Im almost positive that you can't have more then 2 gigs of memory with XP, however we're buying a laptop right now as I type this and there is an option for 4 gigs of memory with XP (NOT VISTA), I was under the impression that only vista can take advantage of 4gigs of mem?

Why would DELL have the option for 4 gigs with XP? It's only $50 different, but still, I'd rather not spend $50 if I don't have to.


Sorry for the thread, but it's important. Danke!

Daniel

 

it takes 3 gigs.
it just comes with 2 sticks of 2 = 4.
windows XP 32bit (which is probably what you're getting can handle 3 gigs. but you might as well just throw in the two sticks of 2GB memory.

any 64bit processor will take more memory if you wish.
you can get XP 64bit and get add more RAM that way.

 

Hmmm.... Its been a while, but I thought XP was 32 bit, but this is "Vista ready XP", so perhaps its an updated 64 bit kernel? I haven't been in the OS loop so I don't know the latest, but the last time I built a machine, XP could only handle 2gigs of memory due to the 32 bit kernel.

Thanks Ian, I appreciate it.

 

XP has a 64 bit version no?

 

I did not know that... But now I know, and knowing is half the battle.


XP > Vista

 

XP Home I think is 3 GB, XP Pro is 4 GB. Vista = 4GB, AFAIK, I think Ultimate can do more, but I can't recall.

I'm a heavy computer user and the most I've ever had is 2GB.

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system...AE/PAEmem.mspx

What exactly are you needed all that memory for? Just curious, no one I know has actually needed all their memory, unless they were running a server or used massive memory hog programs.

As for XP > Vista, negative. They both have their pros and cons. For everyday internet and just a nice looking operating system, Vista is cool. For doing dumb little hacks to my Windows phone, XP is the way to go.

Also, XP Pro is similar to Vista Ultimate, both have remote desktop and extra security features for files and file systems, but Vista has one thing XP doesn't have, easy file copy and file name changes, oh, and it can utilize more than 3GB memory.

Vista is graphics heavy, get a good video card and it runs great.

 

I have to say my vista home laptop had more computing power than my xp laptop but nah it is a hog on memory etc.. now my vista desktop system is vista ultimate and that works a lot better also it has 8g ram so thats not bad lol. I still have to get used to vista more cus i am usually on my xp system. I have likes and dislikes about both but for what i have been using the systems for really doesnt matter.

 

yes, but the driver support kinda blows.

i had 2 machine at work with xp pro 64...

hassle with even hp drivers.

 

vista 64 had issues with some drivers too..

 

i dont know...

been using an hp machine that came with 32 bit vista for over a year now.

granted, 99% of time it works as a DVR.

i recently got another hp vista 64 machine.

i gotta say, it is quite enjoyable.

i installed sony vegas with 64 bit. runs like a charm.

installed paint shop pro XI. ditto.

i just wish firefox would come up with a 64 bit version.

i only use open office on it so i cant say how MS office will work.

plus the benefit of 64 bits is this machine came with 7 gigs of ram (although at initial boot, stupid vista uses over 1 gig of ram...) so for video editing work, i like it.

so if your apps need or will benefit with 64 bits, i say go for it.

i manage to get circuit city (a few months ago) to price match those 1 day sale ads from frys so it was around $600...

 

dont tell me... usb drawing tablet? and the company dont start with WACOM?????


lol...

 

More gigs the better. XP uses up 80% of a gig, running any other programs will use more.

 

my XP hardly uses ram. now have to say 32bit vista is major hog my 64bit vista I never notice lol cus it has 8g of ram.

 

all 32 bit operating systems max out at 4 GB. however, that 4GB is a combination of your computer's memory and your video card memory. Say you have a 512MB video card and 4 GB of RAM. When you check your system info, it will only say you have 3.5GB or RAM. It could possibly say less, but there are settings you can change to fix that so Windows will see it all.


The reason different operating systems have different max levels is because some reserve memory space for certain hardware which subtracts from that 4GB max before taking into account your RAM or GPU.

 

In addition to the other 32 bit limitations noted above, applications running under Windows XP are normally restricted to a maximum of 2GB per app.

The 4GB is useful for some future proofing. If you run any 64 bit OS, it will be able to use the extra memory. I'm running Windows 7 64-bit on my MacBook and it seems pretty decent so far.