32-bit vs 64-bit

[Doug]

On 06/05/2014 02:32 PM, Niles Rogoff wrote:
> 2GB of ram is only the limit for 32 bit processors without PAE 
> support. Almost all 32 bit processors support PAE, which allows 32 bit 
> operating systems to address up to 4GB of memory.
>
>
Theoretically, even without pae, a 32-bit processor can address about 
3.6 GB ram. I have an older Dell Inspiron E1505. Dell says that it will 
only support 2GB, but i
installed a 4GB stick, and the machine actually addresses 3.0 GB. (I 
assume that something in the hardware limits the other 0.6 GB that is 
theoretically available.)
The extra 1 GB made a noticeable difference when I installed Windows 7 
on the machine. (It's still kind of slow, however.)

--doug