Windows XP SP2 only seeing 3GB of Ram instead of 4GB.

[Shake&Bake]

So a bit of googling reveals that this is the norm.

I'm busy installing GTA IV and am gonna need as much RAM as I can get
Should I rather just go ahead and install win7 64bit?
I have the 32 and 64 bit here, just have not gotten around to installing it yet.
Or would it be better/simpler to get SP3?
How big is the download for SP3?
Is it a viable option that will solve my Windows and RAM problem?

Current specs for rig is:
E7400 @ 2.8Ghz
Biostar P43-A7
4GB DDR2-800 RAM
250GB SataII for OS and 1TB SataII for everything else.

[Pr⊕phet]

/i wish we could have a sticky for this 64/32 and 4gig ram questions

• firstly service packs is a collection of fixes and sometimes added features, which by itself is always good to apply the latest service pack.
• win 7's rtm is due in few weeks you might want to wait for that rather
• how big is sp3 ? - look here
• unfortuantly even if you do some voodoo or service pack, a 32bit os's memory limitation will still remain.

[Shake&Bake]

/i wish we could have a sticky for this 64/32 and 4gig ram questions

• firstly service packs is a collection of fixes and sometimes added features, which by its always good to apply the latest service pack.
• win 7's rtm is due in few weeks you might want to wait for that rather
• how big is sp3 ? - look here
• unfortuantly even if you do some voodoo or service pack, a 32bit os's memory limitation will still remain.

Hehehe

Mmm I detect some mojo from this thread coming through

Cheers will have a run through it.


(That follows the protocol right? )

[dudleygb]

ya if u want to go bigger than 4GB, you have to go x64 something. I'm doing Win7x64 and Ubuntu 904 x64
Will be interesting to see how they compare.

Win 7 RTM is due soon, but I'm sure that if one installs the RC1 you will get the updates, which will typically make it the same as RTM?

[Pr⊕phet]

Hehehe

Mmm I detect some mojo from this thread coming through

Cheers will have a run through it.


(That follows the protocol right? )

roflolmao, o well what can i say

i think i'm going to write a program and then from that just select a reply based on what has been posted

[Shake&Bake]

LoL sweet thanks for the replies

Mmm will have to go Win7 x64 then with RC1 that I have.

[Shake&Bake]

Kinda nervous to make the jump to Win7 - I hated Vista and XP has been my solace and rest

[Garyvdh]

Yes, Install Win 7 64 bit and run the game in compatibility mode. Should work.. hopefully. I've had good luck so far.

[dudleygb]

I installed RC1 2 nights ago and installed Crysis straight away, it went as smooth as ice, and I didnt have to do any sort of configuring to get the game working.
Try it out, if you dont like it, use XP64 or Vista64, but the games will work and if you get your RC1 key, its valid until next year June July, thats a whole year of free OS

[froot]

So a bit of googling reveals that this is the norm.

I'm busy installing GTA IV and am gonna need as much RAM as I can get
Should I rather just go ahead and install win7 64bit?
I have the 32 and 64 bit here, just have not gotten around to installing it yet.
Or would it be better/simpler to get SP3?
How big is the download for SP3?
Is it a viable option that will solve my Windows and RAM problem?

Current specs for rig is:
E7400 @ 2.8Ghz
Biostar P43-A7
4GB DDR2-800 RAM
250GB SataII for OS and 1TB SataII for everything else.

Immediately I'm going to ask you if you didn't know this beforehand? 32bit can only see 3.2-ish GB
64bit can see around 128GB, but a modified kernel can see more (used for servers).

[TowerGuru]

I have the same issue. . . Only way to solve it is to get a 64bit operating system. Anyone got a spare Win 7 x64 in Durban for me? :-P

[Lino]

I installed RC1 2 nights ago and installed Crysis straight away, it went as smooth as ice, and I didnt have to do any sort of configuring to get the game working.
Try it out, if you dont like it, use XP64 or Vista64, but the games will work and if you get your RC1 key, its valid until next year June July, thats a whole year of free OS

Except in March 2010 it starts shutting down every two hours.

[Shake&Bake]

Ooh windows7 is looking very good. Can't believe it's just found my 8500GT on its own.

So I don't need to install Nvidia drivers at all?

[dudleygb]

Ooh windows7 is looking very good. Can't believe it's just found my 8500GT on its own.

So I don't need to install Nvidia drivers at all?

ya if u start doing updates, windows update will download and install the NVIDIA drivers, happened to me last night, I think the Windows drivers are just generic to get it going

[Shake&Bake]

ya if u start doing updates, windows update will download and install the NVIDIA drivers, happened to me last night, I think the Windows drivers are just generic to get it going

Ah cool, will get started on that.
But it was really nifty to just get 1680x1050 resolution out of the box and no ghosting.