Comments on: Windows Vista: 3GB or 4GB RAM?

By: Paul Doyle

Paul Doyle — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:03:01 +0000

“So if a PC has 4 GB RAM installed, some of that 4 GB is used for MMIO. If a PC has only 3 GB RAM installed, the entire 3 GB will likely be available since MMIO typically uses memory above the 3 GB address.”

“Above the 3 GB address”? This doesn’t make any sense. If a PC has only 3 GB, where “above” 3 GB will the MMIO get mapped? In this example, there isn’t any more memory above the 3 GB. So where does it get mapped?

Also, doesn’t MMIO need to get mapped on PCs with 2 GB and 1 GB of system memory, as well? In those cases, after the MMIO is mapped, wouldn’t users have the same problem, seeing only around 1.1 GB, and .1 GB, (only 100 megabytes!) of usable memory, respectively?

By: Dodo

Dodo — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:33:09 +0000

@bobmonkey: Then you probably have Vista x64.

By: bobmonkey

bobmonkey — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:12:27 +0000

My Vista Home Premium recognises all of the 4GB RAM.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:24:15 +0000

Never mind how much the RAM is. It is ultimately the Windows wins. I had one gb ram and Vista works slower. and my friend has three gb ram and his system is also having the same speed as mine. Its all because of Vista.

By: gaurav jalan

gaurav jalan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:36:53 +0000

man… i m using vista ultimate. and my 4 gb was showing 3 gb in system properties. but as soon as i installed service pack 1.
guess what ?? problem solved. its showing 4 GB now.
so dont complicate the simple things..
cause its so simple to solve difficult things.
but its so difficult to be simple… :-)

By: RS

RS — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 06:14:27 +0000

For more detail, see:
http://www.dansdata.com/askdan00015.htm

By: Maria

Maria — Wed, 20 May 2009 06:49:09 +0000

Hi there,

I am shocked with this article.

Facts:
a) I can not choose the operating system that is sold with the PC
b) Windows XP will be out of the market soon
c) PCs are sold with windows vista that not reach 1 GB
d) Windows vista business requires minimum 1 GB RAM

Questions:
Why it´s not the responsibility of firms to sell computers that have memory RAM up the needs of its software?
Why it´s up to the consumer to ensure that the PC that she is buying has sufficient RAM to run the windows vista? Shouldn´t this be responsibility of the retailer?

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 17 May 2009 10:43:34 +0000

Hi,
I have a notebook with 4 GB ram, however I can see only 3GB.
I heard that I need to install some kind of an update in order to use al my ram. Im using vista home premium.
Does anyone know anything about this kind of updates?
Thanks.

By: Ant

Ant — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:03:05 +0000

Actually, here’s then end-all:

When running Vista(x32) with SP1, the problem of DISPLAYING the sub 4GB is rectified. OBVIOUSLY it won’t show how much is AVAILABLE; neither does x64. The reason for that is because that number is always changing (don’t believe me? get a digital-style readout sidebar gadget that measures the CPU and RAM usage… That sucker jumps around worse than a hyperactive 10yr old at a Mountain Dew taste-testing convention ;) ).

I’ve got a Dual-Core Lamptop (Compaq 6820s) with 4GB (and another GB, via ‘ReadyBoost’), and it runs great… AND it displays that I have 4GB…. I have a portion of that RAM allocated to my ATI card, for gaming.

Look up the ‘PAE’ command for DOS. There’s an option to help streamline your information, via startup and RAM.

As well, there are a few apps that run, a la quickstart and TSR, that most people don’t realise are running. Go into and tweak your system startup to free up some additional (read: WASTED) memory.

And for people who’re wondering: Prefetch = ReadyBooost (Vista’s ability to use USB- and Flash-based memory as a form of RAM.)

By: prefetch

prefetch — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:40:31 +0000

Vista & prefetch – read about it !