Vista SP1 Installed System Memory RAM
section: windows, for your questions: KezNews forum, 13.6.2008
Tip: Click here to update all your PC's outdated driversOne of the aspects that Service Pack 1 changes for Windows Vista is the way that the operating system reports the amount of installed system memory.
The way that Vista SP1 now deals with the physical RAM impacts both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the platform and end users could experience an increase of the memory value reported. According to Microsoft, in the eventuality that physical memory was reserved for the graphics card, or if additional peripherals share the RAM via settings in the system BIOS, and also on computers with more than 3 GB of system memory, Vista SP1 will report the full resources available.
"This change occurs because Windows Vista with SP1 reports how much physical memory installed on your computer. All versions of Windows NT-based operating systems before Windows Vista Service SP1 report how much memory available to the operating system. This change in Windows Vista SP1 is a reporting change only," Microsoft informed.
Vista SP1 end users will be able to notice the increase in RAM reporting across various areas of the platform including the Welcome Center, in My Computer windows, System Properties windows as well as into the Performance Information and Tools item in Control Panel. RAM reporting evolved in Vista SP1 to include Installed Physical Memory (RAM), Total Physical Memory and Available Physical Memory in the System Information tool.
It is important to understand that not all the physical RAM is available to the operating system. Before SP1, Vista only took into account the system memory that it could use, and ignored the rest, even if it was installed. Because of BIOS and driver reservations of RAM, both 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Vista RTM failed to report the full amount of memory on a system. Vista SP1 comes to resolve this problem, and will provide correct information of the hardware configuration even if the operating system has to share the RAM and can use only a portion of it.
"On computers that have a 32-bit operating system, more than 3 GB of system memory, and with a version of Windows that is earlier than Windows Vista SP1, users will see a larger difference in how much memory is reported as available to the operating system compared to how much physical memory is installed. This is because some physical address space must be reserved as I/O regions for memory mapped peripherals. These I/O regions are allocated between the 3 GB physical address and the 4 GB upper physical address limit," Microsoft added.
source:
news.softpedia.com
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Comments(5)
great now they just need to release an update which will change the same thing in windows
xp
theres no point of what they did. all it does is show you how much memory you have in
your pc(which you should already know anyway). if your using 32-bit os and have more then
3gb of ram you are still limited to the 3 gigs. so really this 'tweak' is useless
two things grabbed my attention in this article: (1) "sp1 reports how much physical
memory installed on your computer. all versions of windows nt-based operating systems
before windows vista service sp1 report how much memory available to the operating
system" -- hmm - seems like the original concept makes sense to me - knowing how much is
available instead of how much is physically installed. thanks for listening to the
whiners, ms - i don't hate you, but remind me too much of disneyland(tm/r/etc). (2).
..."a 32-bit operating system, more than 3 gb of system memory, and with a version of
windows that is earlier than windows vista sp1..." err...all 32 bit oss (at least on x86
hardware) are limited to addressing 4gb of ram due to address restrictions. --stating
this is a windows-86 thing (as if it didn't effect other x-86 based oss as well),
certainly doesn't help vista's case for ms in the eyes of the consumer (another 'fix'
99% of the users never needed). add to that their explanation is a bit weak considering
some of the applications of physical address extensions (albeit neither preferable or
guaranteed to be completely stable in all situations). ultimately, the closest thing to
the truth is that 32bit x86 oss are limited to addressing 4gb of addres space. that can
be memory, hardware/periferals, acpi stuff, unmentionable battery powered devices
suggested by the "doctor" - it doesn't matter. ultimately the biggest culprit is
anything with memory (video card, special network or hard drive card, etc.) - these will
be the worst offenders and will drag your total available address space/memory down the
most. 64bit can definitely address a lot more ram (16 gigs isn't even an issue on a
decent board). again, thanks to ms for providing a technically accurate, but completely
useless answer.
i noticed that as soon as i'd installed sp1. before sp1, welcome center showed 3.97gb
(that's what it actually is) and after sp1 it showed 4gb. it's nothing to bragg about, a
minor change if anything.
agree with cjg83
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By soljaBoy on 14.06.2008 - 16:06