Question for the Computer Guru's?

[showcase 66]

Was talking to a buddy of mine about adding more memory on one of my home computers. It is an HP and it can have up to 16gb of Ram but he was telling me that even with 16gb my computer can only use 8gb because of the version of Windows 7 on it. My buddy is not a computer wiz but he said that is what he was told when he went to Staples to have them upgrade his memory.

I came across this image but have no idea what it actually means. I have home premium on the computer at home so by this chart, 16gb will work.

What confuses me is the windows 7 business and ultimate having an allowable of 192gb. I have windows 7 business with 16gb on my work computer.

How would you be able to have 192gb? Are they saying you can add virtual memory up to 192gb. I thought maybe something like you can do with a thumb drive by making that additional mem, but not sure.

Can anyone straighten this out for me?

Thanks.

 

[OlsonSigns601]

There are limitations on how much memory you can have based on hardware and software.

Software which would be your OS restricts you. Like Windows 7 Bussiness allows 192GB of RAM.

Hardware such as a motherboard also has restrictions on how much RAM will be supported.

Generally HP, Compact and DELL really like to limit the upgrade of their computers so that you will buy a new computer instead of being able to upgrade it. However if you build one yourself you can expect to have a max RAM of about 16-32 GB.

However you can buy sever motherboards like this one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813151219
That MB supports 256GB of RAM.

 

[SignBurst PCs]

I think that your friend has been misinformed. If you have Windows 7 (32 Bit), you can use a max of 4GB. If you have Windows 7 (64 Bit), you can practically use as much as your motherboard will recognize. You can right-click "Computer" and click "Properties" and it will state if you have 64 Bit.

 

[showcase 66]

I think that your friend has been misinformed. If you have Windows 7 (32 Bit), you can use a max of 4GB. If you have Windows 7 (64 Bit), you can practically use as much as your motherboard will recognize. You can right-click "Computer" and click "Properties" and it will state if you have 64 Bit.

I have the 64 Bit computer. The computer, according to HP is allowed up to 16GB which I thought was the case when I got it. I was just more confused by the 192 GB allowable for Windows 7 Business and ultimate. The image I posted was from HP. I am going to put the memory in tonight on the house computer. Wish I could upgrade my laptop memory a lot more though.

 

[ruckusman]

Windows 7 Business can address 192GB, if your hardware supports that much memory.

Consider that memory modules go up in size by doubles...so a motherboard that has a max capacity of 192GB may support 8GB per slot and woould have 24 slots, that's a big board and needs a big box.
Also the chipset that addresses that much memory is going to be expensive.

However the imagess you posted shows limits imposed by Microsoft on how much memory each version of the OS will support to basically to get you to pay more....cheeky buggers

 

[qmr55]

I have the 64 Bit computer. The computer, according to HP is allowed up to 16GB which I thought was the case when I got it. I was just more confused by the 192 GB allowable for Windows 7 Business and ultimate. The image I posted was from HP. I am going to put the memory in tonight on the house computer. Wish I could upgrade my laptop memory a lot more though.

That image tells you how much RAM the OS will handle, in your case, it depends on how many slots the motherboard has. I am guessing 4 slots because they told you it can handle 16 gigs, 4gb sticks.

 

[Christian @ 2CT Media]

Those boards that support 100+ GBs also support upto 32GB ECC Modules... These are typically servers and ultra high end workstations.

 

[SightLine]

My Precision 690 1Kw has 16 memory slots. :Big Laugh Only officially supports up to 4GB per stick though for a maximum of 64GB. Never tried an 8GB stick but it's possible they would work. The Precision 690 (and 7400 I think) actually have 8 slots on the board but those have 2 riser boards which install in those which have 8 slots each. The riser boards also require addtional power connectors.

I currently have all 16 slots loaded with 2GB modules for 32GB. Now that FBDIMM's have come down even more I've been tempted to take it to 64GB since there are plenty of modules on eBay. Originally had it with all 1GB modules and already upgraded them all once.