Whats the maximum RAM for XP?

I have a desktop PC
Intel Pentium 4 CPU 3.20 GHz 3.21Gz
512 MB of RAMI wanna upgrade the amount of RAM, How many is the maximum that i can go for? I read a few comments when i googled it. It was either 2GB or 3GB. More than that XP wont be able to use it. Is that true?

4GB, will only appear as 3.5GB on XP 32bit, but still get 4GB

Doesn't it also depend on your motherboard? My old gateway could only have 1GB total. (Two 512MB chips)

Replying to #3

well yes that too, but I would imagine a P4 3.2 system can handle 4GB

Also, the VRAM (video cards) is counted for the total RAM.So if you have a couple 512MB video cards setup in SLI (1024MB total, or 1GB), you will only be able to use 3GB of your system RAM. Even if you physically install 4GB, your computer won't use part of it.(On a 32bit Operating System of course).

so..which is it..intalling 4 GB will result to 3.5 GB ram..So why not just install 3 pcs 1 GB and 1 pc 512mb ram?

Windows XP 32bit can only recognize 4GB of RAM total. This includes VRAM, RAM, etc. It will recognize your VRAM first, then your RAM last. So if you have a 512MB video card, your system will only recognize 3.5GB of RAM.Like right now, I have two video cards with 512MB each, and even though I have two 2GB sticks of RAM in my PC, It only registers as 3.00GB in my hardware properties.If you are going to use a video card with more than 1GB of RAM, you are best off getting a 64bit Operating System. 32bit Operating systems are going to be obsolete very quickly, especially now that you can get 2GB Video Cards.

i see..so its advisable to start using 64 bit OS that can handle more RAM than 32 bit OS that will inevitably become obsolete. When you say 64-bit OS..dya mean Vista?

Na, I wouldn't start on your system, 2GB of RAM and a 512MB (or 1GB) video card will hold you over for a while.And by 64 bit OS, I mean a 64 bit OS ;) They make 32 bit and 64 bit versions of Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7.Keep your Windows XP, and just put more RAM in it. You can get 2GB of ram (Two 1GB cards) for pretty cheap, 70-80 bucks. I don't know the details, but they recommend using balanced sticks (Two 512MB, Two 1GB, Two 2GB, etc.)

all you really need is 2gbs of ram unless your running vista in my opinion uses alot of ram

TirithRR · #9I don't know the details, but they recommend using balanced sticks (Two 512MB, Two 1GB, Two 2GB, etc.)

Balanced sticks..will something bad happen if you place, lets say (2) 1 GB and (1) 512mb?

It has something to do with Dual Channel RAM, and how the slots are paired.If you put unbalanced sticks in paired slots, it won't work right. I think some are labelled or color coded as to what the pairs are.

Unbalanced RAM will either result in one of the RAM cards not being read in single channel mode. Or it won't work at all.

XD9999 · #11Balanced sticks..will something bad happen if you place, lets say (2) 1 GB and (1) 512mb?

if they aren't evenly matched pairs then the ram runs at half the speed. It's a noticeable difference.Also stay away from 64bit XP

Replying to #14

ok..then ill assume that 64 bit XP is bad?...if not XP then what OS should i go for?

64 bit XP has terrible driver support and software compatibility. I would go for either 64 bit windows 2003 (it's a server OS, but with a little work can easily be used as a desktop OS) or 32 bit windows 2003 enterprise has a boot.ini switch that allows it to use up to 64GB of ram.

Indeed, 64-bit for the lose. :PIf you have XP, 4GB is lightning speed. For Vista, it's regular speed.

Replying to #17

well then my 4GB linux box is going to be super lightening speed :PCurrently my friends PC is running XP x64 and its horrible, he has 8GB of ram and cant run Fallout 3 because of driver support. from what ive heard generally 64bit OS are terrible with compatibility

Replying to #18

XP 64 is, Patton runs 2003 64 bit and says he's not had any issues. I run 32 bit 2003 enterprise with the /pae switch, although I'm considering switching to 64 bit as the drivers for my favourite soundcard object to /pae mode.

Replying to #19

interesting, I would look into running 2003 though I dont like my chances of finding drivers since I cant even get XP drivers for my system.