Member Panel

Gosh, what are you running that would make you want to put more than 4 gig in, in the first place? Did I read this thread incorrectly?

I'm sure if there was a need for desktop PC's to hold more memory, than motherboard manufacturers would follow. Unless your running a server that requires a large amount of memory, such as a virtual server environment, then there's just no need???

Market forces - who would buy it in the appropriate quantities to make it a volume product. I'm sure if you've got the money they're out there (and bigger). But if the OS can't handle it what's the point?

Codex I have marked your thread as a conversation because we appear to be discussing this and it is informative.I hope you do not mind?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random-access_memory

When looking at what computers are used for these day,s and many people building there own.

Yes it is a lot to do with the market on what people want and buy.It is a competative market out there.

Branded mainboard manufacturers will always try to beat other manufacturers on price and compatability and specifications.

We can also look at the customer.If you are just a general surfer and lower spec game player would you realy need to buy a mainboard at a high cost which can take 8-16 gig RAM with a dual/quad core CPU?

Of coures cost is an issue,why buy a high ended board when you are just a general user?It is the same as do you realy need that 250 gig hard drive when you have nothing to store on the hard drive because you are not a great downloaded just a few picturers of family and friends.

We could put it this way?

When using XP wich is a 32 bit OS manfacturers had no need to make high ended MBs.XP 32 limitation is 3.25 gig RAM.Did manufacturers realy need to make a board that takes 8-16 gig RAM as it would not be reconised or used.

Then we get to have a 64 bit OS such as XP and Vista.So now the market dictates we now need mainboards that can take at least 4 gig of RAM as the 64 bit OS reconises 4 gig and higher.

So Microsoft wins again as we as customers like to try new things.So to catchup manufacturers of hardware have to build bigger and better hardware.It is a growing market.

Mainboards,CPUs,hard drives,RAM are all made according to the required market and sales.

But we also include in this is what a builder or user wishes to do with his/her computer.

Are they a high ended gamer?
Do they wish to overclock?

There are many many things we can add to why there are limitations.

Cost and usage can be a main factor.For your mad total gamer guy/girl sure you would buy these higher ended computer hardware items,why because they can and they want to see how far they can go in building a computer.

For a general builder you go for lower or mid range hardware.

If a friend asked me to build them a computer I would look at price range and what they realy need to use a new build for.

Question is with even the newer graphics cards on the market we no longer need to dedicate RAM to the graphics card.Years ago the older onboards needed RAM dedicated to them to perform better.

Do you realy need 8-16 ig of RAM?Are you ever going to use this amount in your system?Will the system ever utilise this amount to run your computer?

Manufacturers build according to the market and what people can afford.


Could the average person afford 128 gig RAM?
Would 128 gig Ever be utilised in a general household of computer users?
Is there a market for this amount of RAM/mainboard?Noooooo I dont think so.So why make it?

ok maybe i have asked my question entirely wrong.... first off i don't give a darn about what amount of ram an OS can use.. i can put Linux on my hard drive doesn't mean anything about how much ram a motherboard can handle... it seems like everyone has explained all correct answers but completely went around the correct one for the question..

so let me ask again...

Specifically a motherboard why does it only allow so much RAM for instants up to 8gigs, and for the person who says who's ever going to use more than 4gigs, is that even relevant? people said the same thing back when are we ever going to need 1gig? give me a break, don't reply to the thread if u don't have any knowledgeable answers to say...

I'm specifically referring to the engineering design of a MB.. is there a number of wires that lead back and forth from the ram to the north bridge that only allows but so much data to be transfered?

I'll take the view that the next big leap is that the OS will be on some sort of RAM (as per memory sticks) and not on a hard disk.

Whilst fully understanding your query I don't think, in the great scheme of things, its forward relevant.