Optimizing /3GB Question....

[Sven2157]

Original Private Message sent from TATAR to Sven2157

Hi...i have this question i have Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 3,will the last thing mentioned in u'r thread damage my Windows or even PC...i mean for the Optimising Your System for Games the last thing u mentioned:[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn /3GB coz here is what is written in my settings:[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect...will i have any problems if i add "3GB" at the end?

[Sven2157]

Originally Posted by TATAR

Hi...i have this question i have Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 3,will the last thing mentioned in u'r thread damage my Windows or even PC...i mean for the Optimising Your System for Games the last thing u mentioned:[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn /3GB coz here is what is written in my settings:[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect...will i have any problems if i add "3GB" at the end?

Hi TATAR ,

First, I am going to start a New Thread Topic with this PM; this way anyone else with this question can view the answer, too.

Second, NO, this will not damage your system. As a matter a fact, you will probably not even notice a difference in how your system performs, untill you start "beating" on your machine with something like FSX or Adobe PhotoShop or something.

This switch tells the Operating System that it is OK for programs to use what the OS is not. By default the OS is set to flag ANY program that tries to acces too much memory; physical or virtual. It is a saftey mechanism to allow Windows room for itself to operate. The problem is that newer programs and games Demand more from the system these days. They use EVERY bit of the resources available, and without this switch, I have found that you will recieve more dreaded OOM errors (Out Of Memory). Windows only needs about 512MB of virtual and physical memory each. Windows is greedy sometimes and does not like to play well with the other children!

As far as viruses and other malware using more memory goes... They don't! These programs are designed to lay low and try to hide from the user. They block themselves by using very little of the system resources, to try and remain "cloked". If they used a bunch of memory, they would be really easy to find.

Just make sure that the switch is used properly: /3GB at the end of your boot file; with a space between it and the last entry.

Let me know if you have any other questions...

Sven2157

[RockmasteR]

remember that some games does not support the /3GB like FEAR 2 and Burnout Paradise, Crysis
they crash after a while

[Sven2157]

Originally Posted by RockmasteR

remember that some games does not support the /3GB like FEAR 2 and Burnout Paradise, Crysis
they crash after a while

This is not true. This has nothing to do with which games are compatable or not. This is an Operating System, ONLY, modifier.

In fact, this will only help games like Crysis, which require an enormous amount of system resources. If those games are still crashing, after using the /3GB switch, then your system either still needs to be tweaked or you have other issues, preventing them from playing correctly.

This essentially allows programs to use more of the virtual memory, while limiting the OS to a specific size; though it is limited, it is PLENTY of space for the OS.

You can read more bout it on the MSDN Library web pages.

Sven2157

[RockmasteR]

sorry Sven but I was not criticizing you, anyway, if you have FEAR 2 you can see in the readme file that the /3G is not compatible with the game, that what they said about it

[Sven2157]

Originally Posted by RockmasteR

sorry Sven but I was not criticizing you, anyway, if you have FEAR 2 you can see in the readme file that the /3G is not compatible with the game, that what they said about it

Oh, no worries, I didn't think you were.

Could you post that section from the manual/readme? This has nothing to do with compatability. This is SOLELY for Windows, and how Windows lets the program use system resources.

It is like building a two car garage. Then thinking that you would like a little addtional space to work on other things. So you expand your garage; now it is a 2 1/2 car garage. Then deciding that you want to buy a second car, but the manufacturer says that your new car is not compatable with a 2 1/2 car garage, just a 2 car garage.

Doesn't really make any sense, does it?

Even if it states that in the readme file, that doesn't necessarly make it correct. I have worked with A LOT of programmers, and to be honest; most are pretty stupid. They go to school and learn a language, then get a job as a "work drone". They know nothing of their own computers, let alone how Windows or any other program (outside their learned language), works.

If you read the short page from MSDN, in the link above, it explains what exactly the /3GB switch is/does. It also clearly points out that it is an addressing option.



