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Posted by: uvbnskoold Wed 2 May 2007, 19:01

This may be my "slow" area when it comes to computers, but I need some help.

I have 8 gigs of RAM for my G5 Powermac, and I try to run many patches in Logic such as many instruments using EW/QL and the like, but it keeps telling me that memory is getting low and may cause problems such as artifacts, etc.

But when I use the activity monitor, Logic is only using 1.92 gigs of RAM and there are still 5.11 gigs free RAM on the whole system!

What gives?

How can I make sure that Logic has the full power of my loads of RAM?

Thanks in advance!

Uvee

Posted by: lepetitmartien Sun 6 May 2007, 03:08

You don't allocate memory under OS X the system does it by itself.

In which versions of the OS X and Logic are you precisely?

Posted by: uvbnskoold Wed 23 May 2007, 15:50

I'm in 10.4.9

I figured out that OS X does everything automatically... I just wondered if there was a way to get more of the free RAM shunted to Logic.

Posted by: makaala Thu 24 May 2007, 07:16

I'm not sure if this will help.. I've been trying it out on a couple of macs...

http://nav.440network.com/out.php?mmsc=forums&url=http://home.comcast.net/~jeff.ulicny/software/

"Speed Freak, at a user-specified interval, reprioritizes applications so that the frontmost (or active) application gets more processor time than background applications. By default in Mac OS X, all processes have equal priority. By using Speed Freak, you override this default by increasing the priority of whatever application you are currently using, resulting in faster application performance. Speed Freak accomplishes this through the Unix "renice" command.

Speed Freak does not affect graphics card performance and will show little to no increase in 3D games. Although Speed Freak does not affect network performance, the increased CPU priority it offers should increase performance in internet applications. For example, web pages with complicated HTML should render faster but download speed will not change."

Posted by: lepetitmartien Thu 24 May 2007, 18:08

To "renice" an app will only give it more priority regarding to CPU cycles. On memory, we're stuck, the only thing I've seen approaching is only a way to free RAM by meddling with the Unix memory management (iFreemem if I remember the thing). but I'm rather sceptical about using it, as i don't like meddling with core OS jobs, and I've still to see if it does not screw something or if the free memory is actually used by the active apps…

Posted by: gdoubleyou Thu 24 May 2007, 18:33

OSX and Logic cannot access all of your RAM currently, this will change when Leopard is released.

Posted by: hahaworld Sat 26 May 2007, 08:03

Hey, everyone!

Will Leopard work on the most recent Pre-Intel G5 Mac Desktops, or will it only be for Intel Macs?

Thanks!
HaHaWorld

QUOTE (uvbnskoold @ Wed 2 May 2007, 18:01)

Posted by: thedomus Sat 26 May 2007, 20:53

It's to do with 32bit appz, apparently! They can only access a maximum of 2GB of RAM, although OSX does do some clever jiggery that might improve that.
Leopard is 'true' 64bit and as long as the app is 64bit it will access more RAM than we can dream of!
I know this as I had a similar problem, reported it to NI, and a tech guy told me of the 2GB limit, which includes active vsti's i.e. stylus or Kontakt. He recommended using Kontakt as a multi-instrument as it would be far more efficient.

Posted by: musos Mon 28 May 2007, 21:20

This may be of interest here:
http://nav.440network.com/out.php?mmsc=forums&url=http://www.virtualinstrumentsmag.com/
Click on the link to [Download a free sample issue]
Read the article on P26 : 7 Gigs loaded on One Mac - very intersting....

Hope this helps....

Posted by: uvbnskoold Thu 14 Jun 2007, 21:56

Thanks everyone, there's a bunch that's helpful in there.

Funny, when I got the computer and stocked it up with RAM I forgot the whole cap on memory thing. Which kinda pisses me off, because I could have gone for a 30" monitor instead of spending all that money on RAM that I can't really use (the way I wanted to anyway). Funny... the sales guy didn't mention that!

Anyways, I'll check out SpeedFreak for the CPU, but I don't really have any CPU problems. I just keep getting the whole "memory is low" message warning me of possible artefacts and crap.

Oh well... patience for the new OS and a 64 bit version of Logic I guess.

Thanks again all,

Uvee

Posted by: gdoubleyou Fri 15 Jun 2007, 19:33

I saw on another forum that memory over 4GB forces OSX to use more virtual memory, the current OS is more effeciecent with less physical memory.

Strange isn't it ?

Posted by: hahaworld Sat 16 Jun 2007, 07:16

My friend, it is maddening. When Leopard is released, do you think it will solve some of the woes that we pre-Intel G5 owners are experiencing? I realize that we still have to wait for Logic to become a 64-bit program, too, but I'm really hoping Leopard will be a step in the right direction. I'm really tired of getting slow disk errors and out-of-memory warnings with a Quad processor and 6.5G RAM. I've said this in other forums, but often I find myself just going back to my 2003 G4 1.33GHz laptop with 2G Ram to do my Logic work. It leaves my shiny 2006 Quad G5 in the dust. I scored a feature-length independent film last year on my laptop because my Quad couldn't keep up. Now, that's strange!

HaHaWorld

Posted by: Mac Daddy Sun 17 Jun 2007, 06:00

Dear HaHaWorld,

I have followed your G5 Quad story from day one. I was always hoping to hear the best reports about performance and power. I am really sorry to hear you're still experiencing problems. I was waiting to see how you went as I had considered purchasing a 'Quad'. I had no problems with my Dual, but, 'Quad' sounded like, well, "More". Twice as much!

I read a review about the "Quad" Sound On Sound Magazine and posted the review in 440. It seems like at least a year or more ago? If it's any help, Graphic Designers have the Quad in high demand, perhaps you can sell it and have more than enough for an older G5?

Really, rotten...

I know this is in hindsight, but always check with Sound On Sound before purchasing any Soft or Hardware. They give honest and accurate Reviews after 'Testing'.

Posted by: Jim Hoyland Mon 18 Jun 2007, 12:20

We have a couple of G5 Quads in use for video editing (FCP) and they're blisteringly fast.

Posted by: Mac Daddy Tue 19 Jun 2007, 05:06

[ Jim Hoyland Posted Yesterday, 11:20 AM We have a couple of G5 Quads in use for video editing (FCP) and they're blisteringly fast.]

Yep, that is what the Review said, Brilliant for Graphics... No advantage for Music Production?!

Whatever, transpires I'm very content with the G5 Dual 2GHz. It really rocks. I've even had some 'Die Hard PC Users shake their heads and marvel at the performance. My best purchase by far.

Posted by: lepetitmartien Mon 25 Jun 2007, 03:37

QUOTE (hahaworld @ sam 26 mai 2007, 09:03)