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Does windows 7 32bit support 4Gb of RAM

I am purchasing a new PC (Win 7, 4Gb RAM) & want to know whether to set up as 32bit or 64bit version? Have been told that 32bit version supports only 3.2Gb

of RAM, so to get full the 4Gb RAM usage I should set up PC as 64bit. Is this true? As my other PC (Win 7, 2Gb) is a 32bit version would there be any problems with running any of my programs on the 64bit version? Is there any other major differences between running 32bit or 64bit?

Need some advice.

Thanks,

Corkymooky

Answer
Answer

A 32Bit operation system supports up to 4GB of memory, however not all of it may be available for use by applications.

 

If you only have 4GB of memory and do not plan to install any additional memory then I would install the 32Bit version as there is nothing to be gained by installing the 64Bit version. However if you plan to upgrade to 6 or more GB of memory sometime in the future then install the 64Bit version.

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In round numbers XP, Vista and Windows 7 32-Bit Versions of the Operating System can only address 4GB. Does not matter how much memory you have installed 4GB is the max. From that max your video card has XXXMB of ram on the card so that limits the operating system to 4GB minus the cards XXXMB of memory.

In addition other hardware also takes away additional amounts of memory (usually a small when compared to the video card)
and the remaining memory (address space) is available for Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 OS and your applications.

So that 4th GB thru 16 GB of ram you installed or will install goes unused on a 32-Bit OS. Does not matter what the BIOS reports or what the OS shows as installed memory it still limited to that 4GB address barrier.

A link to the white paper titled "Gaming Performance Analysis" by Corsair
Memory Inc. provides a good clear explanation of how a video card effects
the amount of available memory in your PC.
See: http://www.corsair.com/_appnotes/AN804_Gaming_Performance_Analysis.pdf

Intel Chipset 4 GB System Memory Support
http://www.dcomputer.com/ProInfo/support/support/mainboard/4GB_Rev1/4GB_Rev1.pdf

Vista Users with SP1 now report how much physical memory installed on your computer:
See: Windows Vista SP1 includes reporting of Installed System Memory (RAM):
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946003

RAM, Virtual Memory, Pagefile and all that stuff:
Basic information about the Virtual Memory implementation
in 32 bit versions of Windows 2000, XP, 2003 Server etc.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555223

 

J W Stuart: http://www.pagestart.com

Never be afraid to ask. This forum has some of the best people in the world available to help.

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Last updated April 21, 2025 Views 57,211 Applies to: