Chromebook 514 with Kompanio 828; why is it using a 32 bit operating system?

SJC

My system is equipped with 8GB Ram, however, a 32 bit operating system can only support 4GB Ram. Seems that this system is mismatched between the operating system and installed RAM. 

JackE

How do you know it has 8GB RAM? This kind of budget laptop usually has 4GB RAM soldered to the mainboard with no expansion capabilities?

SJC

JackE said:

How do you know it has 8GB RAM? This kind of budget laptop usually has 4GB RAM soldered to the mainboard with no expansion capabilities?

The invoice and the diagnostics screen show 8GB of Ram. Here's the diagnostic output; 4.26 GB of 7.66 GB available

JackE

What diagnostics screen are you referring to? Can you post a phone photo or screenshot?

SJC

JackE said:

What diagnostics screen are you referring to? Can you post a phone photo or screenshot?

Here's the screenshot.

SJC

Here's the Chrome OS Version; 

Google Chrome OS

Version 101.0.4951.32 (Official Build) beta (32-bit)

JackE

The simple answer, like 32-bit Windows, a 32-bit Chrome or Android OS can access more than 4GB RAM with a physical address extension. A little slower RAM access than possible with a 64-bit OS and hardware but still can access more than 4GB nonetheless.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/memory/physical-address-extension  

SJC

JackE said:

The simple answer, like 32-bit Windows, a 32-bit Chrome or Android OS can access more than 4GB RAM with a physical address extension. A little slower RAM access than possible with a 64-bit OS and hardware but still can access more than 4GB nonetheless.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/memory/physical-address-extension  

Thanks for the info, it makes sense now. It just seems curious that Acer would come out with a new Chromebook with a new MediaTek processor and 8GB of Ram and then equip it with a 32 bit operating system.
Thanks,
Steve

JackE

I'd guess because the exact same mainboard hardware can also run a 64-bit OS. And use that exact same 8GB much more efficiently than a 32-bit PAE'd OS. And then charge more for an 32-bit OS advantage without having to change the hardware even by 1-bit.  

billsey

More likely the 32 bit version of ChromeOS is what Google wants you to use... Google decides the build that's installed. From what I have seen, in essence, a 32 bit user with a 64 bit kernel space is used on ARM chips to reduce memory usage.

SJC

billsey said:

More likely the 32 bit version of ChromeOS is what Google wants you to use... Google decides the build that's installed. From what I have seen, in essence, a 32 bit user with a 64 bit kernel space is used on ARM chips to reduce memory usage.

Thanks for the info. It's rather bizarre to me that I buy a new ARM processor and I upgrade to 8GB of RAM and they install an OS that tries to preserve memory. It makes the whole effort of increasing RAM rather useless.
Steve

billsey

Have you tried upgrading the OS to the 64 bit version? I haven't looked into whether that's even an option, but it might be possible if you are really dismayed at the difference.

SJC

billsey said:

Have you tried upgrading the OS to the 64 bit version? I haven't looked into whether that's even an option, but it might be possible if you are really dismayed at the difference.

I would if I could but that's not a simple option; I just get the choice to update my OS and can choose the Standard, Beta or Developer modes. It's not that I'm dismayed at the difference since I can't compare the 32 bit versus the 64 bit operating systems. I'm dismayed that those in charge of choosing the OS for me would put a 32 bit OS on a brand new 64 bit processor using 8 GB of RAM.
Thanks,
Steve

JackE

I really don't see an issue with using the 32-bit system and 8GB RAM. It's seeing the entire 8GB as available with a RAM access extension technology. And it's using more than 4GB worth in your screenshot. Perhaps it would be faster RAM access with a 64-bit OS, but probably not by much you'd notice.

I think the issue is that the 64-bit OS for this machine might still not be as polished as the 32-bit system. Meanwhile, you're getting the next best thing at the moment with being able to use 8GB, not 4GB.. And when the 64-bit system is ready. You'll be able to switch. I'm really puzzled by what's not to like or be dismayed about?

billsey

I must looked at the three Chromebooks I have here, and they all run the 32bit version of the OS. One is a 4GB design, the other two are 8GB, so that seems to be the default that Google configures. I wonder what their criteria are for systems to run the 64bit version?

JackE

>>> I wonder what their criteria are for systems to run the 64bit version?>>>

Probably after they've ironed out the bugs that prevent it from running as well as the 32-bit version on 64-bit hardware.