View Full Version : Two Vista related questions
1 - I have 4GB system RAM and a GPU with 512. If I view "system" it shows 4.00GB. However, if I open dxdiag, I get this:
Memory - 2814MB
Video - 1648MB
I've heard that Vista is flexible with how it allocates the memory, so I'm assuming that this is a "base" settings, but if I were to need more of one type of memory, it would change the allocation to match. Can anyone confirm this, or should I be conerned?
2 - I used to network an external HDD off my WinXP machine. I'd just share it, and any PC connected to my network could access the HDD. If I were to turn it off and back on, or restart my PC, it would still network.
However with Vista, when I share it, turning it off or rebooting causes it not to share anymore, and I have to go through sharing it again. Is there anyway to permanently share th device?
bob saget
06-03-08, 02:39 PM
what does performance monitor and/or cpuz show?
what does performance monitor and/or cpuz show?
http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=31748&d=1212529911
Fixed the networking issue, had to put both PCs under the same workgroup name (by default, Vista and XP are "WORKGROUP" and "MSHOME" respectively).
Just awaiting any input on the memory.
Actually, networking issue remains.
ok, umm go to contol+alt+delete, task manager, then performance, how much does it show there? plus i am not sure what dxdiag is :o
Pretty much figured out my first assumption is correct. It takes a percentage of total system memory (in this case, just over 25%) and allocates it as extra video memory. However, if I need more system memory and less video memory, it re-allocates on the fly. It's a good thing :)
As for dxdiag, do this. Click start > run (if on Vista, type run into the search box, and click "run" when it comes up). In the run box, type "dxdiag" without the quotes. If it asks to check for whql signatures, just click yes. It's a nifty tool :)
Runningman
06-10-08, 01:00 AM
try this for the network issue...
http://calypso.tux.org/pipermail/novalug/2007-August/006693.html
Microsoft finallly killed off lanman authentication and alot of legacy still relies on this method of authentication.
Fackamato
06-10-08, 05:30 AM
To use 4GB of RAM you need a 64bit CPU and 64bit OS. Otherwise the RAM has to share the memory space with all the devices (gfx, sound, onboard stuff etc etc) > you can't use all of your RAM.
Badboy_12345
06-10-08, 09:24 AM
To use 4GB of RAM you need a 64bit CPU and 64bit OS. Otherwise the RAM has to share the memory space with all the devices (gfx, sound, onboard stuff etc etc) > you can't use all of your RAM.
^ what he said
Is the network share actually unsharing, ie the hand under it disappears after a reboot, or is it just not visible from the XP machine without reseting it up? Are you using "simple folder sharing"?
IMO, if you choose to go with Vista, you might aswell go with 64bit.
Unlike XP x64 the driver support is pretty good (prolly as good as the 32bit version).
There are some extra security additions, and mainly you can get the full memory out of 4Gb, specially now with graphics cards have up towards 1Gb of memory.
I finally went and bought Vista Home Premium 64 bit OEM, pretty happy with it, everything running smooth sofar.
DXdiag showing Memory: 4094Mb, Approx Total Memory (In Display): 2284Mb.
To use 4GB of RAM you need a 64bit CPU and 64bit OS. Otherwise the RAM has to share the memory space with all the devices (gfx, sound, onboard stuff etc etc) > you can't use all of your RAM.
^ what he said
This is actually incorrect. Vista x86 is capable of reading and utilizing UP TO 4GB system RAM (that's the 32-bit limit). Amounts over 4GB require 64-bit.
In the images below, you can see that my system is detecting all 4GB. I showed the task manager to show that only 2.8GB is being utilized, because 1.2GB is being shared for video, in addition to the 512MB already there.
On the rare occurrence that I go over 2.8GB system RAM needed, it raises that amount by unsharing with the GPU, on the fly. Basically, my system is detecting and using 4GB system RAM and 512MB video RAM, with 1.2GB of system RAM floating back and forth as needed.
bob saget
06-13-08, 02:03 AM
Pretty much figured out my first assumption is correct. It takes a percentage of total system memory (in this case, just over 25%) and allocates it as extra video memory. However, if I need more system memory and less video memory, it re-allocates on the fly. It's a good thing :)
As for dxdiag, do this. Click start > run (if on Vista, type run into the search box, and click "run" when it comes up). In the run box, type "dxdiag" without the quotes. If it asks to check for whql signatures, just click yes. It's a nifty tool :)
awesome thank you. Didnt know about this.
nekrosoft13
06-13-08, 07:08 AM
This is actually incorrect. Vista x86 is capable of reading and utilizing UP TO 4GB system RAM (that's the 32-bit limit). Amounts over 4GB require 64-bit.
sorry but that is not correct, this was change in SP1 to stop the confusion. It might "detect" but it still will not use 4GB.
MS had it all explained in one of their KB when SP1 was released. This was one of the changes from RTM to SP1. In RTM version of Vista when a person bought Vista with 4gb of ram, and it showed less people used to complain to OEM (Dell, HP etc...). With this change they hopped that they would fool people to stop the complains.
mailman2
06-13-08, 08:44 AM
sorry but that is not correct, this was change in SP1 to stop the confusion. It might "detect" but it still will not use 4GB.
MS had it all explained in one of their KB when SP1 was released. This was one of the changes from RTM to SP1. In RTM version of Vista when a person bought Vista with 4gb of ram, and it showed less people used to complain to OEM (Dell, HP etc...). With this change they hopped that they would fool people to stop the complains.
X86 can address a total of 4GB but this would include ram on your GPU too. When I had the 9800GX2 my memory usable dropped because the card had 1 GB onboard so with an x86 OS I was only able to address about 2.75GB (OS was using some) and the 1GB on the GPU. This was retarded anyways, as well all know the 2 x 512MB frame buffers on the 9800GX mirrored each other, it was not all addressable.
With an 8800GTX I have 3.25GB available to address under x86 OS. The system will address a total of 4GB but that includes GPU memory. I still have stability issues with Vista x64, too many apps will crash or more than not just CTD. Even at stock clocks I've had this problem. I prefer to run XP x32 still due to this, but I lose some of my memory - I prefer the stability however of XP to Vista.
X86 can address a total of 4GB but this would include ram on your GPU too. When I had the 9800GX2 my memory usable dropped because the card had 1 GB onboard so with an x86 OS I was only able to address about 2.75GB (OS was using some) and the 1GB on the GPU. This was retarded anyways, as well all know the 2 x 512MB frame buffers on the 9800GX mirrored each other, it was not all addressable.
With an 8800GTX I have 3.25GB available to address under x86 OS. The system will address a total of 4GB but that includes GPU memory. I still have stability issues with Vista x64, too many apps will crash or more than not just CTD. Even at stock clocks I've had this problem. I prefer to run XP x32 still due to this, but I lose some of my memory - I prefer the stability however of XP to Vista.
I'm trying to explain that as well. The 32-bit limit is 4GB. I'm getting 4GB between my system and GPU. So yes, I'm only using 3.5GB out of the 4GB installed.
EDIT: Added two images. While being shared, my system has allotted 2814MB for system use, and 1648MB for video (512MB on the GPU, 1136MB shared). This is a total of 4462MB, or 4.36GB of addressed memory.
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