Achraf52 asks:
If someone has Windows 7 32-bit edition along 2 GB of RAM and purchased another 2 GG of RAM, would it work or not?
Thanks.
Browser: Chrome 21
System: Windows
Tagged: 32-bit, hardware tips, physical memory, ram, upgrade hardware, windows 7, windows tips
System: Windows
Tagged: 32-bit, hardware tips, physical memory, ram, upgrade hardware, windows 7, windows tips
12 Answers -
Vipul Jain
August 11, 2012OS is of no concern.
If you have another slot and your motherboard supports upto 4gigs of RAM, go ahead. If your PC is relatively new then it surely will support.
It is OS that limit RAM check http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa366778(v=vs.85).aspx#physical_memory_limits_windows_7 you can learn more there .
August 11, 2012wow, that’s surprising..
August 11, 201232bit windows7 have a 4gig limit and even Win XP 32bit have 4gig limit. That’s kind of technically dumb on Microsoft’s behalf..
It is impossible to exceed that limit as 2^32 is what result that limit in computations that can be performed so it is not Microsoft fault, just like IPv4 and IPv6 where people think we’ll never reach the limit .
August 11, 2012Dear Mr. Jain,
I think 32 Bit will support only till 3.2GB and more than that will be only of no use. For usinf RAM more then 3.5GB you need to installed OS with 64bit.
It generally says that 32 bit supports 4GB but practically it supports up to 3.2 GB .
Good Luck..
August 14, 2012So adding just 1 Gb is what recommended at now .
August 19, 2012Bruce Epper
August 11, 2012The only concern you should have at this point is if your motherboard will support 4GB of RAM (most will, but if you are still using old tech, you may not be able to) and making sure the RAM is compatible with your motherboard and (hopefully) matches the RAM already installed in the system. For the most part, you cannot mix and match RAM.
It is a friend who need it but I think their computer is new enough as DDR3 is what’s used there ;
August 11, 2012susendeep dutta
August 11, 2012Visit crucial.com
site
and it’ll ask you to download a small piece of tool and allow it to scan your PC to suggest you correct type of memory and maximum capacity of RAM for your motherboard.Moreover,it’s also suggested that if you successfully install more 2 GB RAM then also install Windows 7 64-bit edition OS as it’ll address full 4 GB RAM and 32-bit will only address upto maximum 3.5 GB.Try to install same – company and model of RAM that you are currently having.
Would they recommend me only their products or other .
August 11, 2012The Crucial site checker would recommend their products, but would give you the type and speed of memory you should look for if you want to go with another brand. Using the site is suggested so you don’t have to install anything but the active x control in the browser.
August 12, 2012That wads the most helpful part, it did show me what I should purchase, but is there a way to see what RAM manufacturer I got .
August 19, 2012The only true way is accessing the memory sticks themselves inside the computer, but using CPU-Z would give you a good idea of manufacturing company. http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html
August 19, 2012Sometimes a generic memory sick will give off a company name of the chips used to make it like Samsung.
CPU-Z is a very great utility that gives you so much information about your computer hardware periphery.
August 20, 2012Alan Wade
August 11, 2012To give an answer to your question – yes most proberly unless you are on a very old system.
Things you need to know:
If you are going to add RAM for more speed you will proberly be disappointed, you wont see that much of a change.
Adding RAM to make certain programs run better will work without a doubt.
If you want more speed there are a few things to look at. M/B – what model is it?
Will it support a 4 or 6 core processor?
Consider a SDD.
Change your Windows over to 64 bit to utilise speed and all of your RAM.
There is more but they should be top of your list depending on why you want more RAM.
Could you explain what are Pros and Cons of using 64 bit version .
August 11, 2012With 32-bit Windows, you can use a maximum of 4GB RAM. 64-bit Windows 7 runs very fast with 4GB and you can upgrade your RAM to 8 or 16 GB later, making your system future-proof.
A 32-bit OS can theoretically use up to 4 GB of RAM, but 32-bit versions of Windows Vista and Windows 7 see a maximum of 3.12 GB. With 64-bit Windows 7, you can use the full 4GB RAM.
You get better security with 64-bit Windows. All 64-bit device drivers are digitally signed, which means you will not have random crashes. You also get more advanced security features like Kernel Patch Protection with 64-bit Windows 7.
