2.4Gb Available Physical Memory

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 5:19 am

Vice, I increased my memory from 2Gb to 4Gb and my msinfo32 now reports 2.4Gb of Available Physical Memory and still I can not get EM Game to work with planet detail set to any other setting then Low.....Any other setting of Planet detail results in the exiting to desktop without any errors or warning. With 2.4Gb of available memory my system should be able to handle higher planet detail settings then just low.

Post by **Vice** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 6:05 am

Is your hard drive low on space? Are you still using Norton for anti-virus?

Post by **Marvin** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 6:20 am

What operating system are you using, Maars? If it's Win XP, that could be the problem ... it has trouble with more than about 2 gigs ... especially if the memory sticks aren't paired properly.

SeeJay · Post by **SeeJay** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 6:37 am

I had the same problem and I use XP. BIOS detected 4G and WinXP detected it but didn't use it.
I just play the way it is until I get a new system.

(I blame Bill Gates!

)

Post by **Marvin** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 6:40 am

Originally posted by SeeJay

BIOS detected 4G and WinXP detected it but didn't use it.

Yup ... that's pretty much the way it works (or, rather, doesn't work). I finally gave the other two gigs to my son ... mostly because having four gigs kept messing up Sound Recorder.

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 8:03 am

Originally posted by Vice
Is your hard drive low on space? Are you still using Norton for anti-virus?

No, I have 100Gb free hard drive space of 149Gb. Yes, I'm still using Norton. This Norton Security suite is the latest which has a setting to stop background tasks from running for a specified time. And I always use that setting when playing EM and also use Game booster to stop all other background task from running. Others with Windows Xp are reporting the same issue and do not have Norton. I wonder if you need a specific or the latest DirectX driver. At the moment I have DirectX9c installed and my graphics card supports shader model 3. Also I wonder if the refresh rate needs to be higher....My LCD display supports only up to 60Hz...

Von Paulus · Post by **Von Paulus** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 10:56 am

Every 32bit system can only directly address 3GB. So if it is a Win XP x86, Vista x86 or Win7 x86 they won't use more than 3GB. Only XP x64, Vista Xx4 and Win7 x64 will use more than 3GB.
Maarschalk, the msinfo should report 3Gb and not 2.4Gb. But I've noticed that in some systems, specially those who use an extra graphic card. Try to look into your BIOS and see if there any Memory Remap function or any Memory Shadow options, try to play with it and see if there's any difference.
Look at this: http://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Micr ... 26068.html

Even if you have Directx 9c, you might not have the last build. Download and install. No problem.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/d ... ceb6d8fa8d

About the refresh rate, that's no problem.

But really, what are the your rig specs?

SeeJay · Post by **SeeJay** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 1:37 pm

I tried that. It didn't work at all (WinXP Home):(

Von Paulus · Post by **Von Paulus** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 2:15 pm

Originally posted by Eclipse
With Windows XP you need to enable PAE and 4G tuning, instructions for both can be found in Microsoft's support.

Honestly, I've tried that, in different OS but never had solve performance problems with PAE. But I already read people saying yes, it works.
So why not try the Eclipse's suggestion?

What intrigues me more is why do you think it's a problem of free memory.

Ravenfeeder · Post by **Ravenfeeder** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 5:07 pm

Darn, just received an extrta 2gb of RAM 5 mins before reading this. Well... Is it worth updating my RAM, Win XP Pro, or not - I've already got 2gb of RAM?

Post by **Vice** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 5:13 pm

What intrigues me more is why do you think it's a problem of free memory.

I'd agree that it probably isn't a matter of free memory at this point, probably more related to blocked memory. Even when some programs are turned 'off', the effects of what they do to your system may remain (resident/residual tasks, altered system settings, etc). Another step you could try is to temporarily uninstall various other programs with resident/residual tasks, then launch and test the game to determine which one, if any, may be restricting your system's resources. There has to be something that is blocking the game from being able to load the planet media into memory.

Others with Windows Xp are reporting the same issue and do not have Norton.

That is correct, but they are often either running McAfee (just as bad or worse), or their system is already really lean on memory (some even down to as little as 300 MB!).

Von Paulus · Post by **Von Paulus** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 5:44 pm

Originally posted by Ravenfeeder
Darn, just received an extrta 2gb of RAM 5 mins before reading this. Well... Is it worth updating my RAM, Win XP Pro, or not - I've already got 2gb of RAM?

At least there's no harm. And in certain circumstances it can help.

Von Paulus · Post by **Von Paulus** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 5:47 pm

Originally posted by Vice
but they are often either running McAfee (just as bad or worse),

McAfee is even worse than Norton, IMHO.

Ravenfeeder · Post by **Ravenfeeder** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 6:40 pm

I stuck the extra 2gb in. Doesn't seem to have made any difference, though, and it might be my imagination, the system seemed to boot up a tad quicker.

I tried reading your suggestions/links, Eclipse, just ended up going cross eyed. Is there anything that I have to change, to utilise the full 4gb, or, should it be a case of: "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"?

Post by **Marvin** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 11:14 pm

Raven, try using Sound Recorder by recording something (anything), stopping, saving, and then recording again without clearing the previous recording. Then try to modify what you've just recorded. See if you get an "out of memory" message (or some message that's similar).

Ravenfeeder · Post by **Ravenfeeder** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 2:31 pm

Nope, everything worked fine!

Post by **Marvin** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 5:28 pm

Well, that was the only problem I had. Seems you got the better deal.

