You should have Vista Ready Boost installed. If so, it allows you to use flash drives to increase the memory. I have gotten 8GB drives for under $20.00. I keep a blank one just for Ready Boost.

When you insert the drive, it will know how much to use automatically.

Someone more tech savy could tell you better just 'how' much it improves your performance in detail. On my PC, I run a 8GB flash drive and Ready Boost uses 4GB of it. (I believe that is all my little PC is meant to run...4GB) It does increase the overall performance.

There is alos Eboostr for XP. You have to pay for Eboostr. It works the same way. I installed it on my wife's laptop and it made a huge difference with a 2GB flash drive.

I would like to see and hear more about this virtual processor you are using there. That and if you have some info with links I'd be very interested in what all it really does.

Sounds interesting!

That does work Po. Hey you are using 32bit right?

Yes

Say Po what format are you using for the flashdrive in the readyboost mode. I've looked at somethings and still wonder which is best??? NTFS or original FAT32?

wow mine will only work in NTFS yrag

maybe I got the wrong kind of chip here...

gona go get me another one and try it with fat32 - but I got so many flash drives now seems you can't get enough of that stuff ...maybe?

Thanks yrag

Tomshardware.com:

"Not much has changed since 4 GB of RAM became the “sweet spot” for performance and price in the enthusiast market. While 32-bit operating systems

We can only recommend larger capacities of 8 GB to 12 GB for professional applications where its usefulness has already been documented and for servers. None of our tests required high-memory capacities and wasted RAM is a burden both financially and ecologically."

~ http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/memory-module-upgrade,2264-8.html

all CPU's today are 64bit compatible.

that is what the 64 stands for in AMD chip names...Athlon 64 etc...

it's just that it has been 64 bit compatible for so long now that they don't advertise it as such anymore.

And because at the time nothing would.

Just like now 12GB is literally just taking your money ... walking to the trash can and tossing it in. You won't use that unless you are just the most crazy multi-tasker ive ever seen.

So original poster i wouldn't go for 12GB. 8GB will do you fine for gaming and pretty much 99% of the stuff you will prob do on your PC.

Thats why you are only getting 4GB. 32-bit=4GB max.

I dunno.

AMD Athlon 64x2 Dual Core Processor 4200+ 2.20GH

32 Bit Operating System

You dunno what? I am telling you thats why you only see your system hit 4 GB. 32-bit OS's can only handle up to 4GB....

Though in some/many cases it will only see 3.75gb... like my 32 bit Vista Ultimate rig, and on the same rig, XP Pro shows only 3.25.

/sigh

I knew someone was gonna say this. Yes i know this ... BUT every system is different. So its easier to just go w/ the ballpark "4gb = 32bit" so you don't confuse people who don't understand.

Starkers has a point and it's good to let folks know so they don't think they have a problem when it won't use all 4GB. I understand 'ballparking it' but the added info can save a lot of folks (like me, when I first used it) some headaches.

Nothing against you 'personally', but when I go looking for info and someone thinks that the 'details' will go over my head so they talk down or ' ballpark' something, it's extremely frustrating. I'd rather have the details and then if I still don't understand, I can ask questions.