Question about RAM on a Linux box?

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9xer

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I have an '08 Compaq desktop that came with 32 bit Vista and 2 gb of ram. I replaced Vista with Linux Mint 13 (not dual boot). Now, the Compaq specs say that the mobo can take up to 4 gb of ram, but that 32 bit Vista won't see all of that; how much of 4 gb would 32 bit Linux use?

Reason for asking; if it's only going to be able to use like 3 gb out of 4 gb of ram, it would be cheaper for me to buy a 1 gb stick of ram instead of 2 gb (I'd be adding whatever I buy to the 2 gb that's already in there). Thanks!
 
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It is the same as windows.

32bit is what is limiting it in both cases.

You will see 4gig minus Video ram, BIOS memory, Video BIOS, and a few other minor memories.

System RAM is addressed last, so it gets the memory addresses that are left.

millwright

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It is the same as windows.

32bit is what is limiting it in both cases.

You will see 4gig minus Video ram, BIOS memory, Video BIOS, and a few other minor memories.

System RAM is addressed last, so it gets the memory addresses that are left.
 
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9xer

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Millwright, thanks for the tips!

But if I install 64 bit o/s on a 32 bit machine, does it automatically become 64 bit? I thought the processor/mobo had to have support for that built in.

For what it matters, the mobo is an MSI Boston running a Pentium Dual Core E2180.
 

9xer

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Thanks, I'll have to look into that further.

Btw, you may remember me as Tubes4life over at the ARF :D
 

9xer

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Thanks, guys. I did more research, and you are both correct; both cpu and mobo are 64 bit...so my next step is installing 4 gb of ram and also installing 64 bit Linux....since I'm going that far, I think I'm going to install it on a nice new hard drive as well.
 
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