Windows Vista & 4GB memory

[Starrx05]

I installed Vista Ultimate, then updated to SP1. Right after logging in, My Computer / Properties shows 4GB. I know it can only use 3.1GB anyway. Hitting Control Alt Del to bring up Task Manager and in Performance, I see only about 900MB free. It says total in MB: 306x, Cached 15xx Without any prog launched and I did a fresh install so none of those trailware, bloatware, why it takes up 1.5GB just to start? And the total doesn't add up. Where's the other 500MB to 600MB?

 

[The Keeper]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superfetch#SuperFetch

 

[QuixoticOne]

I think it's working fine, don't worry about it. The memory use/reporting stuff can
be a little confusing, and you could go into detail to understand it all, but the short story is it's probably just fine and that's the way it works, and what memory it is 'using' it is using in a somewhat reasonable way.

 

[Tarrant64]

As of late I've tried to this of it this way: I just purchased 4GB of ram, I had better use as much of it as I can.

 

[indigo196]

I have the 64bit edition and I do not see the problems you are reporting here.

 

[bsobel]

Unused memory is wasted memory. Vista is using the extra memory to precache items youll probably use. If its wrong it simply frees that memory and gives it to the programs that need it. You'll normally see very little 'free' memory when the system is working properly.

 

[Starrx05]

The Keeper,
Thanks for your info there. That's pretty useful.

indigo196,
Yah, I wish I can run 64bit OS on this Lenovo.

It seems to run faster than the original Business Lenovo installed w/ all those trial things. Now I remember, free memory reported was about 1000MB on that too. So this is normal then.....

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: Starrx05
The Keeper,
Thanks for your info there. That's pretty useful.

indigo196,
Yah, I wish I can run 64bit OS on this Lenovo.

It seems to run faster than the original Business Lenovo installed w/ all those trial things. Now I remember, free memory reported was about 1000MB on that too. So this is normal then.....

Alot depends on your usage and what superfetch knows to cache. It won't cache stuff you havent used before, so if your original work load was lower your more likey to have 'true' free memory.

 

[Starrx05]

It turned out I checked the memory after Vista went into standby (it switched out to the login screen and required me to log back in). If I check memory right away, it shows I have about 1.6G free.

So basically there's no difference in performance and memory usage if I run 3GB (2+1) instead of 4GB for Vista 32-bit?