max memeory on win 98

Technically 512 MB -- but programs with more RAM may work fine with more if they make some modifications to windows

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q253912

There is NO fixed answer.

Under benchmark testing, W98 has the fastest performance with 196MB of RAM.

However, both W98 and Me have a bug that CAN cause problems with more than 511MB of RAM.

Reference Microsoft Knowledge Base articles
Q184447
Q253912

This bug is VERY configuration dependant. All it takes is one extra device driver, or TSR program loaded at boot to trigger the bug.

Because of this, I set up all of my W9X boxes with between 196MB and 384MB.

As far as I am aware, no-one has found a memory limit in XP.
My present XP system has 768MB of RAM.

Keep in mind, that your motherboard may have specific memory configuration limits.
I have 1 that will take 3 1GB DDR DIMMs, or 4 1GB Registered DDR DIMMs.

For "optimum" performance, it is best that all memory modules be of the same brand and configuration.
At a minimum, you want to match the specifications.
(Refresh rate, clock cycles, etc.)

Chas

For Windows 95, there was a setting you could put in the SYSTEM.INI file that often improved performance on machines with lots of RAM:

[396ENH]
ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1

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