Win 7 32-bit Memory Limits?

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  1. Posts : 4,466
    Windows 10 Education 64 bit
       #11

    I'm with DeaconFrost in regards to installing that patch. From what I have read, when it works it only works on very specific hardware. And even when it does work, it doesn't do what you think it does. More often than not it just borks your system and you'll end up doing that reinstall you didn't want to do in the first place. Why the resistance to wards doing a clean install?
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  2. Posts : 2,606
    Windows 7 Pro X64 SP1
       #12

    hcour said:
    Thanks for the replies. Marsmimar, your link eventually led me to the following, a patch which apparently gets around the 32-bit memory limitiations. What do ya'll think? (Warning, some side-bar advertisements are NSFW.)

    UNAWAVE - 32-bit Windows 7 with full 4 GB or 8 GB RAM support
    It's not clear what this patch does, but I suppose that it's a hack that enables PAE (physical address extension) on a 32 bit desktop OS. The PAE pieces are supposed to be present is desktop Windows, but disabled.

    PAE allows 32 bit server versions of Windows to work with more than 4GB of RAM. The memory limitations on 32 bit applications software remain (2 or 3 GB available to one application), but it would, in principle, allow you to run multiple applications at a time with less competition for RAM. (Not something I've ever done.)

    64 bit Windows adds support for 64 bit applications. And avoids hacking the OS to get access to those last few hundred MB of RAM.
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  3. Posts : 88
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #13

    I'd just rather avoid a complete re-install if possible. My system is pretty much fine as is, just a bit sluggish, especially when I'm copying or moving files, of which I do a lot. I currently have an ASUS A8N-SLI mb, Athlon 64 X2 4200+ CPU, the 2GB memory, a 512mb video card running two 24" LCD monitors, and a 500 watt Antec PS. My plan is to increase the memory, install a second 512mb video card, so each monitor will be on one card, install a 60GB SSD for my OS and programs, and then OC the system.

    What do ya'll think?
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  4. Posts : 5,795
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #14

    If you are adding an SSD, that would be the perfect time to do a clean install. It only takes a few hours of your time, and it guarantees that your SSD is set up properly. Not much effort on your end, but you'll be using all of the memory you paid for.
    Last edited by DeaconFrost; 30 Apr 2012 at 08:00.
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  5. Posts : 88
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #15

    Thanks, but I'm just going to make an image of my C: drive with Acronis and put that on the SSD drive. I'd rather not mess with a reinstall and 64-bit if don't need to.
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  6. Posts : 5,795
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #16

    There's nothing to be afraid of with 64 bit. It acts just like 32 bit, and the install process is identical.

    If you aren't going to do a clean install, then be sure you follow the tutorials to check that your alignment is correct.
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  7. Posts : 89
    Windows 7 Ultimate
       #17

    What do ya'll think? (Warning, some side-bar advertisements are NSFW.)

    UNAWAVE - 32-bit Windows 7 with full 4 GB or 8 GB RAM support
    I've used two such patches and they worked fine: you get access to more memory and everything else is the same. Some claim that PAE addressing is slightly slower, but I can't see any speed differences, even using a stopwatch. FWIW, some or most 32-bit Linux distros enable PAE by default, so it's not like PAE is some weird scam.

    I tried 64 bit windows on my factory 64-bit machine, and nothing ran any faster*, including video conversions with 64 bit software, and it seemed to cause a bunch of strange, minor but irritating problems with lots of software, so I went back to 32 bit.

    *Of the things I tested, of course: reboot times, conversions, etc., though 64 bit linux is generally slightly faster than 32 bit linux, PAE or not.
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  8. Posts : 5,795
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #18

    The issue with PAE, is that it very often causes apps and especially drivers to have issues that weren't intended to be used with a PAE-enabled system.

    Now that Windows 7 has viable options for either platform, there's no need to consider any patch like that. If you need more memory, running Windows 7 x64 should be your solution. There's no reason to fear it, or treat it as a proof of concept product.
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  9. Posts : 88
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #19

    Thanks, guys. I may just end up building a new system - i5, 4gb ram, 1gb video card, ssd for OS and programs, Win7 64. I've already got a great big Cooler Master case (probably should add a couple more fans) and an Antec 500w PS. I could probably do it for around $500. I've got to think about this.
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