More about memory upgrades

[Lscharpen]

HP Pavillion m8020n

Asus P5LP-LE (Leonite) mobo

Windows Vista 32-bit, Windows 7 32-bit

BIOS version 5.23

4 GB RAM

I was wondering if the limitation to 4 GB for RAM was because the original installed OS was 32-bit Windows.

If so, then is the mobo actually capable of handling 6-8 GB (I can install 64-bit Windows 7 Professional for the additional memory)? Would it require a further upgrade of the BIOS?

Is there a further upgrade to the BIOS than the presently listed version of 5.23 that would be compatible with my mobo? Or will I have to upgrade my mobo to increase my RAM?

[-Cisco-]

Hello,

The Maximum HP approved memory is 4 GB regardless of the OS and there are no updates available to change that limit.

You would have to buy a new MOBO that is capable of handling more RAM.

[Vidya]

This motherboard is capable of supporting maximum 4GB only. Refer the following weblink:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00864946&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=3377254#N14...

It is not cost effective to upgrade the motherboard to install more RAM.

[ChrisT]

In this case, the mobo only supports 4GB. This is a hardware limitation and you won't get a (large) benefit upgrading to 64-bit Windows. Sorry!

[Lscharpen]

If I was upgrading to a mobo capable of handling 16 GB and an iCore-7 2600K CPU would it be cost effective then?

It is a pity that HP chooses to hobble mobos. I could understand stating the 4 GB limitation given that it was released with 32-bit OSs, but to prevent (by limiting the address/data lines) the use of 8(16) GB for either 64-bit OSs or extended-memory mode in 32-bit OSs seems a bit IBMish* on their part.

P.S. I work on large graphic images as well as video.

P.P.S. I am also a software (embedded) developer.

* IBM would sell the same hardware with jumper settings for different amounts of memory. When a customer would purchase more memory for their device, IBM would send out a Field Service Tech who would merely change (or remove) a jumper, opening up a larger range of memory for that device. No other change in the hardware was made.

[Vidya]

If you want to upgrade to the configuration mentioned below,  I suggest you purchase a new system with this configuration than upgrading it. There would be very less difference in the cost.