So have they changed memory things with RC1 compared to Beta? I am running 32bit beta right now and have 8gb memory installed. If I go to system properties it says 8gb memory there and I can definately tell a difference with programs opening if I take out 4gb. I really enjoy having the extra memory and DO NOT want to install 64 bit windows because alot of the stuff I use will not work under that.
Ok. Since I posted this I have been reading other posts and looked in task manager, which shows only 3581 total physical memory, even though system properties shows 8gb. Also, I have tested this several times. When I remove 4gb, leaving me with 4gb, my system boots slower and programs take a little longer to open.
Hey,
(The performance increase/decrease is in your head or you are leaving slower running ram in your system when you take the 4GB out, the speed of ram doesn't give that much improvement)
Windows 7 32bit doesn't allow more then the 3.4 - 3.6GB barrier its not even a full 4 Gb beta or RC. The RC version could be using the ram more efficiently that's about it.
For programs not working in Windows 7 64 bit (or any 64bit OS) 99% of them will work perfectly fine on a 64bit system. You can run 32 bit programs on a 64 bit operating system fine you just cannot run a 64 bit program on a 32 bit OS...)
The only difference you could possible be seeing is the extra 128mb - 256mb ram your computer could be using for the onboard Video ram. Windows 7 and Windows Vista 32 bit can use the exact same amount of ram, a 32 bit operation system can only use a certain amount, it may show in your system as the ram is there but anything over 4GB is not being used and cannot being used, I say 4Gb because if you have 4gb in there the OS uses a certain amount and then the bios/OS used a decated amount for the Video Memory, but that is only if you have a IGP and not a deticated video card. The only way you would be seeing a difference when you remove 4gb of ram from the 8GB to give your system 4GB left is if the ram you took out is faster clocked ram (even in that case you probably would not see very much if not any performance increase with the faster ram in real life use.), anything else and it is in your head because it is physical impossible for a 32bit OS to use more than 4GB of ram it cant even use the full 4gb people just put 4GB in because its 2x2GB sticks and can run in duel channel mode.
I do not see why you guys do not want to move to a 64 bit operating system, It allows you to use more ram and there is no difference... You can still use all your 32 bit programs in most cases, it just allows you to take advantage of your 64bit processor along with programs programmed for 64bit systems allowing them to benefit from the more ram and run better. But running a 32 bit program on a 64 bit OS will work just fine in 99% of the cases.
Do not be afraid of 64bit OS it is the future and perform faster and better than 32 bit that is why everything is starting to go 64bit. Microsoft is even shipping windows 7 with both 32 bit and 64 bit operating system software for the same price. where in Vista you had to buy either or... Once more people start switching to 64 bit operating systems and stop being scared for whatever reason, then everybody else software company's and hardware company's will start making all there stuff for 64 bit giving us all better performance in the end, a lot of company's are starting to make 64bit versions of there programs now anyway because of the performance increase it can have on things like Video and photo editing, encoding and the such.
That being said 8 GB ram in a 32 bit operating system is a waste and will be using less than 4GB of the ram even if it shows up as your system having 8GB, and will not make any kind of improvement unless you change over to the 64 bit OS in which it will be able to take full atavanage of that 8GB you have in your system.
How much memory can Windows 7 32-bit support
