Utilising RAM

[hellbert]

I am running pro tools 9 on windows 7 64 bit. I have 6GB of RAm installed. However , seeing that pro tools only runs as 32 bit it is limited to 3.5 GB of my RAM. Windows however seeme to use up 1.33GB without anything running, which is leaving roughly 2.18 for pro tools. Is tgere anyway of allocating RAM in windows so that pro tools can use a full 3.5 and windows can use RAM from the rest? Seems a waste you see. I am running pro tools with a fair few tracks and plugins and it is maxing out on me. That extra gig would prob do that trick.

Othere than that does anyone know any othe useful techniques for getting everything running a bit more smoothly?

[Bob Olhsson]

I understood that PT can address all 4 in a 64 bit OS.

Windoze7 sticks everything it thinks you are likely to use into RAM so I wouldn't worry about the system RAM. It's ready to use if needed.

[hellbert]

PT9 is 64 bit compatible.. but only 32bit program still. so therefore is surely limited on RAM usage. Or that is how i believed it to be.

Either way I have 6GB RAM and a quadcore 2.33MHz processor. So it shouldn't be crashing when i get to 3.5 on RAM which is what is happening. Im thinkin if it was using more RAM it would take the loads off the CPU.

Any ideas on what I can do?

Is teher a log anywhere to see where the problems lie?

[albee1952]

Using the correct hardware is crucial. Post a Sandra report so we can dig into the nuts and bolts of your computer. Help us Help You - READ THIS Before Posting! (http://duc.avid.com/showthread.php?t=193636)

[hellbert]

aaah.. cheers for the heads up man. Here is an overview.

Thanks for any help in advance...




SiSoftware Sandra

Computer
Model : Advent QC6003
Workgroup : WORKGROUP
Host Name : bert-PC
User : bert

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q8200 @ 2.33GHz
Speed : 2.33GHz
Cores per Processor : 4 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 1 Unit(s)
Type : Quad-Core
Integrated Data Cache : 4x 32kB, Synchronous, Write-Thru, 8-way, 64 byte line size
L2 On-board Cache : 2x 2MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 8-way, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing

Computer
Mainboard : Intel DG45ID
BIOS : Intel Corp. IDG4511H.86A.0090.2008.0924.1800 09/24/2008
Bus(es) : X-Bus PCI IMB USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : No
Multi-Processor Advanced PIC (APIC) : Yes
Total Memory : 6GB DIMM DDR2

Chipset
Model : Intel P45/P43/G45/G43 DRAM Controller
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 333MHz (1.33GHz)
Total Memory : 6GB DIMM DDR2
Shared Memory : 32MB
Channels : 2
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 333MHz (666MHz)

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Micron 16HTF25664AY-667E1 2GB DIMM DDR2 PC2-5300U DDR2-666 (5-5-5-15 3-20-5-3)
Memory Module : Micron 16HTF25664AY-667E1 2GB DIMM DDR2 PC2-5300U DDR2-666 (5-5-5-15 3-20-5-3)
Memory Module : Samsung M3 78T2863QZS-CE6 1GB DIMM DDR2 PC2-5300U DDR2-666 (5-5-5-15 3-20-5-3)
Memory Module : Samsung M3 78T2863QZS-CE6 1GB DIMM DDR2 PC2-5300U DDR2-666 (5-5-5-15 3-20-5-3)

Video System
Video Adapter : Intel(R) G45/G43 Express Chipset (8 SM4.0 400MHz, 32MB DDR2 128-bit, Integrated Graphics)

Graphics Processor

Storage Devices
WDC WD6400AAKS-00A7B0 (640.1GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, 16MB Cache) : 596GB (C:)
Generic USB SD Reader (USB) : N/A (E:)
Generic USB CF Reader (USB) : N/A (G:)
Generic USB xD/SM Reader (USB) : N/A (H:)
Generic USB MS Reader (USB) : N/A (J:)
Seagate Desktop 500.1GB (USB) : 466GB (I:)
TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-H653F (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (D:)

