Once again about Windows and four gigabytes. Maximum amount of RAM in Windows

Good afternoon.

Today's article is devoted to RAM, or rather its quantity on our computers (RAM is often abbreviated as RAM). RAM plays a big role in the operation of a computer; if there is not enough memory, the PC begins to slow down, games and applications open reluctantly, the picture on the monitor begins to “twitch,” and the load on the hard drive increases. In the article we will focus on issues related to memory: its types, how much memory is needed, what it affects.

How to find out the amount of RAM?

1) The easiest way to do this is to go to “my computer” and right-click anywhere in the window. Next, select “properties” in the explorer context menu. You can also open the control panel and enter “system” in the search bar. See screenshot below.

The amount of RAM is indicated next to the performance index, under the processor information.

4GB- amount of RAM. The more, the better. But do not forget that if the processor in the system is not so powerful, then there is no point in installing a large amount of RAM. In general, sticks can be of completely different sizes: from 1GB to 32 or more. See below for volume.

1600Mhz PC3-12800- Operating frequency (bandwidth). This table will help you understand this indicator:

As can be seen from the table, the throughput of such RAM is 12800 MB/s. Not the fastest today, but as practice shows, the amount of memory is much more important for the speed of a computer.

The amount of RAM on the computer

1 GB - 2 GB

Today, this amount of RAM can only be used on office computers: for editing documents, browsing the Internet, and mail. It is, of course, possible to run games with this amount of RAM, but only the simplest ones.

By the way, with this volume you can install Windows 7, it will work fine. True, if you open five documents, the system may begin to “think”: it will not react so sharply and zealously to your commands, the picture on the screen may begin to “twitch” (especially for games).

Also, if there is a lack of RAM, the computer will use: part of the information from RAM, which is not currently in use, will be written to the hard drive, and then, as necessary, read from it. Obviously, in this state of affairs there will be an increased load on the hard drive, and this can also greatly affect the speed of the user’s work.

4 GB

The most popular amount of RAM lately. Many modern PCs and laptops running Windows 7/8 have 4 GB of memory. This volume is enough for normal work with office applications, it will allow you to run almost all modern games (even if not at maximum settings), and watch HD video.

8 GB

This amount of memory is becoming more and more popular every day. It allows you to open dozens of applications, while the computer behaves very quickly. In addition, with this amount of memory you can run many modern games at high settings.

However, it is worth noting immediately. That this amount of memory will be justified if you have a powerful processor installed in your system: Core i7 or Phenom II X4. Then he will be able to use the memory to its full potential - and there will be no need to use the swap file at all, thereby increasing the speed of operation significantly. In addition, the load on the hard drive is reduced and energy consumption is reduced (relevant for a laptop).

By the way, the opposite rule also applies here: if you have a budget processor, then there is no point in installing 8 GB of memory. The processor will simply process a certain amount of RAM, say 3-4 GB, and the rest of the memory will add absolutely no speed to your computer.

RAM is one of the main components of stable computer operation. Without it, the PC is impossible to operate, and without enough RAM, the user will not be able to run some programs. Let's look at how RAM works, how to increase the amount of RAM and other points.

First, let's figure out what reducing RAM or RAM means. In Russian it sounds like “Random Access Memory”, and in English it sounds like “Random Access Memory”. The peculiarity of the part lies in the fact that it only works when the computer is turned on. RAM stores data processed by the processor and executable codes.

The operating principle of RAM is as follows:

1. Each memory cell has its own row and column.
2. When working, the computer sends a signal to one of the lines.
3. Due to the electrical signal, the transistor opens.
4. The sent charge from the capacitor goes into one of the available columns, to which the sensitive amplifier is connected.
5. The flow supplied by the discharged capacitor is registered through an amplifier, after which the required command is issued.

Due to the fact that RAM operates on semiconductors, it cannot store information in the absence of current.

How to increase RAM in a computer and laptop?

Briefly described, there are several ways to increase the amount of RAM. The main one is adding new brackets to the motherboard. Alternatively, you can change the paging file data. Let's look at each method in more detail.

