Usable memory

[seanb]

I am getting ready to install Fedora on my IBM T60. I currently have 4gb of RAM installed however Windows will only recognize 3gb. I was wondering if Linux is able to utilize more RAM than XP. I have not used Linux in a number of years, i initially had to switch back to windows for work and laptop compatibility issues. It was a constant battle trying to get everything on my old Gateway to work. From what I have been reading it seems as though most distros are a lot more laptop/user friendly.
I am new again to Linux so I appreciate any help as I am sure I will need it.

[bigtomrodney]

The limitation is 32-bit computing/processing. If you run 32-bit Fedora you will use PAE to try and claim back some of that extra gigabyte but ultimately only 3GB can be fully addressed natively. If your processor supports it you can install the 64-bit version. You should be good for using up to a few Exabytes of RAM then

Last week I installed 8GB (under protest) for someone running 32bit XP. They got to use about 4.7GB

[HROAdmin26]

With a PAE-enabled CPU and a PAE-enabled kernel, you can use much more than 3GB of RAM. The Core Duo in the T60's should be PAE-enabled.

If the auto installer in Fedora doesn't install the PAE-enabled kernel by itself, you may have to do it manually. Many distro's will install this seemlessly during the OS install.

Windows XP could address more than 3GB via PAE *if MSFT wanted to let you* - but they don't and 32 bit XP has a 3GB limit. Server versions of 32 bit Windows *will* address more than 4GB RAM.

You can use Google to find out more about PAE.

[seanb]

Thanks for the quick repiles. I am by all accounts a novice when it comes to Linux but I was able to get by and was actually learning quite a bit (I think I was using fedora core 2 or 3 back then)the last time I was using Linux.
I no longer have any reason to stick with Windows and I am willing to learn and suffer a few headaches to get away from MS. The last straw was MS Outlook not letting me follow a link directly from an email because I dont use explorer, I use Opera. It might seem trivial to a lot of people but I that kind of stuff really turns me off to MS.
Would you guys recoment installing a 32 bit distro at first? From what I have read it seems that certain drivers can be an issue with a 64 bit OS.
The only reason I am waiting is because I have to send my machine to Lenovo. I just had my LCD replaced and one day I had a thin blue line running down the screen. It has not come back but they offered to replace it for free because its new. My fear is that if they receive it with Fedora installed they my not honor the warranty...

[bigtomrodney]

The 32-bit/64-bit thing has pretty much ironed itself out now. There were problems in the past but to be honest it was more with proprietary software. I run 64-bit Ubuntu and its completely transparent...I forgot until you posted!

[seanb]

I am running a beta Fedora 11 64 bit live cd and the system will still only see 3 of my 4gb. BIOS sees all 4.