How much memory can XP use?

[ua549]

My WinXP box recognizes more than 2.75 GB memory. With a 32bit OS it recognizes approximately 3.5 GB memory. The system also uses 8 sticks of memory.
The issue with 4 sticks of memory is strictly an AMD problem. The speed problem is also an AMD issue. They do not apply to Intel mobos and chip sets.

[gzunk]

Is your XP box Service Pack 1? Service Pack 2 introduces the limit. It prevents drivers from using PAE to address the upper areas of memory, meaning that all drivers have to use the < 4GB address space, making the real RAM unaddressable.

I only commented on the speed issue because it had direct relevence on whether I kept the additional 2 sticks of ram for only a 750MB benefit. I was making no claims that it affected everybody, only that it affected me, and was a factor in my decision.

I personally prefer AMD's solution of an on-chip memory controller. It gives me lower memory latencies and dedicated memory bandwidth that doesn't have to be shared with the rest of the system, with the disadvantages that you've already pointed out.

And anyway, I was only responding to the question, as in what's the maximum that Windows XP sees, and why would one PC see 3.5GB and the other 2.75GB.

[adam_chevyss]

My WinXP box recognizes more than 2.75 GB memory. With a 32bit OS it recognizes approximately 3.5 GB memory. The system also uses 8 sticks of memory.
The issue with 4 sticks of memory is strictly an AMD problem. The speed problem is also an AMD issue. They do not apply to Intel mobos and chip sets.

How did you get eight sticks of memory and is it worth it over 4 at the same end number ie: 4 gb or let's say 2 gb?

[RealBeast]

How did you get eight sticks of memory and is it worth it over 4 at the same end number ie: 4 gb or let's say 2 gb?

ua549 does different stuff with his massive servers than we do playing games on our little computers.

For most of us 2gb is fine for now, probably worth going to 4gb if you are rendering video or something that intensive.