Increasing capacity using memory modules

For stable operation, modern computers need at least 2 GB of RAM, depending on the installed operating system. For example, the same amount is required for Windows 10 64 bit. The main way to increase this indicator is to add or replace RAM sticks.

It is important to understand that the module must fit a computer or laptop. For example, PCs with older processors do not support 1666 MHz RAM. The same goes for motherboards - most older models cannot handle parts with more than 4 GB of memory.

In order not to make a mistake, the PC owner needs to know the model name of the motherboard and processor.

To check the processor you need to perform slightly different steps:

This way you can check the compatibility of the RAM with other PC parts.

How to determine the type of RAM

Before purchasing new devices, it is also important to know their type. If you buy the wrong bar, you will have to return it.

There are 4 types of RAM:

• Ddr1 is the most “ancient”;

• Ddr2 - also outdated;

• Ddr3 - still in use;

• Ddr4 is the newest development:

There are several ways to determine what type is installed on your computer. First of all, you need to familiarize yourself with the sticker on the front side of the bar, if there is one. Most often, it indicates the type of memory, capacity and other information. If the type is not directly specified, then you can use other markings. For example, if it says “PC3”, then it is ddr3, and if it says “PC2” then it is ddr2.

The most reliable method is to look at the cutouts between the yellow pads. The diagram below will help you figure this out:

The last method is to use special software to scan installed components. For example, this is perfect for "AIDA64".

Laptops use the same markings, but a slightly different scheme. The dimensions of the planks are much smaller.

Installing RAM Modules

First of all, you need to open the computer case from the side where you can access the motherboard. Necessarily completely turn off the computer, unplug the wire from the socket and turn off the power by holding down the “Start” button. Depending on the type of case you are using, you will have to unscrew the screws on the back of the PC and remove the cover, remove the latches, or simply open it like a door.

We find slots for RAM on the motherboard. They should look something like this:

If there are already modules in place of which new ones should be installed, you need to dismantle them. To do this, press the latches on the sides and remove the strips. You must be very careful, as this is a very sensitive, fragile part.

Now we take new RAM and install it in a free slot. To do this, you need to insert the bar so that the groove coincides with the protrusion in the connector. You need to lightly press the module so that it fits completely into the connector. During installation, a click may be heard, which means that the latches are automatically latched and the memory is installed correctly. If this does not happen, but the bar is installed, manually “snap” it.

It is recommended to insert paired RAM into slots of the same color, if any. On most motherboards, the connectors are painted in two colors - 2 in one, 2 in the other. Installing two identical parts into slots with the same coloring will allow the devices to operate in dual-channel mode.

After this, close the case cover, tighten the bolts and connect the PC to electricity. We try to start the computer - if the system starts as usual, then everything is done correctly. If there is any doubt about the functionality, it is recommended to check the new parts using.

In laptops the principle is almost the same, but there are slight differences. First you need to turn off your laptop and unplug it from the network. Next, remove the battery - depending on the device model, you will have to unscrew the screws on the back cover or use another method to open the case. After the battery has been removed, you need to press the power button - this will eliminate static charges.

To find the RAM slot you need to remove the panel on the bottom of the device. There may be several panels, therefore, for reliability, it is recommended to read the documents received upon purchase or search online for disassembly of a specific model.

Most often, two RAM slots are available. Budget models boast only one connector. More expensive devices may have more room for more RAM. To remove the old strips you need to open the latches on the sides. Once they are released, the part will rise at a 45° angle.

Carefully insert the new module at the same angle, checking that it fits correctly into the connector. Next, you need to press the bar from top to bottom so that the latches on the sides automatically close. Next, we return all the panels to their place, install the battery and close the housing cover. We try to turn on the device. If you have any doubts about the functionality of your laptop, check it using

Alternative ways to increase RAM

In addition to installing new components, you can use other methods to increase your computer's RAM.

Expanding RAM using a flash drive

The easiest and most affordable way to add RAM to a computer or laptop is to use a flash drive.

Starting with Windows 7, it is possible to use the utility "Ready Boost".

