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32-bit Windows and the dreaded (and misunderstood) 4GB RAM limit

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justice:
From http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366778.aspx#physical_memory_limits_windows_vista:

Paul Keith:
So in the end from the gist of it, I take it now would be the worst time to upgrade your pc?

justice:
I'm sure any pc you buy now can run 64 bit windows vista. I heard very good things about software compatibility, 64bit vista can still run 32bit programs just fine. So if you think of buying a new pc, just ask in the shop if it's possible to get 64bit vista on it preinstalled and they will make sure your drivers are up to date etc. You'll be set for the future.

If you don't plan to get more than 4gb of ram in the life of your new pc then 32bit is fine too, i don't see 32bit software will die off very quick seeing as how many people are still using XP etc. That's what I reckon, feel free to expand.

Darwin:
Here's a MS KB about this: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946003/

Thanks for all of your feedback, everyone. I'm leaning toward making a gift of this RAM to my friend and moving on. I can't see any benefit to be derived from retaining 4GB vs 3GB on this system - the amount available to windows is identical in either scenario. I have another friend with a 32-bit XP Pro system with 4GB RAM and virtually identical specs (he has a much higher spec processor than me but other wise same soundcard, videocard, etc.) and his reports the same amount of installed RAM.

C'est la vie... a fool and his money...  :o

Darwin:
Of course, I could always dual-boot my machine with Linux and use all of that glorious RAM...

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