How much RAM?

[woof]

Hello. I'm considering how much RAM to add to an incoming 12 core Westmere 2.4 GHz Mac Pro. It's carrying 12 GB stock. I'm curious as to users experiences with RAM.

I'll be running PT 10.3 Native with a fair number of plug ins and Strike. I'm not talking 100 tracks with 5 plugs on each but perhaps 30 tracks with 2 or 3 on each and Strike. Also a convolution reverb or two.

All helpful and respectful advice appreciated. Thanks!

r2

[Airton Silva]

I mix 32 tracks with 2 or 3 plugins on each with 4gb. So I think you should be fine with 12gb :)

[albee1952]

I agree, until PT11(which will be 64 bit) and/or until you upgrade to the CPTK, or to HD software, 12GB is plenty. Even then, you can assign 6GB to RAM Caching(CPTK and HD software) and the 6GB left over is plenty(I run 12GB here and work on 60-70 track sessions without issue(with 6GB assigned to RAM Caching as I run HD software)

[woof]

I will add that I'm running Native HD. At the moment my computer is a Harpertown Mac Pro 8 core 2.8 GHz with 14 GB of RAM running PT 10.3. It chokes more often than I'd like. I'm hoping to alleviate that with the newer 12 core Westmere.

I was under the impression that PT 10 loads all the audio into RAM. I have sessions of 10 GB and occasionally, when tracking a band at double sample rate, session folders of much more.

[Craig F]

you impression is incorrect
Pro Tools can only access <4GB of RAM
10HD or CPTK adds a RAM Disk that loads the sessions audio clips into, what do yo have your Disk Cache set to? (it in the Playback Engine settings)
how much is used? (System Meter under Windows drop-down)
video and VI sampels are not cached

[woof]

What is "CPTK"?

[JFreak]

Originally Posted by woof

What is "CPTK"?

Complete Production ToolKit. It opens up some of the HD features.