I plan to install Windows 7 OEM on my computer and want to increase the RAM to 6GB or 8Gb. However, I first need to determine if my MB can handle more than 4GB. As I'm going to use an OEM version of Windows 7, I need to know what my MB is capable of prior to making the change. I don't want to Install Windows 7 and find out I need a new MB, then have to deal with WPA when I switch MBs after my initial Windows 7 installation.
I am currently running Windows XP Pro on a Biostar TForce 550 v1.2. v1.3 can handle 8GB of RAM but Biostar support told me they have not tested v1.2 with 8GB and didn't offer any suggestions as to how I could do my own testing. I can borrow some extra RAM from my other computer and test this one with 6GB if someone can tell me how (or if) I can safely do this under XP Pro 32 bit.
The only thing I can think of is installing 6GB and checking System Information in System Tools. But I don't know if seeing 6GB in the System Information report would mean that that my motherboard can handle 6GB or if it would just mean that info32 found 6GB.
I realize my hardware is relatively old, but it is fine for my purposes (spreadsheet, word processing, email and Web surfing) and it has been very reliable and stable, plus I'd rather not spend money on new hardware if it's not necessary. The only change I plan to make other than RAM is to add a better graphics card, probably a Zotac ZT-60602-10L.
Here's what I have now:
Biostar TForce 550 v1.2
3GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2-800
Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Windsor
Gigabyte 7200GT 256 MB GPU
Thermaltake TR2 430w PSU
Windows XP Pro SP3 OEM
I am currently running Windows XP Pro on a Biostar TForce 550 v1.2. v1.3 can handle 8GB of RAM but Biostar support told me they have not tested v1.2 with 8GB and didn't offer any suggestions as to how I could do my own testing. I can borrow some extra RAM from my other computer and test this one with 6GB if someone can tell me how (or if) I can safely do this under XP Pro 32 bit.
The only thing I can think of is installing 6GB and checking System Information in System Tools. But I don't know if seeing 6GB in the System Information report would mean that that my motherboard can handle 6GB or if it would just mean that info32 found 6GB.
I realize my hardware is relatively old, but it is fine for my purposes (spreadsheet, word processing, email and Web surfing) and it has been very reliable and stable, plus I'd rather not spend money on new hardware if it's not necessary. The only change I plan to make other than RAM is to add a better graphics card, probably a Zotac ZT-60602-10L.
Here's what I have now:
Biostar TForce 550 v1.2
3GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2-800
Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Windsor
Gigabyte 7200GT 256 MB GPU
Thermaltake TR2 430w PSU
Windows XP Pro SP3 OEM
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