1. First, you need to insert the flash drive into the USB connector on your computer.
2. Opening "Conductor" and right-click on the name of the flash drive in the left menu.
3. Select an item "Properties" and move on to the section "Ready Boost".
4. Check the “Use this device” box.
5. We indicate the volume of the flash drive that will be used as RAM, you can specify the entire volume at once.
6. Click "Apply", Then "OK" and close the window.

This method is good because it does not require additional costs if you have a free flash drive. Before purchasing new modules, you can safely use it.

Changing BIOS Settings

Changing BIOS settings is necessary to overclock RAM. In general, the main task of the BIOS is to enable the user to configure the operation of components, the computer, and so on.

1. Reboot the computer and press the key to enter the BIOS - "Del","Esc","F2" and so on. You can press several keys at once so that you don’t have to restart your PC later.
2. Click "Ctrl+F1", the advanced settings window will open; if it doesn’t, go to point "Advanced BIOS Features".
3. Select an item "System Memory Multiplier" or "Advanced DRAM Configuration".
4. In the section "DRAM Timing Selectable" set the mode "Manual", that is, manual settings.
5. We save the changes and, if desired, experiment with changing the timings.
6. We restart the computer and change the settings in special programs (for example, AIDA64).

This way you can customize your PC for yourself. It is important to understand that changes to the settings should be made by a person who understands this at least a little.

We hope that after this you understand the principle of increasing your computer’s RAM. If you have any questions, be sure to ask them in the comments!

Hello friends, today I want to talk about how to find out the maximum amount of RAM on a computer or laptop. So, it’s quite easy to find out, the first thing you can do is go to the official website of the motherboard installed on your computer, most likely you will find the information you need. If you have a laptop, then it is more complicated, since they usually write the already installed amount of RAM, but there is no word about the maximum amount.

In any case, you can download a utility called AIDA64, which will tell you almost everything about your computer: memory types, what kind of memory, and much more. If the program does not help, then you should write to the website of your laptop manufacturer.

So, you can look at information, for example, about the motherboard on the official website. I won’t go into details here.

The processor on my laptop Intel Core i5-4200U, I go to the official website and look at the maximum amount of RAM that I can install.

If you could not find information on the laptop on official websites or on the Internet in general, then we will use the AIDA64 program.

Find out the maximum amount of RAM using AIDA64

You can download the program from the official website; the trial period is 30 days, but this is more than enough for us. Choosing a version Extreme and press Download.

And then press again.

We extract the program somewhere and install it, then launch it.

As you can see, the program launched successfully. Go to the tab “System board”.

After “Chipset”.

What do we see? And we see the properties of the north bridge, where memory information is stored, as we see, the maximum amount of RAM we have is 16 GB.

Below you can see the amount of memory already installed.

Several years have passed since the article “Four gigabytes of memory is an unattainable goal?” was written. ”, and the questions about why Windows does not see all four gigabytes have not decreased. The number of questioners also included owners of 64-bit systems, whom this problem, it would seem, should not have affected. And it became clear that it was time to write a new article on the same topic. As before, we will talk only about Windows operating systems, mainly client ones, that is, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and the upcoming Windows 8. In some cases, somewhat simplified descriptions of certain aspects will be deliberately used. This will make it possible to focus on the subject of this article without going into unnecessary detail, in particular, the internal structure of processors and chipsets for motherboards. We recommend that you first read the above article, since not everything said in it will be repeated here.

Although theoretically a 32-bit system has up to 4 GB of physical memory available (without additional tricks), 32-bit client versions of Windows cannot use all of this volume due to the fact that some of the addresses are used by computer devices. That part of the RAM whose addresses coincide with the device addresses must be disabled to avoid a conflict between the RAM and the memory of the corresponding device - for example, a video adapter.

