Backburner only seeing 2 gig of RAM

ktm07 · June 5th, 2006

I was monitoring some project running on backburner (MAX 8) this past weekend and noticed that it only shows 2 gig of ram on each rendering node. This was a bit confusing since each system has 4 gig of Ram and our sys admin assures me that they have the 3 gig switch applied (XP professional 32 bit). I understand that it won’t see the full 4 gig but don’t get why it’s not seeing the 3 gig. Any thoughts?

Tom

Maxer · June 6th, 2006

Backburner is only showing you want each system is able to recognize, so if you've got 4 gigs on each machine and it's only showing that 2 gigs are available it is a machine problem not a backburner problem. I've always wondered why they sell more than 2 gigs of ram on a windows machine since they can't really use more than that. The only sure way to get around the problem is to install Windows XP64.

John Dollus · June 6th, 2006

Even with the 3 GB switch, I believe the limitation is 2 GB for any single application. It just means windows overhead has an extra GB to play.

XP64 hs given very odd results for me (translation: unstable w/Max). I would suggest waiting for a native 64 bit compile of Max before shelling out the cash.

abicalho · June 6th, 2006

Hi John,

An application can see 3GB when using the switch if it's compiled with one switch enabled. MAX is compiled with that switch and it should see 3GB in that case. I'm not sure if Backburner has been compiled that way, nor I am sure if there's a business case to do so.
Detecting the amount of RAM in the system should not be dependant on how the app was compiled, so I think it's probably a defect that should be reported to Autodesk.

As for having 32 bit OS with 4GB, think about this: if an app is using 3GB of memory, where is the OS and other applications? So there is a use for more RAM - it will ensure you are not swapping.

Maxer · June 7th, 2006

Yea but you can install much more than 4 gigs of ram on most higher end machines, if your running a 32bit OS like windows what good does it do to have 8 gigs of ram?

Verma · June 7th, 2006

At this time max is not supporting 64Bit processing. It runs on those machines but is not officially supported by Autodesk, meaning it might not be able to use the power of 64Bit processing.

RAM for max usually depends on the scene requirement and availability. If max/backburner thinks 2GB is enough to process a certain job then it will only use 2GB and leave some for the OS and other apps.

abicalho · June 7th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxer

Yea but you can install much more than 4 gigs of ram on most higher end machines, if your running a 32bit OS like windows what good does it do to have 8 gigs of ram?

I am not sure if 8GB is usable, but 4GB is usable. If you have 4GB you can have 3 apps using 1GB each and the OS and drivers using the other 1GB without swapping.
If you have 2GB, then you'll be swapping 2GB.

June 5th, 2006	#1 (permalink)
ktm07 Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Carbondale, IL Age: 41 Posts: 81 Name: Tom McPeek	Backburner only seeing 2 gig of RAM I was monitoring some project running on backburner (MAX 8) this past weekend and noticed that it only shows 2 gig of ram on each rendering node. This was a bit confusing since each system has 4 gig of Ram and our sys admin assures me that they have the 3 gig switch applied (XP professional 32 bit). I understand that it won’t see the full 4 gig but don’t get why it’s not seeing the 3 gig. Any thoughts? Tom

June 6th, 2006	#2 (permalink)
Maxer Moderator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: USA Age: 34 Posts: 2,503 Name: Devin Johnston	Re: Backburner only seeing 2 gig of RAM Backburner is only showing you want each system is able to recognize, so if you've got 4 gigs on each machine and it's only showing that 2 gigs are available it is a machine problem not a backburner problem. I've always wondered why they sell more than 2 gigs of ram on a windows machine since they can't really use more than that. The only sure way to get around the problem is to install Windows XP64. __________________ “There is no spoon” http://devinjohnston.cgsociety.org/gallery/

June 6th, 2006	#3 (permalink)
John Dollus Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tampa Age: 38 Posts: 619 Name: John Dollus	Re: Backburner only seeing 2 gig of RAM Even with the 3 GB switch, I believe the limitation is 2 GB for any single application. It just means windows overhead has an extra GB to play. XP64 hs given very odd results for me (translation: unstable w/Max). I would suggest waiting for a native 64 bit compile of Max before shelling out the cash. Last edited by John Dollus; June 6th, 2006 at 07:18 PM.

June 6th, 2006	#4 (permalink)
abicalho Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: San Francisco Age: 35 Posts: 643 Name: Alex Bicalho	Re: Backburner only seeing 2 gig of RAM Hi John, An application can see 3GB when using the switch if it's compiled with one switch enabled. MAX is compiled with that switch and it should see 3GB in that case. I'm not sure if Backburner has been compiled that way, nor I am sure if there's a business case to do so. Detecting the amount of RAM in the system should not be dependant on how the app was compiled, so I think it's probably a defect that should be reported to Autodesk. As for having 32 bit OS with 4GB, think about this: if an app is using 3GB of memory, where is the OS and other applications? So there is a use for more RAM - it will ensure you are not swapping. __________________ Alex Bicalho http://www.origamy.com.br/blog

June 7th, 2006	#5 (permalink)
Maxer Moderator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: USA Age: 34 Posts: 2,503 Name: Devin Johnston	Re: Backburner only seeing 2 gig of RAM Yea but you can install much more than 4 gigs of ram on most higher end machines, if your running a 32bit OS like windows what good does it do to have 8 gigs of ram? __________________ “There is no spoon” http://devinjohnston.cgsociety.org/gallery/

June 7th, 2006	#6 (permalink)
Verma Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Age: 34 Posts: 59 Name: Rahul Verma	Re: Backburner only seeing 2 gig of RAM At this time max is not supporting 64Bit processing. It runs on those machines but is not officially supported by Autodesk, meaning it might not be able to use the power of 64Bit processing. RAM for max usually depends on the scene requirement and availability. If max/backburner thinks 2GB is enough to process a certain job then it will only use 2GB and leave some for the OS and other apps. __________________ Multimedia Manager www.ideateinc.com

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
RAM vs. CPU for renders	thickly	Hardware and Technical Discusions	3	May 26th, 2006 07:54 AM
Virtual Ram	voltaire_ira	Hardware and Technical Discusions	0	February 27th, 2005 10:16 PM
afraid of RAM	joseph alexander	Hardware and Technical Discusions	2	August 26th, 2004 07:29 AM
out of 2 gig of ram!!!	colorID	Hardware and Technical Discusions	9	April 29th, 2004 08:34 AM
what RAM?	STRAT	Hardware and Technical Discusions	2	March 22nd, 2003 07:37 AM