Hi all
You will want to read this if you are using or wanting to use 4gig of ram...
If you installed total 4GB memory, the system will detect less than 4GB of total memory because of address space allocation for other critical functions, such as:
- System BIOS (including motherboard, add-on cards, etc..)
- Motherboards resources
- Memory mapped I/O
- configuration for AGP/PCI-Ex/PCI
- Other memory allocations for PCI devices
Different onboard devices and different add-on cards (devices) will result of different total memory size.
e.g. more PCI cards installed will require more memory resources, resulting of less memory free for other uses.
On a SLI system, since PCI-Ex graphic cards will occupy around 256MB, another 256MB will be occupied after you install a 2nd PCI-Ex graphic card. Hence, 2.75GB memory left only if two SLI cards installed on A8N-SLI Premium while 3.0GB memory left with one graphic card without other add-on devices.
This limitation applies to most chipsets & Windows XP 32-bit version operating system.
If you install Windows XP 32-bit version operating system, we recommend that you install less than 3GB of total memory. If more than 3GB memory is required for your system, then below two conditions must be met:
1. The memory controller which supports memory swap functionality is used. The la-*test*-('") chipsets like Intel 975X, 955X, Nvidia NF4 SLI Intel Edition, Nvidia NF4 SLI X16, and AMD K8 CPU architecture can support the memory swap function.
2. Windows XP Pro X64 Ed. (64-bit) or other OS which can address more than 4GB memory.
You can check below URLs for reference:
http://dlsvr01.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/4GB_Rev1.pdf http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/...b/cs-016594.htm Asus Tech
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A8N SLI DELUXE, 300G Maxtor, Nvidia 6800 GT, 2 Gig Corsair Ram, AMD 3500+ Winchester, Zalman Heatsink, Antec 550 PSU, Coolermaster Gaming case, 6 chasis Fans, WolfClaw Gaming Keyboard and Logitech MX510 Mouse.
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BANDIT
Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 3
Posted: 04 Apr 2006 04:41 pm Post subject:
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I'm planning on building a system for the first time and I was thinking about getting 4 gigs of matched memory for use with future operating systems now to avoid compatibility issues later. I've done a lot of searching on this topic and I still have a couple of questions that I can't seem to find an answer to. I understand that because of operating system limitations, and software limitations, that 32 bit XP will not recognize 4 gigs of ram and most software will only use 2 gigs of ram at the most anyway. As mentioned before, some of the 4 gigs of ram would be taken up with hardware and other critical functions. While this is clear in most of the information I've found, I had a couple of related questions that I haven't seen addressed at least specifically:
If you only have 2 gigs of ram you're still going to have system processes and hardware taking up a portion of the ram availible correct? So wouldn't having the additional overhead of ram be beneficial because it would allow 32 bit software to utilize the full 2 gigs of ram it's capable of addressing without having to share with the processes and hardware?
Do you get any benefit from running more than 2 gigs? I've read that sometimes 1 gig benchmarks better than 2 gigs but 2 gigs is still better for gaming and other applications. Will running 4 gigs actually make you system run worse than running 2 gigs as some sources seems to say, or is it that you just get less return on your addition ram investment?
Sorry if this has been addressed before. As I mentioned I'm new to the hardware side of computers but I'm trying to do all the research I can to educate myself.
My proposed build- Mainly intended for gaming and some video editing
ASUS A8N32-SLI DELUXE
AMD FX-57
SEASONIC S-12-600 PSU
SEAGATE 7200.8 3OOGB
EVGA 256MB 7900GT (May get 2nd later for SLI)
4 GB CORSAIR XMS RAM 2x(2 x 1GB)?????