Rice. 1. If RAM in the addresses used by devices is not disabled, a conflict occurs

RAM fills addresses starting from zero, and devices are usually allocated addresses in the fourth gigabyte. As long as the RAM size does not exceed two or three gigabytes, conflicts do not arise. As soon as the upper limit of the installed memory enters the zone where the device addresses are located, a problem arises: both the RAM cell and the device memory cell (of the same video adapter) are located at the same address. In this case, writing data to memory will lead to distortion of the image on the monitor and vice versa: changing the image will distort the contents of the memory, that is, program code or data (say, text in a document). To avoid conflicts, the operating system has to refuse to use that part of RAM that overlaps with device addresses.

In the mid-nineties of the last century, to expand the available amount of RAM, PAE (Physical Address Extension) technology was developed, increasing the number of address lines from 32 to 36 - thereby increasing the maximum amount of RAM from 4 to 64 GB. This technology was originally intended for servers, but later appeared in client Windows XP. Some features of the implementation of this technology in modern memory controllers make it possible not only to use PAE for its intended purpose, but also to “throw” memory to other addresses. Thus, part of the memory that is not used to prevent conflicts can be moved to higher addresses, for example to the fifth gigabyte, and again become available to the system.

In the discussion of the first article, the remark was made that it is incorrect to equate the presence of PAE support in the motherboard's memory controller with the board's ability to redirect memory; that these may well be things unrelated to each other. However, practice shows that in hardware for desktop systems these concepts are interchangeable. For example, Intel in the documentation for its G35 chipset does not say a word about the possibility of (actually existing) memory redirection, but emphasizes support for PAE. And the i945 set that does not support PAE does not have memory redirection. With AMD64 processors and the latest Intel processors, the situation is even simpler: they have a memory controller built into the processor, and support for PAE (and RAM larger than 4 GB) automatically implies support for forwarding.

Rice. 2. Forwarding

The picture is quite conditional; redirection is not necessarily performed in blocks of exactly one gigabyte; the discreteness can be different and is determined by the memory controller (which, recall, is either part of the motherboard hardware or part of the processor). There is usually a setting in the computer's BIOS Setup program that allows or disables redirection. It can have different names - for example, Memory remap, Memory hole, 64-bit OS and the like. It is best to find out its name in the manual for the motherboard. It should be noted that if you are using a 32-bit system, then on some motherboards, mostly quite old, redirection must be disabled - otherwise the amount of RAM available to the system may decrease.

By default, PAE mode was disabled in Windows XP, since there was no real need for it (recall that in 2001, the typical amount of memory on a desktop computer was 128-256 MB). However, if enabled, XP could use all four gigabytes of memory - provided, of course, that the motherboard supported PAE. But, let us repeat, there was no real need to enable this mode in those years. If desired, the reader can install Windows XP or Windows XP SP1 on a modern computer for testing (of course, this is not worth doing for work), enable PAE mode and see for yourself that four gigabytes of RAM are available to the system.

In 2003, Microsoft began developing a second patch package for Windows XP (released in 2004) because it was faced with the need to significantly reduce the number of vulnerabilities in OS components. One way was to use Data Execution Prevention (DEP), a set of software and hardware technologies that allow additional checks of memory contents and, in some cases, prevent malicious code from running. These checks are performed both at the software level and at the hardware level (if there is an appropriate processor). AMD called this processor feature “no-execute page-protection” (NX), while Intel used the term “Execute Disable bit” (XD).

However, the use of such hardware protection requires switching the processor to PAE mode, so Windows XP SP2 began to enable this mode by default when it detected a suitable processor. And here Microsoft faced a rather serious problem: it turned out that not all drivers can work in PAE mode. Let's try to explain this feature without delving too deeply into the design of processors and addressing mechanisms.

Windows uses what is called a flat memory model. Thirty-two bits of the address provide access to a space of four gigabytes. Thus, each RAM cell or memory cell of another device corresponds to a specific address, and there can be no ambiguity here. When PAE mode is enabled, it is possible to use 36 address bits and increase the number of memory cells by 16 times. But the processor instruction set remains the same and can only address 4 billion (binary) bytes! And so, to ensure the ability to access any of the 64 billion bytes by specifying only 32 bits of the address, the processor includes an additional stage of address translation (those interested in details can refer to specialized literature - for example, the book by Russinovich and Solomon “Windows Internals "). As a result, a 32-bit address in a program can point to any of the bytes in 36-bit space.

