The Fermi Thread - Part 3

[DosDuoNo]

This is not pointed to you personally, but to the whole buggus in question.

"Windows 32bit" will only see and utilize no more than 4 gig (just a little under), but all the other programs installed will use eveything available. So when playing a game, it is not windows 32 managing the memory, but the game itself and the hardware in question (which is sort of a program on its own).

So basically you guys are half right and confuse.

Everything will be in use, but windows 32 will only use what it can, 2 different thing.

this is wrong, and shows a basic misunderstanding and common wrong about 32 bit OS systems. it also shows you dont really understand 32 bit address at all.

AFAIK all AIC's that have physical ram installed have to reserve address space with the OS and with 32bit windows the total is 4gb shared address space. There are supposedly specific apps that utilize PAE to utilize more then 4gb but not anything the avg consumer is probably using.

Don't take it the wrong way but I'm not really sure what position you are in to call others half right and confused considering this issue is clearly documented....

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605/

this is of course correct, but i will put it simply for you

32 bit OS can only address just under 4 gig, regardless of whats sitting on top, ie: games programs etc.

now heres the basic math

OS system total availible address space - just under 4 gig

system memory - 2 gig
Other devices (ie, Device manager list) - 0.8 gig
Soundblaster Sound Card - 64 MB
Video card - 512 MB
Total = 3.31 gig

now everthing is great here, no problems, but lets change a couple of things,

system memory - 3 gig
Other devices (ie, Device manager list) - 0.8 gig
Soundblaster Sound Card - 64 MB
Video card -1 gig MB
Total = 4.81 gig

housten we have a problem , windows will now 'reduce' memory address alocation. and Memory will disapear, because? the grand total cannot be more that just under 4 gig.

it really is that simple