Question about 32-Bit and Memory!

[Vishvas Sudarshan]

So my question is simple.

 

A 32-bit processor supports upto 4GB of Memory (Source: Techquickie)

So If I have a 64-Bit Processor, install a 32-Bit OS, and install 8GB Memory, will there be any compatibility issues?

Or is it just CPU-Memory related?

 

Thanks!

[Matt_98]

1 minute ago, Vishvas Sudarshan said:

So my question is simple.

 

A 32-bit processor supports upto 4GB of Memory (Source: Techquickie)

So If I have a 64-Bit Processor, install a 32-Bit OS, and install 8GB Memory, will there be any compatibility issues?

Or is it just CPU-Memory related?

 

Thanks!

 

the os will only use 4 gb

[VerticalDiscussions]

Only half will be readable by Windows.

[Xaring]

Yes, 32-bit OSs can only read up to 4.25GB of ram. So please dont do such a thing.

[Vishvas Sudarshan]

2 minutes ago, Xaring said:

Yes, 32-bit OSs can only read up to 4.25GB of ram. So please dont do such a thing.

Its only temporary, I just need it to work for 1 day.

[VerticalDiscussions]

On the other hand, Linux handles this in a way:

Quote

The Linux kernel includes full PAE mode support starting with version 2.3.23,enabling access of up to 64 GB of memory on 32-bit machines. A PAE-enabled Linux kernel requires that the CPU also support PAE. The Linux kernel supports PAE as a build option and major distributions provide a PAE kernel either as the default or as an option.

Linux distributions now commonly use a PAE-enabled kernel as the default, a trend that began in 2009. As of 2012 many, including Red Hat Enterprise Linux / CentOS, Ubuntu have stopped distributing non-PAE kernels, thus making PAE hardware mandatory.

 

[GoodBytes]

The max RAM a 32-bit OS can access is 4GB.

As the address: 11111111111111111111111111111111 (32x 1's) on your RAM, points to the last bit, which is 4GB.

HOWEVER, this is in theory. Due to the way 32-bit Windows is designed, only 3.5 to 3.7GB (depending on your system configuration) will be addressable.

 

If you install 64-bit OS, then the OS, with your 64-bit CPU, allows to reach address (assuming you have the hardware): 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111  (64x 1's) which is 16 Exabyte (1EB is 1,024 PT (PetaBytes), where 1 PT is 1,024 GB). That said, Microsoft certifies Windows 10 64-bit to work with 512GB of RAM. So, if you have more RAM than that, and Windows 10 doesn't work, you are on your own for now.

 

Note that the Home edition of Windows 10 is limited to 128GB, you need to get the Pro or Enterprise editions to enjoy more RAM... if you could afford 512GB of RAM today, you can afford to pay the extra ~20$ and get the Pro edition of Windows. It should be less than pocket change for you

 

[Vishvas Sudarshan]

4 minutes ago, GoodBytes said:

The max RAM a 32-bit OS can access is 4GB.

As the address: 11111111111111111111111111111111 (32x 1's) on your RAM, points to the last bit, which is 4GB.

HOWEVER, this is in theory. Due to the way 32-bit Windows is designed, only 3.5 to 3.7GB (depending on your system configuration) will be addressable.

 

If you install 64-bit OS, then the OS, with your 64-bit CPU, allows to reach address (assuming you have the hardware): 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111  (64x 1's) which is 16 Exabyte (1EB is ~1,024 PT (PetaBytes), where 1 PT is 1,024 GB). That said, Microsoft certifies Windows 10 64-bit to work with 512GB of RAM. So, if you have more RAM than that, and Windows 10 doesn't work, you are on your own for now.

 

Note that the Home edition of Windows 10 is limited to 128GB, you need to get the Pro or Enterprise editions to enjoy more RAM... if you could afford 512GB of RAM today, you can afford to pay the extra ~20$ and get the Pro edition of Windows. It should be less than pocket change for you

 

Thanks a lot for the information. I'm now more clear with the concept.

 

Can you tell me for my question: 32-Bit OS, 64-Bit CPU and 8GB RAM. Will this work? 

[GoodBytes]

41 minutes ago, Vishvas Sudarshan said:

Thanks a lot for the information. I'm now more clear with the concept.

 

Can you tell me for my question: 32-Bit OS, 64-Bit CPU and 8GB RAM. Will this work? 

If you install a 32-bit OS on a 64-bit CPU, the CPU will go under compatibility mode and act as if it is a 32-bit CPU, all 64-bit features, including security ones, will be disabled. But yes, it should work.

 

Glad it helped!

[Mira Yurizaki]

3 hours ago, VerticalDiscussions said:

On the other hand, Linux handles this in a way:

Windows also has support for PAE, but only for Professional and above.

 

Even then with PAE, programs still operate in a 32-bit environment and can only address 4GB of memory at most.

 

3 hours ago, GoodBytes said:

HOWEVER, this is in theory. Due to the way 32-bit Windows is designed, only 3.5 to 3.7GB (depending on your system configuration) will be addressable.

Wanted to clarify on this bit. It's not Windows' fault available RAM is that much. It's the system due to needing to map addresses to other components like VRAM and such.

[VerticalDiscussions]

4 minutes ago, M.Yurizaki said:

-snip-

Thanks for clarifying! Didnt linus miss this point on his Windows regular vs professional edition on Techquickie :p?

 

(Who in this world would be using a 32 bit Intel/AMD server processor as of now tough xD)

[Mira Yurizaki]

1 minute ago, VerticalDiscussions said:

Thanks for clarifying! Didnt linus miss this point on his Windows regular vs professional edition on Techquickie :p?

In his defense, using 32-bit Windows is pretty rare for the audience he targets.

[GoodBytes]

16 minutes ago, M.Yurizaki said:

Wanted to clarify on this bit. It's not Windows' fault available RAM is that much. It's the system due to needing to map addresses to other components like VRAM and such.

Mostly due to driver issues that manufactures didn't want to fix as at the time, 4GB of RAM was not common.