Galaxian · Post by **Galaxian** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 9:45 pm

I'm following this with interest as I have the same trouble: Can't run EM with planet detail any higher than low.

All other settings at medium aside from shaders which is on high and things run great.

I get an exit to desktop without any warnings or errors when the 100% initialized state is reached after launch.

Crusty old system specs:

Win XP Pro 32 bit SP3, up to date as is DX

Intel D865PERL mainboard
P4 3.Ghz
2GB PC3200 in dual channel + 2GB swap file
Sapphire X800 GTO 256MB DDR3 AGP
SB Live Platinum
2 x 40GB HDD

I've got over 10 GB free on each HDD, msinfo32 show 1.59GB of free RAM, I've got 27 processes running.

The problem in my case is most likely a shortage of RAM on the AGP card, which I could live with until I can afford a more current box *IF* I *KNEW* that was the problem. If it's something else, I'd like to solve it and enjoy a little more planetary eye candy now.

It's the not knowing that's killing me on this...

Post by **Vice** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 9:55 pm

Wing_Nut, 256 MB of video memory should be sufficient for the 'Medium' planet detail setting, possibly even the 'High' setting, but not the 'Ultra' (512 MB generally needed for that). When the game closes at the 100% mark, that usually indicates the scene can't be rendered as needed, often due to limited memory. But with 1.59 GB of RAM, you should be fine. Lets start with the basics:

- What driver version are you using? Have you tried updating to the latest?
- Of the 27 processes running, are any of them related to anti-virus? Is so, which A/V program?
- Are you running the CyberLink Media Services program at all (background task filename is CLMLSvc.exe)?
- Is your desktop running in 32-bit color depth and not 16-bit?
- Have you tried other settings, such as turning off the Music, turning off the 3D cockpit, and/or changing the general detail setting?

Galaxian · Post by **Galaxian** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 12:03 am

Thanks Vice,

I have the latest drivers available for this card:
Catalyst 10.2.
No anti-virus running

Negative on the CLMLSvc.exe

32 bit color depth

3D cockpit on/off - no apparent effect on problem

music on/off - no apparent effect on problem

Shaders off/limited/high - no apparent effect on problem

I ran task manager while doing some of this testing and noted the following:

CPU utilization ramps up to around 70% give or take a bit as the launch is proceeding.

RAM usage ramps up to around 1.3 GB then levels out as the launch proceeds.

Upon reaching 100%, I get the 'entering universe' message and CPU drops to 0% and sits there for a brief period before EM exits to the desktop.

On exit to the desktop, there is a momentary spike in CPU utilization and the RAM usage drops back to 273MB.

Of interest is that with planet detail set to low, I'm using 1.04GB of RAM and EM runs great.

The only thing that *seems* to directly affect this issue is the planet detail setting.

The puzzler of the day!

Post by **Vice** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 12:07 am

Ok, must be something then that is effecting memory accessibility above around 1.04 GB. No surprise that planet detail has the biggest impact on the problem, since it has the biggest variation of memory use. If you'd like me to review your system configuration for possible causes, just follow the steps here: http://www.starwraith.com/evochronmercenary/faq.htm#8

Galaxian · Post by **Galaxian** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 1:04 am

Awesome! Just sent it over.

Don't laugh.... much.

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 3:07 am

After some more extensive testing and I have 512 MB of DDR2 memmory on my ATI Radeon Saphire X1300 Graphics card and 2.4 GB of available Physical memmory of the 4GB installed, it looks like 1.6GB of the 4GB is being used by WindowsXP Professional 32 bit and by my graphics card(1.1GB by WindowsXp and 0.5GB by Graphics card) which leaves 2.4GB available. And I have a Hardware enforced PAE system so I do not need to add the PAE switch or the 3GB switch. If I use the 3GB switch in the boot.ini file the msinfo32 will report 3GB of virtual available memmory but for the game EM you need enough physical available memmory wich I have. And when I run the game with the 3GB switch in the boot.ini file, EM crashes my system with a severe error reporting pausible cause system crash is "ati2cqag.dll" only if I put planet detail to medium. After extensive reading about the 3GB switch I came to the conclusion my system does not need it. The weird thing is I can run everything on the highest settings in EM with no problems but just putting the Planet detail to Medium I get the same as Wing_Nut exiting to Desktop at 100%. If I put all settings to medium and planet detail to medium same thing happens exiting to desktop at 100% loading. And like you said for Ultra planet detail you need a graphics card with 512MB which I have and enough physical memmory available more then the 1.5 required and I can not even get the game to work with Planet detail set to Medium let a lone High or Ultra.

My specs are: ASUS P5WD2-E Premium, 4GB Coirsair 6400 XMS2 800Mhz DDR2 memmory, CPU Intel Pentium dual core 930D 3.0 Ghz running overclocked at 3.6 Ghz, ATI Radeon Saphire 512MB DDR2 700Mhz effective memmory clock. 2x 160GB harddrives and one 500GB USB backup drive, Umax Scanner, EpsonCD Printer, middi equipment connected to my game ports. This is a real puzzle.....

[Edited on 10-17-2010 by Maarschalk]

Post by **Vice** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 4:14 am

Well, you both are using ATI cards and both with XP. What driver version are you using Maars?

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 4:50 am

Originally posted by Vice
Well, you both are using ATI cards and both with XP. What driver version are you using Maars?

Just downloaded the latest yesterday and same result....
Ver. 10.2