Can a dual-core processor access/use more RAM than a single core processor (i.e. Core 2 Duo vs. Pentium 4)?
I currently have 4GB (3.00 GB usable) of RAM and a Pentium 4 processor (3.00 GHz). Would I be able to access/use more of my RAM if I upgraded my process to, let's say, a Core 2 Duo (3.16 GHz per)?
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Verified answer
No
What is limiting your use of RAM (3Gb out of your 4Gb) is your operating system.
More than likely your OS is 32bit and that is the max that it can address (use). To be able to use more RAM you would need a 64bit OS.
First resources used on a computer are the CPU and after that the memory. If the processes are more resourceful they will use some amount of the RAM, too.
In other words if you're running on a strong CPU, the chances to have more free memory are bigger.
A dual core processor will facilitate different processes to access in a short time the CPU and in a same time. The RAM will be certainly less used in this case.
Short answer:
No, it's your Operating System.
Long answer:
No, the processor doesn't affect how much ram is accessible. What affects this is your operating system. You currently have a 32-bit OS, which can only address about 3.7Gb RAM at a time. If you wish to upgrade your ram to, for example, 8Gb, or address that extra 300Mb that you're currently unable to use, you need a 64-bit OS. Windows XP originally shipped 32-bit, with the 64-bit variation added on later. Windows Vista was shipped 32-bit and 64-bit, which will be true with Windows 7. Windows 7, however, will be the last Windows OS to support 32-bit.
You would generally get more out of your RAM using a core2duo, considering how outdated Pentium 4's are in comparison.
**BUT, your 4gigs will only run 3 gb unless you update to 64 bit vista.
Edit: Also, if you have a terribly old computer system and you want to update the processor to something as new as a Core 2 Duo, it may not work, and it's probably not worth the money if it did, unless you updated the rest of your computer aswell.
You have the answer, intel core 2 duo.and intel pentium dual-core processor Both are pentiums. Is like intel pentium Dual-core #1 and inetel pentium Dual-core #2 N2 is fast.
while geek-in-training is generally right, he is still wrong as 32-bit OS's can support >4GB with EMT, which has existed since P3/ Linux supports it, (with EMT kernel) but Windows does not.
http://ubuntu.com/