I might add that I don't think you should use Vista, yet. That's just an IMHO. d
_____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of dingo Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2007 3:22 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [amibroker] Need help with new computer workstation Google is your friend: Taken from http://en.allexperts.com/q/PC-hardware-CPU-1023/Windows-XP-memory-limit.htm If you installed total 4GB memory, the system will detect less than 4GB of total memory because of address space allocation for other critical functions, such as: - System BIOS (including motherboard, add-on cards, etc..) - Motherboards resources - Memory mapped I/O - configuration for AGP/PCI-Ex/PCI - Other memory allocations for PCI devices Different onboard devices and different add-on cards (devices) will result of different total memory size. e.g. more PCI cards installed will require more memory resources, resulting of less memory free for other uses. On a SLI system, since PCI-Ex graphic cards will occupy around 256MB, another 256MB will be occupied after you install a 2nd PCI-Ex graphic card. Hence, 2.75GB memory left only if two SLI cards installed on A8N-SLI Premium while 3.0GB memory left with one graphic card without other add-on devices. This limitation applies to most chipsets & Windows XP 32-bit version operating system. If you install Windows XP 32-bit version operating system, we recommend that you install less than 3GB of total memory. If more than 3GB memory is required for your system, then below two conditions must be met: 1. The memory controller which supports memory swap functionality is used. The latest chipsets like Intel 975X, 955X, Nvidia NF4 SLI Intel Edition, Nvidia NF4 SLI X16, and AMD K8 CPU architecture can support the memory swap function. 2. Windows XP Pro X64 Ed. (64-bit) or other OS which can address more than 4GB memory. You can check below URLs for reference: ftp://dlsvr01.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/4GB_Rev1.pdf <http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/sb/cs-016594.htm> http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/sb/cs-016594.htm In other words, what Asus is saying is that Windows can't support the RAM due to the limitations placed on it, as mentioned above, so I'm guessing there isn't a workaround, unless you want to upgrade to Windows 64-bit edition (which i've heard can be a nightmare due to driver support). I'd personally either shelve the extra 2GB of RAM, or just accept that it'll recognize 2.5GB of RAM, and then upgrade to Windows Vista when it's released, as it will support your 4GB of RAM, CPU, etc, so don't consider it a lost cause, just a tad early upgrade. _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Steve Dugas Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2007 1:04 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [amibroker] Need help with new computer workstation Hi D - Very timely post! I am in the market to increase RAM, just wondering why Windows doesn't use the full 4G? Seems like a waste to pay for an additional 2G if Windows will only use 1. Thanks! Steve ----- Original Message ----- From: dingo <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2007 10:50 AM Subject: RE: [amibroker] Need help with new computer workstation Actually you can put in 4 gig on a 32 bit machine, BUT windows will only use somewhere between 3 and 4. Still you'll have at least a minimum of 3 available. The BEST thing you can do to speed things up, as Ara has mentioned, is to streamline your AFL. Unless it is already "sleek and efficient" you'll gain more speed this way than almost any hardware purchase. If you feel like sharing your code then post it here and you'll get lots of good suggestions. If not send it to TJ (who'll be back the the end of the month) and copy your message in with hit and see if he can take a look and make some suggestions. Also, as Ara mentioned, look at your settings in your preferences and make sure the cache is appropriately sized, etc. You need to stay away from the 64 bit systems, IMHO. After all of that and you still feel like you need/want a new machine then get a fast disk (the WD raptors have an excellent bang for the buck). As much memory as can be used and a medium speed dual core Intel machine. d _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Dan Clark Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2007 12:27 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [amibroker] Need help with new computer workstation Hi. I haven't posted for a while because I've been busy with other projects. Now I'm coming back to the fold, but. My current workstation doesn't have enough horsepower for my scans. Currently they are running between three and four hours. Way too long. So I'm going to buy a new 'puter. I need some help on this. The last time I looked at this issue, the sense that I got was: 1) If you could use something like 8Gb of memory, that you probably be big enough to load the AB DB into memory. 2) But the only way to use 8Gb of memory is to go to a 64Bit OS. With 32Bit OS, you can only used 2Gb of memory. 3) There is minimal advantage in running AB in a 64 bit OS. 4) If you did go to a 64 bit OS, many drivers and utilities would not run. This includes data providers like Quotes Plus (my current provider). >From doing a scan of posts in the AB forum, it looks like nothing has changed in the 'puter/OS realm. Further, although Vista will run 64bit, reviews indicate that it's anywhere from 5% to 25% slower than XP. So that leaves me with a quandary, what do I do? To maximize the speed of AB scans, what is the best current strategy for buying a computer? Stick with 32Bit OS? Any way to use more than 2Gb of memory? Is Intel Core Duo the fastest box currently? 10K rpm SATA drives the best alternative now? SCSI drives still faster? Any other suggestions? Thanks in advance for any feedback. Regards, Dan.
