Vista Workshop: More RAM, More Speed

By Daniel Schuhmann
published

Test Setup

We used the following hardware for this test

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Test Setup
ProcessorIntel Core 2 Duo E68503.00 GHz, FSB1333, 4 MB L2 Cache
MotherboardGigabyte GA-X38-DQ6Rev: 1.0, BIOS: F7 (02.01.2008)
MemorytakeMS 8 GB4x 2 GB DDR2-800 CL5.0-5-5-15TMS2 GB264D082-805AP
Graphics CardGigabyte GV-RX385512HRadeon HD3850 (RV670)512 MB, 670 MHz, 1660 MHz
Hard DriveWestern Digital WD5000AAKS500 GB, 7200 rpm, 16 MB
DVD-ROMSamsung SH-D163
PSUCooler Master 850WRS-850-EMBA
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Software and Drivers
Operating SystemWindows Vista Enterprise
Chipset DriverIntel Chipset Drivers8.3.1.1009 (24.09.2007)
Graphics DriverATI Catalyst 8.116.01.2008

The test setup built around a Gigabyte GA-X38-DQ6 board

Gigabyte GV-RX385512H graphics card

Western Digital WD5000AAKS hard drive

TakeMS TMS2 GB264D082-805AP memory

Daniel Schuhmann
23 Comments Comment from the forums
  • anonymous x
    Crazy
    Nice article!
    Reply
  • trifler
    We need to see benchmarks comparing Vista with 2MB, 4MB, and 8MB. I can't tell my boss that the new high-end computers should have 8MB without some numbers.
    Reply
  • I think meant GB not MB there Trifler... 8MB of ram is not very much... and a "high-end computer" should have at least 2GB of RAM for a 32-bit system, and is OS dependant for 64-bit systems... vista depends on the ver you use as to how much ram is max.
    I have 1 GB of RAM and am using 80% after a normal boot (plus a few non-essential apps... but they make doing things easier
    Reply
  • SkyPRZ
    There is a "test setup" but not followed by any test but directly by the conclusion.
    Did I miss something?
    Nevertheless I've already built a system with Vista 64 & 8GB ram few weeks ago and wanted the test to comfort decisions I made.
    Reply
  • trifler
    Bleh I meant GB not MB in my earlier comment...
    Reply
  • master9716
    with 2 gigs of ram my 64bit runs ultra fast compared to 32bit , I have 3 hdds quad 6600. it should be the otherway around though . On my laptop with 1.5 gigs vista basic runs prety bad I will reinstall see what happens . We need to see some load time benchmarks !!! eventhough this is an old article
    Reply
  • Darthb0b0
    on page 7, how are you changing the amount of ram a particular app is using? is this only applicable to 64-bit windows, or could you also change this with 32-bit?
    Reply
  • Darthb0b0
    One other thing. on page 5 you say that w/4gb of ram it has no benefit to go to 64 bit due to the larger memory foot print required - essentially eating up the extra memory. The extra system memory used is 757 - 549 = 208. Yet the extra addressable memory gained is 4096 - 3581 = 515. The difference is still a net gain of 307mb of ram. Or am I missing something?

    Also, is the reason that only 3.5GB is available in the 32-bit environment due to the 512mb video card and MMIO? If so, what will happen in a 32 or 64 bit system if you have a video setup with 2gb of video ram? Will you only have 2GB of main memory available?
    Reply
  • Darthb0b0
    One answer found:

    Significant chunks of address space below 4GB (the highest address accessible via 32-bit) get reserved for use by system hardware:

    • BIOS – including ACPI and legacy video support

    • PCI bus including bridges etc.

    • PCI Express support will reserve at least 256MB, up to 768MB depending on graphics card installed memory

    Reply
  • Darthb0b0
    Reply