This feature does not affect application programs in any way; they operate in their own virtual addresses. But drivers that must access the real addresses of specific devices have to solve additional problems. After all, the 32-bit address generated by this driver may turn out to be completely different after an additional translation stage, and the command issued by the driver may, for example, instead of displaying an icon on the screen, change the value in one of the cells of the Excel table. And if any system data turns out to be corrupted, then an emergency shutdown with a blue screen is just around the corner. Therefore, to work successfully in PAE mode, drivers must be written taking into account the features of this mode.

However, since PAE had historically not been used in client computers until that time, some companies did not consider it necessary to support this mode in the drivers they wrote. After all, the equipment they produced (sound cards, for example) was not intended for servers, and the drivers did not have a server version - so why complicate these drivers unnecessarily? Moreover, to test operation in PAE mode previously it was necessary to install a server OS and use server hardware (motherboards for desktop computers only relatively recently began to support PAE). So it was easier and more profitable for driver developers to simply forget about this PAE and ensure it works on regular client computers with regular personal rather than server OSes.

And it was with these drivers that problems arose in XP SP2. Although the number of companies whose drivers stopped working or even crashed the system was small, the number of devices produced by these companies numbered in the millions. Accordingly, the number of users who could receive an unpleasant surprise after installing SP2 turned out to be quite significant. As a result, many users would refuse to install the package themselves, and would give it a bad name, which would affect other users. They, although without any compelling reasons, would also refuse to install it.

And Microsoft felt the need to improve XP security very keenly. However, discussions on why we saw Windows XP SP2 and did not see something like Windows XP Second Edition are beyond the scope of this article.

The main thing that interests us is that to ensure compatibility with poorly written drivers, the PAE functionality in SP2 for Windows XP was cut off. And although this mode itself exists and, moreover, is turned on by default on computers with modern processors, it does not provide any expansion of the address space, simply passing to the output the same addresses that were supplied to the input. In fact, the system behaves like a regular 32-bit system without PAE.

The same behavior was inherited by Windows Vista and then carried over to Windows 7 and the upcoming Windows 8. 32-bit, of course. The reason this behavior hasn't changed remains the same: to ensure compatibility. Moreover, the need to gain fractions of a gigabyte has disappeared: those who need large amounts of memory can use 64-bit versions of the OS.

Sometimes you can hear the question: if it is this truncated PAE mode that prevents the system from seeing all four gigabytes, then maybe disable it completely so that it does not interfere, and, voila, 4 GB will become available to the system? Alas, they won’t: this requires just the presence of PAE, and a full-fledged one at that. Another question that is not so rarely asked is this: if devices really prevent the system from using all the memory and reserve part of it for their own needs, then why didn’t they reserve anything when the computer had two gigabytes of RAM?

Let's return to the first picture and look at the situation in more detail. First of all, we note that we need to clearly distinguish between two concepts: the size of the address space and the amount of RAM. Mixing them together prevents understanding the essence of the issue. The address space is the set of all existing (that can be accessed by the processor and other devices) addresses. For i386 family processors, this is 4 gigabytes in normal mode and 64 GB using PAE. For 64-bit systems, the address space size is 2 TB.

The size of the address space does not depend in any way on the amount of RAM. Even if you remove all the RAM from the computer, the size of the address space will not change one iota.

The address space can be real, in which the operating system itself runs, and virtual, which the OS creates for programs running in it. But the features of memory use in Windows will be described in another article. Here we only note that programs do not have access to the real address space - only the operating system itself and drivers can access real addresses.

Let's look at how address space is used on a computer. Let us immediately emphasize that its distribution is carried out by the computer equipment (“hardware”) and the operating system, in general, cannot influence this. There is only one way: change the hardware settings using Plug&Play technology. There was a lot of talk about it in the mid-90s of the last century, but now it is taken for granted, and the number of people who have not even heard of it is increasing.

Using this technology, you can change, within certain limits specified by the manufacturer, the memory addresses and port numbers used by the device. This, in turn, makes it possible to avoid conflicts between devices that could occur if there were two devices on the computer configured to use the same addresses.

