Arch Linux

murali

Member

Registered: 2011-02-24

Posts: 13

RAM upgrade question

I've an old Lenovo R61 thinkpad (8932 CTO) which supports upto 4G ram and want to max it out. Would i need to reinstall Arch with x86_64 version to see the 4G ram or will the installed x686 be able to see the ram increase as well?

Also is there any other catch in increasing memory - will i get any kernel panics or boot up issues? I've legacy grub as boot loader.

Appreciate any feedback.

Thanks.

Inxsible

Forum Fellow

From: Chicago

Registered: 2008-06-09

Posts: 9,183

Re: RAM upgrade question

i686 can see 3.2GB of usable ram. so you should be fine without a re-install

---

Forum Rules

There's no such thing as a stupid question, but there sure are a lot of inquisitive idiots !

teateawhy

Member

From: GER

Registered: 2012-03-05

Posts: 1,138

Website

Re: RAM upgrade question

If you add more ram by buying an additional memory module make sure it has the same clock and frequency as the first one. You should be able to work with the full amount of ram built in your computer then even if you have an x686 installation. This is achieved by physical adress extension.
Also see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_Address_Extension
"The Linux kernel supports PAE as a build option and most major distributions provide a PAE kernel either as the default or as an option"

nomorewindows

Member

Registered: 2010-04-03

Posts: 3,362

Re: RAM upgrade question

Depends on whether there is a limitation of the motherboard taking any more than 4G, which of course, then to use anymore of it, would have to be 64-bit.

---

I may have to CONSOLE you about your usage of ridiculously easy graphical interfaces...
Look ma, no mouse.

Scimmia

Fellow

Registered: 2012-09-01

Posts: 11,544

Re: RAM upgrade question

You should be able to work with the full amount of ram built in your computer then even if you have an x686 installation. This is achieved by physical adress extension.
Also see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_Address_Extension
"The Linux kernel supports PAE as a build option and most major distributions provide a PAE kernel either as the default or as an option"

But not in the stock Arch kernel:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Ar … _64-bit.3F

murali

Member

Registered: 2011-02-24

Posts: 13

Re: RAM upgrade question

Thanks everyone for the quick responses. My motherboard cannot take more than 4 so that's what i'm going to stick with. I found one PAE kernel in AUR so maybe that's what i'm going to try after the upgrade.

Thanks all for your suggestions.

WonderWoofy

Member

From: Los Gatos, CA

Registered: 2012-05-19

Posts: 8,414

Re: RAM upgrade question

I read this the other day.

http://cl4ssic4l.wordpress.com/2011/05/ … about-pae/