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Windows Vista Vista Ultimate 32bit and 3GB?

Discussion in 'Legacy Windows' started by ralfska, 2008/08/20.

  1. 2008/08/20
    ralfska

    ralfska Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Hi,

    Is it good to increase RAM to 3GB in Vista Ultimate 32-bit? I heard this is the highest reasonable amount of memory to install.

    If I have to keep one memory module of 1GB and get a 2GB module, do I have to get the same brand? For instance, what I have now is 1GB 2Rx16 PC2-5300S by Samsung. Here where I live, I cannot find RAM made by Samsung, only by Kingston. Should this be no problem?

    Last but not least, once I reload Vista, won't I encounter a problem with those 3GB of RAM when installing Vista without SP1? I purchased the box right after Vista had been released and I simply have to download and install SP1 after Vista has been loaded on my PC.

    Thank you in advance.
     
    ralfska,
    #1
  2. 2008/08/20
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Hi Ralfska. Your computer should be fine with running 3 GB of RAM. 32-bit versions of Windows can run with a maximum of about 3.5 GB. If you were to have more than 3.5 GB of RAM then Windows wouldn't recognize that you installed more than 3.5 GB.

    As far as buying RAM from different companies, it shouldn't matter. As long as you buy the same type and speed of RAM for your motherboard then you should be fine. Make sure the RAM modules are the same type and speed otherwise you will run into problems.

    Once I reload Vista, won't I encounter a problem with those 3GB of RAM when installing Vista without SP1?

    Vista should detect the 3 GB of RAM without a problem. If you do have a problem with Vista detecting your RAM than most likely updating to SP1 will fix the issue. :)
     
    Last edited: 2008/08/20
    Evan Omo,
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  4. 2008/08/21
    ralfska

    ralfska Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Thanks a lot! :)
     
    ralfska,
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  5. 2008/08/21
    AKAJohnDoe

    AKAJohnDoe Inactive

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    If you have SP1 installed the actual amount of memory installed will likely be reported; however, the 32 bit OS will only be able to utilize 3.12GB of memory. The only difference SP1 makes is in the reporting, not the use.

    Here is a Microsoft KB article with more details.
     
    AKAJohnDoe,
    #4
  6. 2008/08/21
    ralfska

    ralfska Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    I've just installed an additional memory module by Kingston and now I have 3 GB in my Vista Ultimate 32-bit (checked in BIOS).
    However, one thing makes me wonder: I went to Control Panel|System and rated the system after the second module has been added. I updated the score where in the case of "Memory (RAM)" the subscore was 5.3 when I was running a total of 2 GB. Why is it now indicating only 4.9 ? It has decreased!

    Is this normal in a laptop?
     
    ralfska,
    #5
  7. 2008/08/21
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

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    You might have lost the dual channel function by mixing ram....But, depending on what apps you run and such, 3 gigs is generally better then 2 gigs at a faster rate.
     
    Steve R Jones,
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  8. 2008/08/21
    ralfska

    ralfska Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    It looks as if it's running at dual-channel.

    At least such is a report of the software HWiNFO32:


    Memory ---------------------------------------------------------------

    [General information]
    Total Memory Size: 3 GBytes
    Total Memory Size [MB]: 3072
    [Current Performance Settings]
    Current Memory Clock: 332.3 MHz (5 : 3 ratio)
    Current Timing (tCAS-tRCD-tRP-tRAS): 5.0-5-5-15
    Memory Runs At: Dual-Channel
     
    ralfska,
    #7
  9. 2008/08/21
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

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    It still could "only" mean that the machine is dual capeable....I wouldn't worry about the score.
     
    Steve R Jones,
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  10. 2008/08/21
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    You can only run dual channel RAM if the motherbored supports it and you have matched pairs of modules.
     
    PeteC,
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  11. 2008/08/21
    ralfska

    ralfska Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    PeteC: I believe the motherboard in my brand new Lenovo laptop supports the dual channel feature.

    Is this a noticable disadvantage that the laptop stopped running at a dual channel after I have added a memory module of a different brand?

    Two pieces of software I tried to check out the dual channel support claimed that I was really running at this mode.
     
    ralfska,
    #10
  12. 2008/08/21
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

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    Correct me if I'm wrong, but you can't actually see, feel or taste any difference in the speed can you?
     
    Steve R Jones,
    #11
  13. 2008/08/21
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    I would be surprised if your new laptop did not support dual channel memory :) , but I doubt in a real world situation you would actually notice the difference in performance. From the Crucial website ....
    Although your two modules are of different makes they may well be physically identical - most memory is made by one or two companies only and badged by others.

    This seems to be a good article on the subject ....

    Everything You Need to Know About Dual Channel

    If CPU-Z indicates that the memory is dual channel - I would believe it. Certainly works on my computer with 4 identical modules (2 banks of 2)
     
    PeteC,
    #12
  14. 2008/08/21
    ralfska

    ralfska Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    PeteC: Yes, it is among others CPU-Z that indicates in its tab "memory" the following:
    type: DDR2
    size: 3054 MBytes
    channels #: Dual
    DC mode: symmetric

    Generally, I have noticed a speed increase when running 3 GB now (in comparison to 2 GB). And I don't longer care about the score as given by the Vista's inbuilt utility concerning the lower rating of RAM.
     
    ralfska,
    #13
  15. 2008/08/21
    TerryFox Lifetime Subscription

    TerryFox Well-Known Member

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    Hi, I had 2gb ram with a 4.7 rating . I just added 2 more gb of ram and now my rating is 5.4
     
    TerryFox,
    #14

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