Windows XP and the 4 GB RAM ceiling

Despite being nearly 10 years old, Windows XP is still very frequently used both at home and in the business.  Unfortunately, as applications continue to become more demanding, one of the biggest issues with Windows XP is becoming a common topic of conversation; the 4 GB maximum of supported RAM.

Windows XP is a 32-bit operating system.  The 32-bit is a reference to exactly how much RAM Windows XP can handle at any given time.  In order to access memory in the RAM, the operating system in a computer must be able to address that memory; much like how to find a house, you need to know its address.  With a 32-bit operating system, the operating system can handle up to 2^32, or two to the thirty-second power, addresses.  That works out to be 4,294,967,296 addresses.  Since memory is addressed 1 byte at a time, that means a 32-bit operating system can address up to 4,294,967,296 bytes of RAM, which is exactly 4 gigabytes.

So what happens when you put more than 4 GB of RAM in a computer with a 32-bit operating system?  Well, nothing.  The system won't see it, so it's unusable.  In fact, the system will even see less than the full 4 GB installed.  This is because a certain amount of the installed memory is reserved for low level system processes and is not available to be used by other applications.  As a result, many people who try to install 4 GB of RAM into their Windows XP systems are confused when the system only reports somewhere around 3 to 3.5 GB of RAM, instead of the full 4 GB.  This isn't a malfunction, it's simply a side effect of pushing Windows XP to its limits.

Today the typically recommended amount of RAM on a new computer is 4 GB.  This means that no Windows XP 32-bit system can be upgraded to the performance level required by the newest applications.  Windows XP really has reached the end of its useful life.

In order to keep up with current requirements, it's necessary to move to a 64-bit operating system.  Unfortunately, Microsoft does sell 32-bit versions of Windows 7, and people frequently purchase these because they mistakenly think their software won't work with 64-bit operating systems.  So rather than take the opportunity to jump to 64-bit Windows 7, which allows up to 192 GB of RAM, they force themselves into the same old 4 GB limit and immediately make their systems on the verge of obsolete.

If your Windows XP or other 32-bit system isn't keeping up with your application needs and you need help going over your options, Contact Us today and we'll be more than happy to help you migrate to 64-bit and plan for the future.

Brian St. Marie - Sr. Systems Engineer

Give Us a Call 617-731-6319 and Ask a Professional IT Support Technician Any Questions You May Have!

When is it time to buy a new computer?

This week, we had a few walk-in customers with really old laptops; one being eight years old!

I am a fan of new technology and I love having cool gadgets and  fast gaming machines, so upgrading for me seems to be a never-ending process. But from a customer's point of view, when is it a good time to upgrade?

There are a few factors to consider when making this decision:

1. What do you use the computer for?

If you use the computer for business and the speed of the computer is necessary for getting your job done, it may be an indicator that it is time to upgrade if it is too slow.

If you are using it for just surfing the web and checking email, it may not be worth getting an upgrade. 

2. Can it be upgraded at a resonable cost?

If the computer is not that old and you do not want to spend the money on a new one, you can always make some changes to the hardware. More Ram, a faster hard drive, and a better video card and three ways to speed up a system that are not too expensive and can give you the performance boost you need.

3. Operating system?

Which OS are you using? There are some that are known for being system hogs (yes, Vista, I am looking at you) and others that while they may not have all the fancy gizmos, work faster.

In addition, when was the last time that you reinstalled your OS or did a clean up of the programs that aren't used often? 

One last OS thing I always look at is the start up menu.  What programs auto-start when you boot up your computer - do you need them all?

For me, it comes down to this, do you want to invest the time and money into an older computer? If the answer is no then it's time for a new toy!

Have a great weekend!

Kristen Hewes - Hardware Technician

Give Us a Call 617-731-6319 and Ask a Professional IT Support Technician Any Questions You May Have!