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EricBryant
Contributor
Contributor
‎09-10-2009 01:16 PM

How much RAM can Workstation access on an XP host?

Hello,

I have an XP Pro host with 4GB RAM and as usual, only 3GB shows up to Windows XP. How much RAM can Workstation 6.5.3 access? Can I throw some serious RAM in this box and spread it around to the VM's?

Thanks!

Eric

Web Design & Internet Marketing http://www.corezero.com
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6 Replies
continuum
Immortal
Immortal
‎09-10-2009 01:37 PM

Nope - Workstation can only use the RAM that the host detects - so adding RAM to this machine would be wasted.

On a 32bit host your options are limited.

To access more RAM you must use 2003 Server Enterprise or Linux

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KevinG
Immortal
Immortal
‎09-10-2009 03:25 PM

Hi Eric,

VMware Workstation can only access the memory that the host OS has access to, 32-bit XP is limited 4GB.

You will only be able to use the 3+GB minus the memory needed to run the host OS for the virtual machines.

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EricBryant
Contributor
Contributor
‎09-11-2009 08:24 AM

Hello,

Server 2003 Ent can access 32GB, right?

What about Linux? What is the max mem? What flavor is preferred in the VM community?

Thanks!

Eric

Web Design & Internet Marketing http://www.corezero.com
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Scissor
Virtuoso
Virtuoso
‎09-11-2009 08:51 AM

Do you have a 64-bit processor? If so, any 64-bit version of Windows would be able to see all installed RAM.

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EricBryant
Contributor
Contributor
‎09-11-2009 09:01 AM

I heard that 64 bit Windows XP can still only access 4GB, that the "64 bit" part is related to hardware (CPU) only. Is that not true, then? If I run XP Pro 64 bit on a 64 bit CPU the max is way out there somewhere? There must be a max, like 256GB or whatever, right?

Thanks again!

Eric

Web Design & Internet Marketing http://www.corezero.com
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Scissor
Virtuoso
Virtuoso
‎09-11-2009 10:23 AM 

I heard that 64 bit Windows XP can still only access 4GB, that the "64 bit" part is related to hardware (CPU) only. Is that not true, then? 
No it's not true.
If I run XP Pro 64 bit on a 64 bit CPU the max is way out there somewhere? There must be a max, like 256GB or whatever, right?
Yes there is a max.  128 GB Physical memory for Win XP Pro x64.
More info here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_XP_Professional_x64_Edition#Windows_XP_Professional_x64_Edition
One thing to keep in mind regarding XP Pro 64-bit is that XP x64 is based upon Windows Server 2003 x64.  Therefore, driver support for hardware is a little more limited.  With Windows 7 out now I would recommend going to Win7 x64 instead of XP x64 if possible.

					
				
			
			
				
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
		

		
		
	

	
	


	
				
		
			
		
			
		
			
					
			
		
				
		
			
					
		
	
				
		
			
					
		
	
				
		
			
					
		
	
				
		
			
					
		
	
				
		
			
					
		
	
				
		
	
	


		

	

		

			

	
		
			
					
				
		
			
		
			
					
		
		
	
				
		
			
					
				
		
			
					

	
			

				
		
			
		
			
				

					
						
	
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