Could someone please explain this?

Belly · 9 May 2007 at 20:07

Taken from the hardware forum posted by Supernova9 (hope you don't mind)

Quote: 2GB would be enough, if you wanted 4GB I'd buy another set of the Ballistix, that stuff overclocks like a beast. Of course the full 4GB would only be recognised by Vista 64, so unless you're planning on installing that straight off, I'd stick with 2GB for now. UnQuote

Does this indicate that prebuilt/self build computers with 4GB ram must use Vista Premium 64 and that systems using Vista 32 would not get the benefits of the full 4GB?

I'd appreciate easy to understand (not too technical) answers please!

FrannoBaz · 9 May 2007 at 20:19

Yeah, basically 32-bit Architechtured windows only supports 3.25GB or something weird.... X64 Windows such as Windows XP x64 or Windows Vista Ultimate x64 (for example) will (should) take full use of the 4GB installed...

9761 · 9 May 2007 at 20:24

Ive got vista 64bit and have 4GB installed but only showing 3.25gb

Belly · 9 May 2007 at 20:31

Thanx for your reply. I think I'm on very unsound ground here.

Is premium 64 backwards compatible (if that's the correct term), ie will it do all that 32 will do but 32 won't do all that 64 is capable of? Or if one gets 64 is it likely that earlier programs which ran on Windows XP (and I suppose my home edition is 32 or less) will not install?

It's just that I'm considering getting a new computer with Vista and would like to have (in use) 4GB memory, and of course would like to be able to use all the programs I'm currently using on XP.

Yes I know, my wife says I was born difficult

Cob · 9 May 2007 at 20:47

Most programs work on x64 Vista, some don't. Tho majority of the ones that don't will probably be upgraded to work at some stage.

FrannoBaz · 9 May 2007 at 20:48

Yep x64 Home Premium is backwards compatible as x32 version (x64 Version has two folders for Program files.... one for x64 programs and one for x86/x32 bit programs

FrannoBaz · 9 May 2007 at 20:49

oh and btw Belly, add me to msn @ [email protected]

Belly · 9 May 2007 at 20:59

FrannoBaz said:
oh and btw Belly, add me to msn @ [email protected]

Thanx for you help in the post above. I really don't understand this one, you know they say some fell on stony ground

When joining these forums I didn't know to enter my location as "Fallen on Hard Times" or "Fallen on Stony Ground"

Thanx again

FrannoBaz · 9 May 2007 at 21:06

hehe its cool man... its not THAT hard to understand really.... im new to Vista really aswell its all a bit baffling at first...

robg1701 · 10 May 2007 at 02:09

9761 said:
Ive got vista 64bit and have 4GB installed but only showing 3.25gb

Using a mobo with an older chipset? If so thats your problem.

Dyson · 10 May 2007 at 15:10

Running vista 64 on an evga 680i mobo, with 4gig of geil ddr2 (at correct speeds/timings). My friend has the asus 680i board, and couldnt get 4gb to work. Would either crash, not post, or only see it as 667 ram.