More than 2GB RAM useless with 32bit XP?

[DHC6twinotter]

Well, upgrading my graphics card was something I've been thinking about doing anyways, so maybe I'll see how that helps. I never could get the "All-In-Wonder" part of it to work anyways.

[MTL_4runner]

Also, 2GB RAM has been fine for the most part, but I have done some 3D rendering with AutoCAD and things start getting choppy. Same with a 3D 6000sqft house I drew up on Google SketchUp. I figured RAM was my issue, but maybe it something else. Graphics card maybe? I dunno.

Those sound like graphics card and/or possibly CPU bottlenecks. I think your RAM has little to nothing to do with rendering 3d graphics.

X2

With a good GPU and decent video RAM, you need relatively little CPU or regular RAM for rendering or 3D work. We used to use Nvidia Quadro cards in most of the professional machines running CAD but they can be quite expensive though. There are also the ATI FireGL series of cards which are also decent performers. If you are only going to do occasional CAD work, then look for a used high end gaming card (like the Nvidia GF 9800GT) off eBay because many of the same requirements for 3D shooter games are similar for 3D CAD rendering too. The gaming cards can usually be tweaked with software (ie kill the problem with raw GPU horsepower) to provide similar performance at a fraction of the price of a professional 3D video card. If you will only use the machine for CAD then don't cheat and just get the Quadro (again can be had for a significant discount if you buy used).

[Cebby]

This is a good thread and is actually helping me to not over purchase RAM for the machines I'm upgrading. Both are 32bit Win XP. I have my laptop maxed at 2GB and feel it's a good performer for it's age.

[elripster]

Go to microsoft's site and search on 3gb switch. Enabling this will allow XP (or 32 bit vista) to allocate up to 3GB for one program and use the other gig to run windows and other stuff. I have to have this enabled to even open UG NX (CAD program) files with which I work.

Frank

[DHC6twinotter]

So, from Lance's link again:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="????" /3GB

Note: "????" in the previous example can be the programmatic name of any of the following operating system versions:

This is probably a dumb question, but where exactly do I type this in to turn this switch on at? Command prompt?

Also anybody know what the programmatic name for XP pro is?

[Good Times]

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP Professional" /3GB

[Good Times]

I'm also assuming that you only have winxp on your box.

[DHC6twinotter]

Yep, XP is the only os on my pc.

[elripster]

It's the boot.ini file.


Frank

[MTL_4runner]

It's the boot.ini file.


Frank

X2

You can go to run, then type in "msconfig" and enter to see what's in the boot.ini file.