A basic program on the motherboard, often collectively called the BIOS (although it is not actually a BIOS (basic input/output system)) polls devices when the computer is turned on. It determines which address ranges each device can use, then tries to allocate memory so that no device interferes with another, and then tells the devices its decision. The devices configure their settings according to these instructions, and you can begin loading the OS.

While we're on the subject, let's note that a number of motherboards have a setting called “P&P OS”. If this setting is disabled (No), the motherboard performs address distribution for all devices. If enabled (Yes), then memory allocation is performed only for devices required for booting, and the operating system will handle the configuration of other devices. In the case of Windows XP and newer operating systems of this family, it is recommended to enable this setting, since in most cases Windows will perform the required settings at least as well as the BIOS.

Since such self-configuration distributes addresses memory, it doesn’t matter how much RAM is installed in the computer - the process will still proceed the same.

When a certain amount of RAM is inserted into a computer, the address space for it is allocated from bottom to top, starting from address zero and then moving towards increasing addresses. Device addresses, on the contrary, are allocated in the upper area (in the fourth gigabyte) in the direction of decreasing addresses, but not necessarily in adjacent blocks - more often, on the contrary, in non-adjacent ones. As soon as the address zones allocated for RAM (on the one hand) and for devices (on the other hand) touch, address conflicts become possible, and the amount of RAM used must be limited.

Since changing the address when configuring devices is performed with a certain step determined by the device characteristics specified by the manufacturer, it is impossible to obtain a continuous section of addresses for devices - unused gaps appear between the addresses of individual devices. Theoretically, these gaps could be used to access RAM, but this would complicate the work of the operating system's memory manager. For this and other reasons, Windows uses RAM up to the first memory address occupied by the device. RAM located from this address and above will remain unused. Unless, of course, the memory controller organizes redirection.

Sometimes the question is asked: is it possible to influence the distribution of addresses in order to move all devices in the address space as high as possible and make as much memory available to the system as possible. In general, this cannot be done without interfering with the design or firmware of the devices themselves. If your hands are still itching and you don’t mind the time, you can try the following method: in the BIOS Setup, enable the “PnP OS” setting (it may either be completely absent or have a different name), so that Windows distributes addresses for most devices, and then reinstall drivers using edited inf files with memory areas removed that you think are too low.

You can find various tips on the Internet that supposedly should give the system the ability to use all four gigabytes, based on forcing PAE to be turned on. As is easy to understand from the above, this cannot give any benefit, since it does not matter whether PAE is turned on automatically or forcefully - this mode works the same in both cases.

The question may also arise: what will happen if you install a video adapter with four gigabytes of memory. After all, then it turns out that the system will be left completely without RAM and will not be able to work. In fact, nothing bad will happen: video adapters have been using a 256 MB portion of the address space for quite some time, and access to the entire amount of video accelerator memory is carried out through a window of this size. So the video adapter will not take more than 256 megabytes. Perhaps in some models the size of this window is doubled or even quadrupled, but the author has not yet gotten his hands on them.

64 bit

So, we've dealt with 32-bit systems. Now let's move on to 64-bit.

Here, it would seem, there shouldn’t be any pitfalls. The system can use much more than four gigabytes, so, at first glance, it is enough to plug memory into the motherboard and install the system. But it turns out that not everything is so simple. First of all, we note that it will not be possible to find special equipment intended only for 64-bit systems (we are talking about regular PCs). Any motherboard, network card, video adapter, etc., running on a 64-bit system should work equally well on a 32-bit one.

This means that device addresses must remain within the first four gigabytes. This means that all the restrictions imposed on the amount of memory available to a 32-bit system also apply to a 64-bit system - of course, if the motherboard does not support redirection or if this redirection is disabled in the settings.

Motherboards on Intel chipsets up to and including 945 do not support forwarding. Of course, they cannot be called new, but computers based on them still exist and are in use. So, on such boards, both 64-bit and 32-bit systems will be able to see the same amount of memory, and it will be less than 4 GB. Why less is described above.

