>4GB memory question

tjtx · November 17, 2009, 01:43

Sorry for the very newbie question. I have noticed people are using 8GB or even 16GB memory. Is there a memory size limitation for 32bit Windows operation system?

abdul099 · November 17, 2009, 05:59

Yes, there is a limitation to 4GB if you are using a 32bit-windows. Use a 64bit operating system or linux if you need more memory.

regards

bramv101 · November 17, 2009, 09:14

Actually its 3.2Gb for 32bits systems

tjtx · November 17, 2009, 09:43

Thanks! Now it's clear to me on the memory size issue. A new question related to 64bit Windows. does that mean many applications currently running on my 32bit Windows will not work correctly under 64bit environment?

abdul099 · November 17, 2009, 11:48

There is a compatibility mode, so your 32bit-applications will work correctly on a 64bit-system. of course, applications can't use more than 3,2GB of memory (thanks to bramv101) as long as they are 32bit-applications.
but i think it does not matter, because there is a 64bit-version of most cfd-programs, and word, excel and so on don't need such a huge amount of memory.

regards

tjtx · November 17, 2009, 14:22

Thanks a lot for all the kind help. The whole picture is more clear to me. Now it's down to the machine to buy. I am looking at HP desktop/workstations. Between a top of notch desktop PC and an above average workstation, which one do you guys recommend? The latter may cost more but budget is not much an issue, as long as the benefit from computing power justifies the extra money.

bramv101 · November 17, 2009, 14:29

Workstation is still more dedicated.. xeon CPU, quadro GPU, SAS drives...
It will all add just that little bit over a standard high end 'game'PC.
HP or Dell not much difference there, just see where you can get the best quote

mystic_cfd · November 19, 2009, 14:30

You should consider 64bit operating systems. Windows is acceptable, but Linux is best if you need to cases requiring more than 2GB of memory. On 32bit systems the memory limit is actually 2GB per process...

chinc · May 14, 2010, 02:05

I have a little confusion here on hardware- software bit compatibility.
Does a 32bit CPU support 64 bit OS? I have a 32 bit C2Q system running on 32bit Windows with 4GB Ram. If I changed my OS to 64 bit OS and increase my ram to 8GB, will I get the PC to run at 8GB memory physically?

jemyungcha · May 14, 2010, 03:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by chinc

I have a little confusion here on hardware- software bit compatibility.
Does a 32bit CPU support 64 bit OS? I have a 32 bit C2Q system running on 32bit Windows with 4GB Ram. If I changed my OS to 64 bit OS and increase my ram to 8GB, will I get the PC to run at 8GB memory physically?

Answer is "no".

You cannot install 64bit OS to your 32bit PC.

chinc · May 14, 2010, 04:45

Thanks for the information. Appreciate.

CedricVH · May 14, 2010, 05:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by chinc

I have a little confusion here on hardware- software bit compatibility.
Does a 32bit CPU support 64 bit OS? I have a 32 bit C2Q system running on 32bit Windows with 4GB Ram. If I changed my OS to 64 bit OS and increase my ram to 8GB, will I get the PC to run at 8GB memory physically?

A 64bit OS will not work on a 32bit CPU, however, your Core 2 Quad is a 64bit CPU! You can thus install a 64bit Windows or Linux on your system.

chinc · May 17, 2010, 10:04

Thanks very much. I was wrong that my cpu is actually a core 2 duo chip. does this type of processor built on 64bit? if yes, i can consider installing a 64bit OS and make full use of my 4GB RAM.

kdrbrk · May 17, 2010, 11:24

Is there 64 bit Gambit? I couldn't find it anywhere...
If there isn't, then there is no benefit of converting to 64 bit.

November 17, 2009, 01:43	>4GB memory question	#1
tjtx New Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 16	Sorry for the very newbie question. I have noticed people are using 8GB or even 16GB memory. Is there a memory size limitation for 32bit Windows operation system?

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November 17, 2009, 05:59		#2
abdul099 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 636 Rep Power: 21	Yes, there is a limitation to 4GB if you are using a 32bit-windows. Use a 64bit operating system or linux if you need more memory. regards

November 17, 2009, 09:14		#3
bramv101 Member TonyD Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 85 Rep Power: 17	Actually its 3.2Gb for 32bits systems

November 17, 2009, 09:43		#4
tjtx New Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 16	Thanks! Now it's clear to me on the memory size issue. A new question related to 64bit Windows. does that mean many applications currently running on my 32bit Windows will not work correctly under 64bit environment?

November 17, 2009, 11:48		#5
abdul099 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 636 Rep Power: 21	There is a compatibility mode, so your 32bit-applications will work correctly on a 64bit-system. of course, applications can't use more than 3,2GB of memory (thanks to bramv101) as long as they are 32bit-applications. but i think it does not matter, because there is a 64bit-version of most cfd-programs, and word, excel and so on don't need such a huge amount of memory. regards

November 17, 2009, 14:22		#6
tjtx New Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 16	Thanks a lot for all the kind help. The whole picture is more clear to me. Now it's down to the machine to buy. I am looking at HP desktop/workstations. Between a top of notch desktop PC and an above average workstation, which one do you guys recommend? The latter may cost more but budget is not much an issue, as long as the benefit from computing power justifies the extra money.

November 17, 2009, 14:29		#7
bramv101 Member TonyD Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 85 Rep Power: 17	Workstation is still more dedicated.. xeon CPU, quadro GPU, SAS drives... It will all add just that little bit over a standard high end 'game'PC. HP or Dell not much difference there, just see where you can get the best quote

November 19, 2009, 14:30		#8
mystic_cfd New Member HP Kritzinger Join Date: May 2009 Location: South Africa Posts: 25 Rep Power: 16	You should consider 64bit operating systems. Windows is acceptable, but Linux is best if you need to cases requiring more than 2GB of memory. On 32bit systems the memory limit is actually 2GB per process...

May 14, 2010, 02:05		#9
chinc New Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 18 Rep Power: 16	I have a little confusion here on hardware- software bit compatibility. Does a 32bit CPU support 64 bit OS? I have a 32 bit C2Q system running on 32bit Windows with 4GB Ram. If I changed my OS to 64 bit OS and increase my ram to 8GB, will I get the PC to run at 8GB memory physically?

May 14, 2010, 04:45		#11
chinc New Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 18 Rep Power: 16	Thanks for the information. Appreciate.

May 17, 2010, 10:04		#13
chinc New Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 18 Rep Power: 16	Thanks very much. I was wrong that my cpu is actually a core 2 duo chip. does this type of processor built on 64bit? if yes, i can consider installing a 64bit OS and make full use of my 4GB RAM.

May 17, 2010, 11:24		#14
kdrbrk Member Burak Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 90 Rep Power: 16	Is there 64 bit Gambit? I couldn't find it anywhere... If there isn't, then there is no benefit of converting to 64 bit.