Memory and motherboards question

[Sweed]

Ok, over the years I've been a "learn as I go" as far as taking care of my pc. Recently looking at memory for my Inspiron 518 desktop. Went to Curcial site and ran their memory test and got this message (bold parts in quote done by me).

device type: desktop
Your Inspiron 518 System Specs

Scan Id: AB71F06B31D926C3
Memory:
DDR2 PC2-5300, DDR2 PC2-6400

Memory Type: DDR2 PC2-5300, DDR2 PC2-6400, DDR2 (non-ECC)
Maximum Memory: 4GB
Currently Installed Memory: 4GB
Total Memory Slots: 4
Available Memory Slots: 0
1GB
DDR PC2-6400
1GB
DDR PC2-6400
1GB
DDR PC2-6400
1GB
DDR PC2-6400


Each memory slot can hold DDR2 PC2-5300, DDR2 PC2-6400 with a maximum of 1GB per slot.*
*Not to exceed manufacturer supported memory.



Although the memory can be installed one module at a time, the best performance comes from using matched pairs of modules.

How much memory your Windows OS will recognize depends on which version of Windows you are running. 32-bit versions of Windows will see (and utilize) only 3GB or 3.5GB. To utilize more memory, install a 64-bit version of your OS. More information about OS memory maximums can be found here.

Memory or DRAM is the 'working' memory of the computer. It's used to store data for programs (sequences of instructions) on a temporary basis.


Crucial report says max memory of 4 gig (1 gig per slot, which is what I have) but I'm running vista 64 bit home premium which should allow up to 16 gig. I assume the 4 gig max is being reported because the crucial test isn't recognizing I'm running 64 bit? I would be ok to add memory up to 16 gig, correct?

Also, does an app have to be a 64 bit app to take advantage of the extra memory? I ask because I have read different things about games like FM where one guy says it will use 8 gig if you have it while others say it won't because it's not a 64 bit program.

Thanks.

[cartman]

Just because the OS says it will support 16GB doesn't mean the hardware will support it. Crucial has a hardware database they use, so it doesn't matter if your current OS is 32 bit or 64 bit, it will tell you the hardware limit. So it looks like you are at the current limit of your machine.

The extra memory comes into use when an app uses more than 4GB of memory address space. If the app is 32 bit, it will not be able to use more than 4GB of RAM. If it is 64 bit, then the limit is in the terabytes.

[Sweed]

Thanks for clarifying. I didn't realize\think hardware had anything to do with it. This crucial test did make me wonder though and so I came here knowing I would get an answer.

Thanks again.

[Matthean]

If the app is 32 bit, it will not be able to use more than 4GB of RAM.

Technically I think it's just under 4GB, but if you are running 4GB you want 64 bit anyway.

[Ryan S]

Technically I think it's just under 4GB, but if you are running 4GB you want 64 bit anyway.

Usually you will see just over 3gb of memory running a 32 bit operating system.

[Scoobz0202]

DDR2 memory sure aint cheap these days compared to DDR3