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Question Regarding DDR SDRAM upgrade

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hello,

Hope this message finds everyone doing well. I’ve purchased Zbrush2 about a month or so ago and slowly but surely am working on learning this interesting program. As I’ve been working on a model I decided to subdivide the mesh to see how far I could subdivided it to a decent amount of polygons. First time I tried going over 1.76 mil polys it gave me a insufficient memory after trying for a while. So I tried it again the next day and I was actually able to subdivide it from 1.76 to 6.7million polys! I was able to save the model and reload it no problem. I was somewhat surprised since my pc is pretty basic.

AMD Athlon™ 64 3500+ processor with AMD 64 Technology
(2.2GHz, 2000MHz system bus, 512KB L2 cache)Operating System: Genuine Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005 Chipset: NVIDIA® GeForce® 6100Memory: 1024MB DDR (2 × 512MB), 400MHz (PC3200), dual-channel
Expandable to 4GBHard Drive: 200GB (7200rpm, 2MB cache)Optical Drive: 16x multiformat dual-layer DVD±RW
(Up to 8.5GB with dual-layer media)
Write max: 16x DVD±R, 6x DVD-RW, 8x DVD+RW, 4x DVD+R DL, 40x CD-R, 24x CD-RW
Read max: 16x DVD-ROM, 40x CD-ROMMedia Reader: 9-in-1 media card reader (Memory Stick®, Memory Stick Pro®, MultiMediaCard™, Secure Digital™, CompactFlash®, MicroDrive, SmartMedia, xD, USB 2.0)Video: NVIDIA® GeForce® 6100 GPU
Up to 128MB of shared video memory
PCI Express (PCIe x16) slot availableSound: 6-channel (5.1) high-definition audioNetwork: 10/100Mbps integrated Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 port)Modem: 56K ITU V.92-ready fax/modem (RJ-11 port)Peripherals: Premium multimedia keyboard, 2-button wheel mouse, amplified stereo speakersPorts/Other: 5 USB 2.0 (1 in digital media manager, 4 in back), VGA external connector, parallel port, 2 PS/2 ports (keyboard and mouse), 5 audio ports (2 in front, 3 in back)Dimensions: 14.25" H x 7.25" W x 16" DWeight: 22.5lbsSoftware: Microsoft® Works 8.5, Microsoft® Office 2003 Student Teacher Edition trial, Microsoft® Money 2006, Microsoft® Encarta® Online, Adobe® Acrobat® Reader™ 7, CyberLink® PowerDVD™, CyberLink® Power2Go™, Microsoft® Windows® Media Player 10, Microsoft® Digital Image Starter Edition (60-day complimentary trial), RealNetworks RealPlayer®, Quicktime, Napster 3.0 (30-day trial), Microsoft® Internet Explorer, AOL® 9.0 (6-month membership included ), Google Toolbar, McAfee® Internet Security Suite™ (90-day complimentary trial), BigFix®(identifies and resolves problems that affect the system before they occur)

So I figured I didn’t want to tax the pc and I should get more memory. I figured i’d upgrade more memory as I could and I got 1GB DDR PC3200 PATRIOT Single Module 400MHZ to go along with the 2X512MB dual channel ones I have at the moment. After I installed the memory I now have 1.87 GB of DDR SDRAM. I definitely still need more but thought this should help.

Unfortunately I tried to load my tool that is at subdivision 8 6.7+million polys and it won’t load. Does the Compact Memory thing and quickly gives insufficient memory/insufficient core memory and crashes the program. Where before it would load but take a long while to load and of course wouldn’t let me undo only once period so I had to be sure I liked the action I just completed.

So I’m curious as why now that I have more memory why it won’t load the tool. Did I just have a lot of luck before, a odd anomaly that allowed me to get that subdivions 8 with the 2X512MB of dual channel ram or did the new stick of 1GB DDR memory cause a issue? I’ve tried to keep the undo’s to 1 and raise the compact memory up from 977 to 1500 ish to see what would be best.

Also for future memory upgrades should I stick to getting DDR SDRAM that is dual channel sticks over a single stick of memory? Appreciate anyones feedback and thoughts on the matter, many thanks in advance :+1: .