With 64-bit AMD processors, the situation is simpler: their memory controller has been built into the processor for quite some time, and redirection is absent only in older models. All processors for the 939-pin socket and newer support more than 4 GB and, accordingly, are able to perform memory redirection. The same applies to Intel processors of the Core i3, i5, i7 families.

However, there may be a catch here: if additional address lines are not routed on the motherboard, then there will be no way to access the redirected memory. And some younger models of motherboards are produced just like this to reduce the cost, so you need to look at the description of the specific motherboard.

And here we are faced with a surprise similar to the one we encounter in a 32-bit system: the use of address space for device operation can limit the amount of memory available to Windows.

For example, if a motherboard supports up to 8 GB of RAM (say using a G35 chipset), and install all of that 8 GB, then only ≈7-7.25 GB will be used. The reason is as follows: on such a motherboard there are 33 address lines, which, from the manufacturer’s point of view, is quite logical - why complicate the design if the board still does not support more than 8 GB? Therefore, even if the memory controller can transfer the unused section of RAM to the ninth gigabyte, it will still be impossible to access it. This will require a 34-bit address, which physically cannot be formed on a 33-bit system bus. Likewise, on boards that support 16GB, Windows will be able to use ≈15-15.25GB, and so on.

There is another little-known nuance associated with redirection. The memory size limitation implemented in msconfig (or the corresponding boot configuration settings) does not refer to the actual amount of memory, but to the upper limit of the addresses of the memory used.

Rice. 3. This setting limits the upper limit of addresses, not the memory size

That is, if you set this value to 4096 MB, then memory located above this limit (redirected to the fifth gigabyte, for example) will not be used, and in fact the memory volume will be limited to approximately three gigabytes. In some cases, this feature can be used to diagnose whether redirection works or not. For example, the author came across a case where Windows used 3.75 GB out of four on a laptop, and it was unclear: either redirection was not working, or the memory was being used for some purpose. Checking the box and limiting the memory size to four gigabytes resulted in only 3.25 GB being used. From this we can conclude that the redirection worked, and a quarter of a gigabyte was therefore used for the video adapter or some other purpose.

And finally, it’s worth mentioning that even with working redirection and a 64-bit system, several tens or even hundreds of megabytes of memory may still be reserved for the equipment. It is best to check with the motherboard manufacturer for the reasons for this redundancy, but most often it can be assumed that it is used for the built-in video adapter or RAID controller.

RAM is one of the most important components of a personal computer. The speed of the PC, as well as the speed of processing various requests by the central processor, depends on its quantity. If RAM becomes too small, then virtual memory can partially solve the problem.

Maximum supported amount of RAM

When choosing and purchasing a certain amount of RAM, the user should take into account the maximum amount that the operating system and motherboard can support. Usually the problem lies with the OS. For example, Windows XP only supports up to 4 gigabytes of RAM (assuming the 32-bit version is installed). If there is more of it, the OS simply will not read it, and accordingly, the rest of it will not be used. As for the 64-bit versions, they are capable of supporting up to 128 GB of RAM. Unfortunately, the maximum number of supported ones is also limited by the version of the operating system, and not just by its bit capacity.

In addition, a small part of the RAM is also consumed by the devices used. That is, if the user has a 32-bit Windows XP operating system and 4 gigabytes of RAM installed, then approximately 400-500 MB will be spent on ensuring the functionality of other devices.

As for modern operating systems of the Windows family, they are capable of operating with 192 gigabytes of RAM, and Windows Server 2008 supports up to 2 terabytes. This expansion was made possible through the use of a virtual address space. Every personal computer user can learn in more detail about the maximum supported amount of RAM for each version of Windows OS on their official website. In general, for good performance of a personal computer today, at least 4 gigabytes of RAM are required (provided that the computer will be used as a kind of multimedia station). If only office tasks are performed on a personal computer and only office applications are used, then 1-2 gigabytes of RAM will be enough. Of course, if the user will use the PC both for games and for office applications, then it is better to increase the amount of RAM to the possible maximum.