{"id":3711,"date":"2019-11-06T07:00:34","date_gmt":"2019-11-06T12:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/langa.com\/?p=3711"},"modified":"2019-11-05T19:45:56","modified_gmt":"2019-11-06T00:45:56","slug":"why-doesnt-my-pc-boot-with-more-than-16gb-of-ram","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/11\/06\/why-doesnt-my-pc-boot-with-more-than-16gb-of-ram\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;Why doesn&#8217;t my PC boot with more than 16GB of RAM?&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em><small>(Answer requested by &#8220;Weslo&#8221;)<\/small><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The three primary reasons for RAM limitations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There can be <strong>mathematical limitations<\/strong>: a 32-bit PC can only access about 4GB of RAM, because that &#8212; roughly 4 billion &#8212; is the highest you can count using 32 bits of data. A 32-bit operating system literally can\u2019t \u201csee\u201d or access memory at higher-numbered locations at all; or only with some kind of kludgy helper app to translate the addresses down into 32-bit range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There can be <strong>physical limitations<\/strong>: A 32-bit PC may lack the electrical connections to support 64-bit (or higher) memory operation. Again, if the PC can\u2019t access the memory locations, it can\u2019t use them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There can be <strong>arbitrary limitations<\/strong>: Some vendors impose arbitrary caps on the type and amount of RAM their systems support. (This makes manufacturing and support cheaper for them; and steers customers towards higher-priced\/better-spec\u2019ced devices.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What can you do<\/strong> if you need more RAM than your current PC allows? <strong>This:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>If your <strong>PC is 32-bit-based<\/strong>, you need a newer, 64-bit based PC.<br><\/li><li>If your <strong>operating system is 32-bits<\/strong>, upgrade to a 64-bit version.<br><\/li><li>If your PC simply can\u2019t support the amount of RAM you need due to <strong>manufacturer-imposed limitations<\/strong> (check the vendor\u2019s support site), you need a PC from a vendor who doesn\u2019t impose such limitations.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align:right\" class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em><strong>Permalink: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/langa.com\/?p=3711\"><strong>https:\/\/langa.com\/?p=3711<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"104\" height=\"6\" data-attachment-id=\"1999\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/02\/10\/around-boston-the-nearly-snowless-winter-continues\/seperator-short-grey\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/SEPERATOR-short-grey.png?fit=104%2C6&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"104,6\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"SEPERATOR short grey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/SEPERATOR-short-grey.png?fit=104%2C6&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/SEPERATOR-short-grey.png?resize=104%2C6\" alt=\"[seperator]\" class=\"wp-image-1999\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align:left\"><strong>COMMENT \/ QUESTION<\/strong>  on <strong>THIS ITEM?<\/strong> <em>See the<\/em> <strong>Comment box<\/strong> <em>at bottom of this page!<\/em><br><b><em><br><\/em>NEW QUESTION? <\/b><em>Ask<\/em><b> <u><font color=\"#000117\"><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/contact\/\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a><\/font><\/u><\/b>!<br><br>(<em>Want free notification of new content? Click<\/em><b><strong> <\/strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/09\/09\/get-free-automatic-notification-of-new-content\/\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a><\/b>!)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(Answer requested by &#8220;Weslo&#8221;) The three primary reasons for RAM limitations: There can be mathematical limitations: a 32-bit PC can only access about 4GB of RAM, because that &#8212; roughly 4 billion &#8212; is the highest you can count using 32 bits of data. A 32-bit operating system literally can\u2019t \u201csee\u201d or access memory at&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7,30,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3711","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-a-reader-asks","category-hardware","category-windows"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paaiox-XR","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1156,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/11\/26\/a-reader-asks-how-much-ram-do-i-need-for-my-laptop\/","url_meta":{"origin":3711,"position":0},"title":"A reader asks: How much RAM do I need for my laptop?","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-11-26","format":false,"excerpt":"Q: How much RAM do I need for my laptop? I mostly use it for word documents, Internet browsing with multiple tabs, and, occasionally, light video editing. I currently have 4GB but I'm considering going up to 8GB. (via Quora) A: Here\u2019s an easy way to see if you have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;A reader asks...&quot;","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/ram-use-fig-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":215,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/08\/30\/a-reader-asks-my-pc-is-64-bit-so-why-can-it-only-address-4gb-of-ram\/","url_meta":{"origin":3711,"position":1},"title":"A reader asks: My PC is 64 bit, so why can it only address 4GB of RAM?","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-08-30","format":false,"excerpt":"Q: If my dimension XPS Gen 4 is 64-Bit, why can it only address 4GB RAM? (Question sent via Quora) A: There\u2019s a world of difference between what\u2019s mathematically or theoretically possible, and what is commercially viable for desktop systems! For example, a 64-bit system is theoretically able directly access\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;A reader asks...&quot;","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":182,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/08\/31\/a-reader-asks-how-do-i-know-if-i-have-enough-ram\/","url_meta":{"origin":3711,"position":2},"title":"A reader asks: How do I know if I have enough RAM?","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-08-31","format":false,"excerpt":"A reader asks: How do I know if I have enough RAM?\u00a0\u00a0(Question sent to me via Quora) Every device (PCs, tablets, smartphones\u2026), and every user, has a unique answer for \u201cwhat\u2019s enough RAM?\" In a perfect world,\u00a0RAM would you hold all of your running programs and processes in their entirety,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;A reader asks...&quot;","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2864,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/05\/31\/is-8gb-enough-ram-memory-for-a-laptop-in-2019\/","url_meta":{"origin":3711,"position":3},"title":"&#8220;Is 8GB enough RAM memory for a new laptop in 2019?&#8221;","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2019-05-31","format":false,"excerpt":"(Answer requested by\u00a0Ellie Williams) Yes, for ordinary use \u2014 office tasks, browsing, streaming media, etc. \u2014 8GB is fine for a current-generation 64-bit PC. If you have occasional heavy use that bogs down an 8GB PC, or if you want to build in a little future-proofing, go for 12GB. If\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;A reader asks...&quot;","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1319,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/12\/12\/a-reader-asks-is-32-gb-ram-too-much\/","url_meta":{"origin":3711,"position":4},"title":"A reader asks: &#8220;Is 32 GB RAM too much?&#8221;","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-12-12","format":false,"excerpt":"A reader asks: \"Is 32 GB RAM too much?\" Fred says yes, even for future-proofing. Here's why.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;A reader asks...&quot;","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1349,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/12\/17\/a-reader-asks-will-upgrading-my-ram-from-3000-mhz-to-3200-mhz-yield-a-performance-gain\/","url_meta":{"origin":3711,"position":5},"title":"A reader* asks: &#8220;Will upgrading my RAM from 3000 MHz to 3200 MHz yield a performance gain?&#8221;","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-12-17","format":false,"excerpt":"Meh. You'll either see no gain at all; or so little that you won't notice. Here's why: The circuits that RAM plugs into are controlled by a clock that sets the pacing for all memory-related operations in that part of the PC. In the vast majority of PCs, the RAM\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;A reader asks...&quot;","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3711","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3711"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3711\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3737,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3711\/revisions\/3737"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3711"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3711"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3711"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}