Memory 64bit OS shows 4GB / 32bit - 3GB ??

[Hoosier Girl]

Hi, I have a question about this, I've searched the web and found 32bit machines will not display the 4GB RAM installed, I also read a machine that runs 64bit OS will show the actual amount of RAM installed, so my question is does the machine with the 32bit OS not really use the full 4GB ? 2559MB is all it is showing, what's that unused GB doing, is it just dead laying there or ...?

Last question, I am going to go w Vista 64bit OS on one of my Dell PC, what hardware do I need to change, I read where optical drives would be one thing, is there anything other hardware items I need to change ?

HG

Tia 

[keithg2]

Try reading this link to explain 32bit OS -vs- 64bit and 4GB of RAM. FYI.. Vista 32bit with SP1 shows 4GB of RAM. It just doesn't address the entire 4GB.

As far as hardware replacement, I guess it depends what you have where the manufacturer does not provide a 64bit driver. I have an XPS 410 and my optical drive works fine in Vista HP 64bit. My printer and video card manufacturer have a 64bit driver that I downloaded. Most of my applications run as 32bit.

[jlucpicard]

Thank you Keith for your terrific and patient answer.  The link to the document you provided was exactly what I was looking for. 

Unfortunately, I found some other answers from other users in other threads that were very unkind and condescending.

Thanks again!

[Hoosier Girl]

Thank You, this info was just what I was hoping to find, thnx again 

[Aurora51]

Thanks from me too, Keith. That was a great link you provided. Really does a great job to explain it in terms that I can understand better.

[packerFan07]

I would simply like to add that I went vista 64 and did not need any hardware changes. I simply needed the 64-bit drivers. One old game I have trouble with - I simply loaded that game to my 32-bit laptop. I know it did run in my 64-bit machine when it was 32-bit so I am assuming it and 64-bit just don't like each other. Even with that one issue (which I didn't spend too much time "debugging"), 64-bit was well worth it....