Since 64-bit systems process more information and support greater RAM, Windows 7 is more responsive when you are running complex applications or many applications simultaneously. If you use graphics applications like Photoshop, video editing, games, CAD, etc., you should go 64-bit.
More info here:
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/difference-32-bit-64-bit-windows/
here
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-nz/windows-vista/32-bit-and-64-bit-Windows-frequently-asked-questions
and this is worth a read
http://lifehacker.com/5431284/the-lifehacker-guide-to-64+bit-vs-32+bit-operating-systems
August 12, 2012Thank you for the explanation .
August 19, 2012Igor Rizvi?
August 11, 2012Download peccy-it will give you hardware information,check what type of ram you have,and whats the maximum number of ram GB you can install on your motherboard(keep in mind your memory module,frequency and memory).
Do you mean Speccy?
August 11, 2012Yes,I wrote wrong.Or any other program like SandraLite ect..
August 12, 2012Good one, from Piriform which producde CCleaner tool, too .
August 19, 2012ha14
August 11, 2012try crucial scanner and see their suggestions
http://www.crucial.com/systemscanner/
always have the same 4 ram manufacturer
Thanks .
August 19, 2012Dalsan
August 11, 2012Running a 32 bit system, the max the system can allow is 4GB, but may show less (around 3.5 GB possibly). Crucial’s online scanner works well for finding out the type of memory you can put into your computer. Speccy from Piriform works great to give you all the technical information of the hardware installed on your computer including memory type. It is best to match the newer memory you wish to buy to the memory specifications that you have installed, or replace the old one with the fastest memory speed your computer allows for better performance. If your memory type is newer (DDR3 pc8500 or higher), it could be fairly cheap to replace the memory to the highest speed, but for ddr2 and lower, it would cost much more. Just a little more to think about for performance vs. cost in your upgrade. For general use, though, the extra speed doesn’t matter so much, but matters more for games and more intensive programs.
If it got enough memory for graphics would 4 Gb show as available .
August 11, 2012As you have found out, the limitations of Windows 32 bit only allows up to 4GB to be used no matter what, but sometimes will reduce to 3.5 usable. 64 bit is faster, but you will notice a big jump in memory usage to get the better performance. The only limitation so far with 64 bit operating systems have are actually not by the operating system, but by the motherboard. There are no home consumer motherboards that hit near the maximum memory limit. With software utilizing the faster technology and the 64 bit system being 32 bit compatible, there is no real reason to stick with 32 bit systems.
August 12, 2012If you have 64 bit system could you use 32 bit only software ? or no .
August 19, 2012Yes you can. There are two program files folders within 64 bit Windows, splitting up the 32 bit software from the 64 bit software. There are still many programs that work best in 32 bit mode like Microsoft Office 2007 and 2010. Overall performance of 64 bit systems are better, especially with the ability to use more than 3.5GB RAM.
August 19, 2012lance burn
August 11, 2012It depends on if it’s for a laptop or desk top also you should have the same kind of memory. some have different fittings even. I imagine a desk top computer would be easiest to upgrade
Sorry this isn’t the case .
August 19, 2012Erlis Dhima
August 12, 2012If it’s laptop, then you should remove the one that’s installed, and upgrade with a better one (of course, if it doesn’t have extra slots.. )
If it’s a desktop, surely there are free slots (usually desktops are with 2-4 RAM slots), then add another one…
Note that if you have a Win 7 32-bit, it can’t read more than 4 Gb of RAM.. (You need 64-bit for more RAM size…)
As explained above you’ll only see an 3.2 Gb of RAM available to use .
August 19, 2012Better saying something twice, then reading 31 comments!
August 19, 2012Anyway, just to know, 3 and 3.2 doesn’t make any difference at all!
If your RAM usage goes up to 60%, your computer will go dump…
Sumaiya
August 21, 2012yes it will
Alex Perkins
September 12, 2012If you have a spare slot then depending.. yes. If you have 2 slots (2 x 1GB) then buy (2 x 2GB) if you have 2GB by 1 x 2GB then just buy 1 x 2GB. Try getting the numbers as close as you can to the RAM in there already. A note to consider, a 32 bit OS can only use about 3.5GB of the 4GB.
Alex Perkins
October 3, 2012Yes but it will only be able to use about 3.8 GB or so.