#2

Uninstalled the new 1GB DDR memory stick and wouldn’t yah know I was able to load my model with 6987776 polys, 6987268 points, hiddenpolys=0, hiddenpoints=0, groups=1. Now I only have 896 ram, took several minutes to load like 4 or so. I figure if i added a 1GB DDR memory stick it would add to the combined total of the 2x512MB dual channel sticks I have and would compliment them. Doesn’t seem to be the case. When I installed the 1GB stick I figure all I need to do is put it in, do I actually have to adjust a setting of sorts software wise within the pc to get the use of it?

Anyway to show the poly count and take a screen shot of the model so I can show yah? Not sure if that is necessary. Believe it or not I have it at 977 compact memory, 1 undo min, tool undo min 1, maxpolypermesh is at 10.

#3

Just curious if you are saving your tool at sub D level one, because if you aren’t you should be. it will load much faster. It will also solve any tool crashing upon loading problems

#4

Appreciate the tip E, I have saved previous versions of the model at lower resolutions. Will give that a go at saving them at subdivision 1 and see how that goes though I figure it’ll have to crunch the data sometime as I go up in subdivisions especially from subdivions 7-8 and would be just as time consuming? I’ll give it a shot and thanks much again!

Still baffled why I am running better at 2X512 PC3200 dual channel memory compared to both of those running with the extra 1GB of pc3200 stick combined. Its as if they don’t function well together at all.

#5

On a 32 bit OS only 2 gigs of RAM can be used by a program at a time. Your system will use a half gig of RAM. You might try setting the compact memory slider to about 1.2 gigs and lower your numbers under performance. see if that helps. Also check your performance options in Windows. Right click on My Computer and select Properties. You will find those settings under the advanced tab. Check let the computer decide and on that advanced tab check Programs to give them priority. Reaching 6 gigs I’d say is pushing it. I have a similar system at home and I stay under 4 to work reasonably. Saving your tool at subD level 1 is also very important. When you get up to those numbers it is better to do the modeling in parts and assemble them later. Another good idea is to only subdivide to that level in areas where you need that much detail. Thats enough polys to add pore level details to a full character which can be wasted if they are not visible in the render.

You might be better with a matched tested pair of RAM from the same batch. They can vary between batches even though they are the same manufacture. RAM can be very touchy. I replaced the RAM on my home system (even though nothing was wrong) with a matched set and the improvement was dramatic. My memory stopped fragmenting and I have not had to defragment the RAM since I installed the set. The price was about 50% higher but worth the effort. I’m sure there are people here who understand why better than I do. Have you checked to see if your system recognized the new RAM? If you have a utility for it check the RAM to see how badly its fragmenting. There are demo’s all over the place that can help you with that.

It might be beneficial to reinstall ZBrush. You should ask Aurick.

#6

Blaine, much thanks for the information!! I’ll have to install that 1GB again and check out some of that you have suggested. As I’ve said since coming here, one of the best forums to actually get a lot of quality help from a lot of nice resourceful people, keep up the great work!! Hopefully Aurick will see this or maybe I’ll send him a private message with a link to this thread if he doesn’t see this in the next day or two. At this stage part of me doens’t even wanna put that 1GB stick back in yet, don’t feel like hassleing with it at the moment.

#7

One thing that you should be careful of when adding RAM to existing memory is that the new RAM should be exactly the same brand and preferably model as what you already have. Mixing and matching often leads to degraded performance.

What this often means is that it’s easier to just buy all new RAM than try to upgrade to match what you already have.

Also be sure to check the manual for your motherboard (if it didn’t come with your computer, you can find it online). It will give you a list of all recommended RAM for that board. Be sure to buy what it recommends.

#8

Aurick, thanks a bunch my friend for the additional information, you are exactly right. I just spent the last hour and half or so talking to the pc manufacturer and the researching other information online. I found that my system is meant to utilize dual channel memory. To be sure if I use the other ports to use same specifications and type on the other ports that aren’t being used. So if i already have 2X512 ram dual channel to use 2X512 ram dual channel on the other two ports i’m not using and not to try to use 2X512 and 2X1GB dual channel ram even.

Definitely appreciate all the help you all provided on this thread. This forum ROCKS!!