64-bit OS, 32-bit app - RAM???

MasterP · 21-August-07, 08:40 PM

Hi peeps... am in a bit of a quandary

I'm looking at possibly moving to a 64 bit OS in order to get the benefits of being able to address more RAM than the standard 3(ish) Gigs that a 32-bit OS can support (I'm going to be doing a lot more serious video/effects work).

Here's my question though - If I have a 64 bit OS (with say 8GB RAM), running a 32 bit application, will that application be able to utilize more than 3 GB's worth of memory?

I have an inkling that the OS allocates the RAM, so I believe it will work
...But I'd like to hear opinions from the experts on this

Twizted · 21-August-07, 10:47 PM

you know, that is a good question.. I will have to watch whats going on with my ram on my other monitor when I am running somehting like Supreme Commander...

eascarface · 22-August-07, 12:43 AM

Anandtech's been wandering about this too so he wrote up 3 articles about which ought to awnser most of your questions better than me.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Snake2Snipe · 22-August-07, 12:45 PM

Great articles there eascarface +rep.
MasterP they definitely answer your question very well, and basically it depends on the application. In a short summery of the articles 32-bit applications still have the limitation of 32-bit addressing; if they are large address aware then they have a 4 GB limit, if not then they have a 2 GB limit. Read the article if you really want to understand it better.

MasterP · 22-August-07, 03:42 PM

eascarface - sweet find! thanks for sharing dude

(can't rep ya until I spread some more rep around though)

Snake2Snipe - thanks SO much for summerizing all of that gobbledegook into smaller words (for the likes of me!)

21-August-07, 08:40 PM		#1 (permalink)
MasterP Da' Thunda' From Down Unda'	64-bit OS, 32-bit app - RAM??? Hi peeps... am in a bit of a quandary I'm looking at possibly moving to a 64 bit OS in order to get the benefits of being able to address more RAM than the standard 3(ish) Gigs that a 32-bit OS can support (I'm going to be doing a lot more serious video/effects work). Here's my question though - If I have a 64 bit OS (with say 8GB RAM), running a 32 bit application, will that application be able to utilize more than 3 GB's worth of memory? I have an inkling that the OS allocates the RAM, so I believe it will work ...But I'd like to hear opinions from the experts on this

21-August-07, 10:47 PM		#2 (permalink)
Twizted Editor/Reviewer/LED Guru	Re: 64-bit OS, 32-bit app - RAM??? you know, that is a good question.. I will have to watch whats going on with my ram on my other monitor when I am running somehting like Supreme Commander...

22-August-07, 12:43 AM		#3 (permalink)
eascarface Apex Tech God	Re: 64-bit OS, 32-bit app - RAM??? Anandtech's been wandering about this too so he wrote up 3 articles about which ought to awnser most of your questions better than me. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

22-August-07, 12:45 PM		#4 (permalink)
Snake2Snipe Apex Master Tech Apprentice	Re: 64-bit OS, 32-bit app - RAM??? Great articles there eascarface +rep. MasterP they definitely answer your question very well, and basically it depends on the application. In a short summery of the articles 32-bit applications still have the limitation of 32-bit addressing; if they are large address aware then they have a 4 GB limit, if not then they have a 2 GB limit. Read the article if you really want to understand it better.

22-August-07, 03:42 PM		#5 (permalink)
MasterP Da' Thunda' From Down Unda'	Re: 64-bit OS, 32-bit app - RAM??? eascarface - sweet find! thanks for sharing dude (can't rep ya until I spread some more rep around though) Snake2Snipe - thanks SO much for summerizing all of that gobbledegook into smaller words (for the likes of me!)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode