RAM Preview

[Mylenium]

Ahem, here we go again. It’s called RAM preview because it uses your systems RAM (or memory to use a non-tech term). Once the RAM is full, there is no way to squeeze in more frames it’s as simple as that. You can only increase the length by switching the preview resolution to half, quarter or lower (because they result in smaller pixel buffers, they use less RAM for each frame) but depending on the length you may neverr be able to preview your entire composition. Ultimately the only real solution to the problem is to get more RAM if your computer and OS support it, but even that is limited by AE only making use of up to 4GB at most.

Mylenium

[Pour Myl

[Jimmy Brunger]

Just OT a little bit…can AE only make use of 4GB on a 64-bit system? If so, 3GB can only be used by editing the 3GB switch on a 32-bit system? IS that right?

*AE 5.5 Pro – *PS CS1 – *Combustion 3
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Win XP Pro SP2 / Intel P4 3GHz / 2GB RAM / GeForce FX5200 / BMD DeckLink Pro / Sony BVM-20G1E / DVS SDI Clipstation

[Mylenium]

[jimmybee500] ”
Just OT a little bit…can AE only make use of 4GB on a 64-bit system?”

No. AE is a 32 bit app and can never use more than 4 GB for simple mathematical/ technical reasons. Once it will 64 bit native, this limitation of course does no longer apply (whenever that may be).

[jimmybee500] “If so, 3GB can only be used by editing the 3GB switch on a 32-bit system? IS that right?”

Yes, using the 3GB switch is the only option to expand memory usage on 32 bit systems.

Mylenium

[Pour Myl

[Jimmy Brunger]

Sorry, I know AE is a 32-bit app…what I meant was – can it only use the 4GB of RAM you mention when it is on a 64-bit system? (i.e. can you get 4GB out of it on a 32-bit?) Cheers.

*AE 5.5 Pro – *PS CS1 – *Combustion 3
————————————-
Win XP Pro SP2 / Intel P4 3GHz / 2GB RAM / GeForce FX5200 / BMD DeckLink Pro / Sony BVM-20G1E / DVS SDI Clipstation

[Steve Roberts]

Kathlyn, is there a mechanism to shift these over to the FAQ sticky when they come up?

[Erik Pontius]

The answer would be “no”. On a 32bit OS, it is only capable of addressing 4gb of memory. Setting the 3gb switch allows applications to use up to 3gb of the 4gb of available memory (this is normally limited to 2gb). This allows more addressable memory to applications, while reducing the the addressable memory available to the OS…which can be risky. PLenty of stuff on this at Microsoft’s website, just search for /3gb.
A 64 bit OS can address an enormous amount of memory and can create virtual 32bit machines that can run 32bit applications in them allowing the whole 4gb addressable memory to be used. So stuffing your 64bit system with memory could allow you to run several 32bit applications, each with their own little 4gb chunk of memory.
10 years down the road we’ll be wondering how to get past the 16TB memory limitation in order to run our After Effects 10 ram previews in 3d hyper high definition.

Erik

[Jimmy Brunger]

Sorry…I really didn’t think that question through did I! If there’s 4GB on a system and all of it were used up in one app, the thing would blow up!

Sorry, but embarassed now… I’ll slink off.

*AE 5.5 Pro – *PS CS1 – *Combustion 3
————————————-
Win XP Pro SP2 / Intel P4 3GHz / 2GB RAM / GeForce FX5200 / BMD DeckLink Pro / Sony BVM-20G1E / DVS SDI Clipstation

[Kathlyn Lindeboom]

Not really at this time. We’ll need to repost it under the FAQ post — or if someone wants me to edit the existing post to add to it, I can do that as well — of course, just reposting it would be easier for me.

Kathlyn Lindeboom
The Mistress of Mmmooooo!