Sven2157

[Tiber Septim]

I've seen this used a few times with Crysis and Supreme Commander (both memory hungry games). In most cases it helps a bit but not much. In a few cases where the game/program has a memory leak (Supreme Commander), it can prolong the duration of the game but you'll eventually still hit a limit and the game will crash.

I don't have the Fear 2 readme but I do know it says something along these lines:

"This application is not compatible with the /3GB setting in the windows boot.ini file. This setting will cause the game to blue screen crash if specified."

[RockmasteR]

thats exactly what the Readme file contains about the /3G

[Sven2157]

Now that IS pretty interesting...

And I do appologize, as I didn't mean to come off or sound "all knowing" and arrogant, as I believe my last post has.

***On a side note: Work with a team of programmers, and when they ask you things like, "if I got more RAM, would my computer go faster?" and "could you install Visual Studio and SQL for me so I can ge to work on this?", you'll know what I mean. ***

I am simply trying to say that programs/programming ARE a science, and, though not an exact one, sometimes a group of programmers may interpret something one way, whislt another sees it completely different.

My understanding, and from what I get from the MSDN article, on the /3GB switch, is that it allows for more virtual memory to be allocated to the user and limitis the OS from "hogging" it all. Thus, giving the "memory heavy" games, like F.E.A.R. 2 and Crysis the room they need to perform as desired.

I am actually going to look into this a bit further, as to why they specifically say that... I will let ya'll know what they I find....

Sven2157

[TATAR]

:D:D:D sry for interruptimg but...so is the "swith" good or bad for u'r system? ty

[Sven2157]

Originally Posted by TATAR

:D:D:D sry for interruptimg but...so is the "swith" good or bad for u'r system? ty

Oh you're not interrupting...

It's a not an issue of good or bad, it is more an issue of wether or not your system needs to allocate the extra vitrual memory. I have found that it helps with larger, more demanding games to have the /3GB switch enabled.

If you are unsure, then my suggetion would be to not include it in your boot.ini file...

[TATAR]

ok ty :)

[TATAR]

btw is the /3GB the highest value or u can tweak it...from what it depends ...i mean u can write in the boot loader.ini file let's say /4GB or even /5GB.from what it depends? ty

[Sven2157]

Originally Posted by TATAR

btw is the /3GB the highest value or u can tweak it...from what it depends ...i mean u can write in the boot loader.ini file let's say /4GB or even /5GB.from what it depends? ty

XP has it's limit at the /3GB. However, with the 64 bit edtion you can use other, applicable, switches with that OS.

Vista and Windows Server 2008 have higher limits, consequently so do the 64 bit editions of those...

[TATAR]

ok thx

[simpswr]

The best argument for putting 4 Gig in is that 2 X 2 Gig sticks is the only way to get over 2 Gig and still be able to use DDR without filling all the slots, and that will cause stability issues and/or memory clockback on most motherboards

[pallepr]

Originally Posted by TATAR

btw is the /3GB the highest value or u can tweak it...from what it depends ...i mean u can write in the boot loader.ini file let's say /4GB or even /5GB.from what it depends? ty

The virtual address space in all 32bit OSes is only 4GB. If you use /3GB that leaves 1GB to the kernel. /4GB would leave zero bytes. So it is actually impossible to use so larges values.

Originally Posted by Sven2157

XP has it's limit at the /3GB. However, with the 64 bit edtion you can use other, applicable, switches with that OS.

Vista and Windows Server 2008 have higher limits, consequently so do the 64 bit editions of those...

In Windows 64bit you don't have a space problem (yet). The VAS is currently 16TB, with 8TB to user space and 8TB to kernel. And there is no option to change that layout.

And 32bit verions of their server systems are also restricted to 4GB virtual address space. Depending on the purpose of the server, the /3GB can actually hurt it.

[TATAR]

The virtual address space in all 32bit OSes is only 4GB. If you use /3GB that leaves 1GB to the kernel. /4GB would leave zero bytes. So it is actually impossible to use so larges values.

ok i got it days ago