Chromebook 514 with Kompanio 828; why is it using a 32 bit operating system?
SJC
Member Posts: 7 New User
in Chromebooks
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.
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Answers
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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?
Jack E/NJ
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What diagnostics screen are you referring to? Can you post a phone photo or screenshot?
Jack E/NJ
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Here's the screenshot.JackE said:What diagnostics screen are you referring to? Can you post a phone photo or screenshot?0 -
Here's the Chrome OS Version;
Google Chrome OS
Version 101.0.4951.32 (Official Build) beta (32-bit)0 -
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.
Jack E/NJ
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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.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.
Thanks,
Steve0 -
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.
Jack E/NJ
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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.
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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.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.
Steve0 -
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.
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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.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.
Thanks,
Steve0 -
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?
Jack E/NJ
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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?
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>>> 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.
Jack E/NJ
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