to support: The ones who use insider trading to enrich themselves while running their company into the ground, or the ones who illegally pay vendors to not support the first group.
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