How much RAM can Windows handle?
When upgrading your system, you need to keep two different maximum amounts of memory in mind. First, the system maximum is the top amount of memory that your chipset and motherboard combination can handle. When you look up your system in the Memory Selector, you will see the system maximum on the page that lists the compatible upgrades for your system. Second, the OS maximum is the top amount of memory that your operating system can handle. When purchasing your upgrade, you need to determine which number is lower, your system maximum or your OS maximum. You should not exceed this number! Doing so is likely to slow your system performance or cause other problems. (In most cases, the system maximum is lower than the OS maximum.) Here are the OS maximums for popular versions of Microsoft Windows.
