How much RAM is supported in Windows XP

Question

How much RAM is supported in Windows XP

The topic says it all, I have 2GB RAM at the moment and am considering upgrading to 4GB or 6GB RAM in total. I was wondering whether Windows XP (32-bit) can support 6GB or just the 4GB. Obviously the more the better, considering I do a lot of HD video editing.

Thanks, Mark.

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum, I thought this would be the most appropriate.

iMac Late 2007 2GB RAM 2.66 GHz, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Dec 30, 2009 1:35 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 30, 2009 1:36 PM in response to TheEnglishClutch

I'm running Windows XP (32-bit) on iMac Summer '07 model in Boot Camp, just incase that matters.

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Answer 2

The hatter

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Dec 30, 2009 1:52 PM in response to TheEnglishClutch

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605/

However, Macs generally have not seen even 32-bit 3.xGB RAM.

Consider Windows 7 x64 instead if you want to use 4-6GB.

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Answer 3

Dec 30, 2009 2:10 PM in response to The hatter

Thanks for the link, I'll looked at a few more websites as well. I've gathered that XP 32-bit has a 4GB Memory limit, and that hard drives, video cards and sound cards etc take up some of this memory. Only after they have used some of the memory, then whatever RAM you have will boost it up to the full 4GB. So
I'd end up with around 3-3.4 gig of main memory available for XP to use after everything else has used the memory.

Is this all right, If so then I will probably just buy 4GB RAM as I can make use of it on the Mac side, and will have to loose around 1GB on the Windows side. I don't want to have to update to 64-bit especially as only a few programs support it.

Thanks again, Mark.

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Answer 4

The hatter

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60,990 points

Dec 30, 2009 2:28 PM in response to TheEnglishClutch

Macs from pre-2008 usually only got to use 2GB. Unlike PC, Apple's EFI firmware support vs PC BIOS haven't always allowed even the 3.3GB.

As for 64-bit support, most people are building and buying 64-bit hardware and Windows 7 has excellent support for even 32-bit. 3 yrs ago drivers were an issue.

There is as much or more trouble with Snow Leopard's 64-bit mode and drivers than 7's.

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Answer 5

Dec 30, 2009 3:24 PM in response to The hatter

Do you think that it is worth upgrading another 1GB or 2GB of RAM then, or only if I start running Snow Leopard in 64 bit and buy Windows 7 in 64-bit. To be honest I would rather stick with XP, it's a very solid operating system and not all my programs are available in 64 bit.

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Answer 6

Dec 31, 2009 9:18 AM in response to TheEnglishClutch

So I have to stick with Windows XP 32-bit due to compatitbility with some of my programs and HD capturing device. I would still like to upgrade RAM, should I get 1GB or 2GB? I don't mind buying 2GB and only using 1.5GB, as it is fairly cheap.

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Answer 7

The hatter

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60,990 points

Dec 31, 2009 9:24 AM in response to TheEnglishClutch

Most programs even older 32-bit should still work with Windows 7.
Only place that is critical is with drivers.

I'd buy Windows 7, retail comes with 32 and 64-bit, and it has better memory managment and multicore support for threading. But that's up to you.

And you're sure it wouldn't work just as well in Fusion/Parallels/VirtualBox?

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Answer 8

Jan 1, 2010 5:06 AM in response to The hatter

The problem is that I record PS3 Gameplay with a Hauppauge HD PVR, and it doesn't have a driver that works with Windows 7 64-bit.

And I do very intensive HD Capturing and Video editing in Sony Vegas, so I need all the CPU I can get, therefore I have to run in Boot Camp, can't use Parallels or anything like that.

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Answer 9

The hatter

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60,990 points

Jan 1, 2010 5:56 AM in response to TheEnglishClutch

I'd still skip XP and go to Windows 7. I've read of trouble though with Hauppauge drivers.

Sounds like you need a PC or a Mac Pro with PCIe card support and more horsepower.

always seems like the most important details come out last 😉

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Answer 10

Jan 1, 2010 8:25 AM in response to The hatter

Thanks, well I can't upgrade to 64 bit windows 7 due to incompatibility with hauppauge drivers, the only thing I can do to speed up my mac is to either upgrade the processor or graphics card (RAM isn't really an option now).

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Answer 11

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Jan 1, 2010 9:05 AM in response to TheEnglishClutch

Maybe you should talk to

I'm running Windows 7 via Bootcamp, and for the first time I'm considering removing the Mac OS X completely from my workstation, and running W7 full-time. I do video editing in Sony Vegas primarily, used to only use Photoshop / Lightroom in Mac OS X, but I'm finding the 64-bit compatibility in W7 far surpasses the "slimmed down" compatibility in SL.

Mac Pro as PC/Win7

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