Logical Storage Devices
System : 11GB (NTFS)
BERT (I:) : 466GB (NTFS) @ Seagate Desktop 500.1GB (USB)
Hard Disk (C:) : 585GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD6400AAKS-00A7B0 (640.1GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, 16MB Cache)
Removable Drive (E:) : N/A @ Generic USB SD Reader (USB)
Removable Drive (G:) : N/A @ Generic USB CF Reader (USB)
Removable Drive (H:) : N/A @ Generic USB xD/SM Reader (USB)
Removable Drive (J:) : N/A @ Generic USB MS Reader (USB)
Optical Drive (D:) : N/A @ TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-H653F (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : Intel LPC Interface Controller
LPC Legacy Controller 1 : T0 F1-01
Audio Device : Intel HD Audio Controller
Serial Port(s) : 1
Disk Controller : Intel P45/P43/G45/G43 PT IDER Controller
Disk Controller : Intel 4 port SATA IDE Controller
Disk Controller : Intel 2 port SATA IDE Controller
USB Controller 1 : Intel USB UHCI Controller #4
USB Controller 2 : Intel USB UHCI Controller #5
USB Controller 3 : Intel USB UHCI Controller #6
USB Controller 4 : Intel USB EHCI Controller #2
USB Controller 5 : Intel USB UHCI Controller #1
USB Controller 6 : Intel USB UHCI Controller #2
USB Controller 7 : Intel USB UHCI Controller #3
USB Controller 8 : Intel USB EHCI Controller #1
FireWire/1394 Controller 1 : Intel FW322/323 IEEE1394 OHCI FireWire Controller
SMBus/i2c Controller 1 : Intel ICH SMBus

Printers and Faxes
Printer : Microsoft XPS Document Writer (600x600, Colour)
Fax : Microsoft Shared Fax Driver (200x200)

Peripherals
Media Player : ()
Media Player : ()
Media Player : ()
Media Player : ()

Network Services
Network Adapter : Intel(R) 82567LF-2 Gigabit Network Connection (Ethernet, 100Mbps)

Power Management
Mains (AC) Line Status : On-Line

Operating System
Windows System : Microsoft Windows 7 Home 6.01.7600
Platform Compliance : x64

Windows Experience Index
Current System : 3.6

[albee1952]

Right off the bat, integrated graphics and mis-matched RAM could be a show stopper. Your recording drive(the USB one); is it 7200 rpm and USB2(it needs to be). Also, is it a "green" drive(very bad for DAW performance). You'll get the best performance by adding a second internal SATA drive like the WD Caviar Black. I would pull the 2 Samsung RAM sticks and add another pair of the same Micron you have. Total of 8GB. Since your RAM is likely running in dual channel mode, keeping everything matched and balanced could make a difference. The interface can make a difference too. If its a FW interface, I'm not certain that FW controller is compatible(1 : Intel FW322/323 IEEE1394 OHCI FireWire Controller). If you have a USB interface, try other ports to see if one performs better than the others, and try to not have anymore USB devices attached than you absolutely need.

[hellbert]

oky.. thanks for your advise by the way.. it is greatly appreciated!

firstly.. my usb drive is 7200rpm and usb 2. But I intened to get an extra internal one anyways.

secondly about the RAM... If pro tools is only 32bit (on 64 bit system however) does it really make a difference going up to 8?
On the same subject I am having trouble finding more of the micron RAM i have. But not the samsung. Do you think doubling the samsung would be good enough? I dont know what to look for really in respect to how good RAM is other than capacity.
If however I decided on the other hand to completely install new RAM is there any brands models youo would reccomend to work with pro tools?

Thirdly.. it is a firewire interface. However I read good review in sound on sound when they tested PT9 with a saffire pro 24. (which is my interface).

Aplogies for the bombardment of questions.

thanks again.

[albee1952]

On the RAM question, all I can relate is what has happened for me. Remembering that mis-matched RAM can be a problem, you can test easy enough by removing the 2 small sticks, and make certain that your others are in the correct pair of slots for dual-channel operation. Now to the question about 8 GB of RAM, when I built my machine, I started with XP Pro and PT8. When I upgraded the OS to Windows 7 x64, using the same PT8, I got an immediate boost in the Dverb score(from 320 to 500). And that's without changing any hardware(the same 6GB of RAM I started with). So, I see nothing wrong with 4 GB of RAM, but with Windows 7 x64, I think the doubling will be worth it(but this is just an opinion):D