I need to setup a machine cheap to use for testing purposes... I have an IBM
Net Vista desktop that can accommodate 4GB of ram but I recall seeing
somewhere that 32bit version of server 2003 can only see and utilize 3 or
3.5 GB of ram?

- I have a production server runing 32bit server 2003 with 4GB, but it notes
this PAE (physical address extension) on the system properties. I'm assuming
thats how? Is this a feature of the hardware, or server 2003 R2 itself? if
its hardware is it typically only found on server class machines with Xeon
processors?

I need all the ram because I need to run several virtual machines for
testing.

any input on this would be greatly appreciated. I can get this IBM desktop
for dirt cheap but don't want to bother spending anything if its not likely
that server 2003 R2 will be able to utilize all the RAM.

Hello David,
It's a combination of Chipset, Processor and operating system.
All three have to support this.
Thanks,
Darrell Gorter[MSFT]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights
--------------------
>From: "David" <nospam@nospam.com>
>Subject: can server 2003 use 4GB of mem on a desktop P4?
>Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2008 08:33:37 -0400
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>I need to setup a machine cheap to use for testing purposes... I have an
IBM
>Net Vista desktop that can accommodate 4GB of ram but I recall seeing
>somewhere that 32bit version of server 2003 can only see and utilize 3 or
>3.5 GB of ram?
>
>- I have a production server runing 32bit server 2003 with 4GB, but it
notes
>this PAE (physical address extension) on the system properties. I'm
assuming
>thats how? Is this a feature of the hardware, or server 2003 R2 itself? if
>its hardware is it typically only found on server class machines with Xeon
>processors?
>
>I need all the ram because I need to run several virtual machines for
>testing.
>
>any input on this would be greatly appreciated. I can get this IBM desktop
>for dirt cheap but don't want to bother spending anything if its not
likely
>that server 2003 R2 will be able to utilize all the RAM.
>
>
>