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Autodesk Software Forum · Autodesk 3D Studio

#more memory?

11 messages in this thread

#10752From: albert waltnerMar 17, 1992 3:59 PM

I have one of those 16 MB absolute max. memory machines. If I were to buy one of the AT type of EMS memory boards, would 3DS use that memory in an efficient way? Or would the money be better spent on a disk controller with a hardware buffer? When I bought the machine, I thought 16 MB was much more than I would EVER need.

#10758From: Yost GroupMar 17, 1992 6:06 PM

Unfortunately, buying an EMS memory board is the LAST thing you'd EVER want to do. It would slow your general performance down massively because 3DS would start using the slow ram across the bus FIRST. If you're going to be paging a lot and want to do animation, the only choice you have is to buy another machine. If you're not going to be paging and/or don't do animation, you could always invest in a SCSI-2 hard disk controller. Those are blindingly fast, and I think you can find them for ISA machines. – G

#10768From: CSA/CAMar 17, 1992 8:24 PM

Gary, A good memory manager, like QEMM, will sort memory by speed so that the 16-bit memory would be used LAST. No, I don't suggest it, but I'm also the guy who limped an MGA home by attaching a string to the points in an electronic fuel pump to keep the gas flowing. Kevin Krell – Computer Support Associates

#10770From: Jay Parisi [Anim/Gra TM]Mar 17, 1992 8:54 PM

What if he sets up the EMS memory as one big disk cache. 3DS should see it as being used and go to Extended, after the extended is full, 3DS will page to disk but use the cache. Not the best, but an improvment. Jay

#10789From: Grahame NaylorMar 18, 1992 1:12 PM

If this is considered as a solution then mind which cache software you use Smartdrv.sys (for instance) only caches reads so is non too efficient in practise. – Gn

#10965From: Michael F. PitschMar 20, 1992 9:08 PM

Grahame, Smartdrv.sys in Windows 3.1 can use staged writes. You heard it here first! Mike

#10982From: Grahame NaylorMar 21, 1992 11:52 AM

Thanks Mike, I heard it already but the writes it does are carefully staged to right through the phone service to add a little boost from every user to Big Bills bank account! – Gn

#10828From: james hydeMar 18, 1992 11:38 PM

Gary, EMS boards, caching SCSI-2 controllers…… did you take hardware 101 or what (he he..) James

#10836From: Yost GroupMar 19, 1992 12:16 AM

No seriously, I'm a HARDWARE IDIOT! I leave all that technical stuff to you guys!!! – G

#10966From: Michael F. PitschMar 20, 1992 9:08 PM

Gary, Hope you understand scuba hardware! <g>

#10981From: Yost GroupMar 21, 1992 11:45 AM

Mike, I HOPE SO. – G