digimaton

Using Vista Ultimate, 5.1.4, i7 based machine, with 6GB of RAM.

When audio data in excess of 1400MB is loaded to RAM Max/MSP crashes, despite the fact that system information shows that only 49% of the available physical RAM has been used.

There are no problems with stability unless it passes 1400MB.

Is there something I need to know about the maximum amount of RAM that can be safely addressed by Max/MSP (in Vista) that I might be missing?

vista-maxmsp-ram-limit-issue

MaxMSP is a 32-bit executable, which means it's limited to a maximum of 4GB memory use. As far as I know, you can't make use of more than 4GB RAM with a 32-bit app, even if that app is running in a 64-bit operating system. Google "32-bit RAM limit" for more info. It sounds like this could be related to your problem, ie nothing Cycling74 can do other than re-write the whole app in 64-bit (which I hope they do!).

MaxMSP is a 32-bit executable, which means it's limited to a maximum of 4GB memory use.  As far as I know, you can't make use of more than 4GB RAM with a 32-bit app, even if that app is running in a 64-bit operating system.  Google "32-bit RAM limit" for more info.  It sounds like this could be related to your problem, ie nothing Cycling74 can do other than re-write the whole app in 64-bit (which I hope they do!).


"It sounds like this could be related to your problem, ie nothing Cycling74 can do other than re-write the whole app in 64-bit (which I hope they do!)"

Out of curiosity, how much of a pain would that be...how much would they have to change? I had thought that most of the code would be the same. But probably I'm way off...

@Tim yes, true re:32bit/4GB limit, but there is 6GB total available, so even accounting for what the system is using in conjunction with Max, it does not total 4GB.

However, according to one source: "the “4GB” maximum memory limit of 32-bit Windows is purely theoretical. In practice, the max memory is something significantly less, equal to 4GB minus your video card memory [note here that the video card that is installed has 512MB of RAM] and the address space allocated to a couple other hardware resourcse. Typically, the realistic maximum memory is somewhere betwee 2.5GB and 3.5GB."

but does this also apply to a 32bit app running on a 64bit OS?

I'm fairly sure that memory limits do affect 32-bit apps in a 64-bit OS. I also would love if a Cyclist commented :) I'm looking forward to the day when MaxMSP is fully 64-bit with 64-bit audio processing as well.

@seejayjames I would think that the programming would be very similar, but there are bound to be complications - I'm really not qualified to comment on that though, it's way over my head!

I'm fairly sure that memory limits do affect 32-bit apps in a 64-bit OS.  I also would love if a Cyclist commented :)  I'm looking forward to the day when MaxMSP is fully 64-bit with 64-bit audio processing as well.

@seejayjames I would think that the programming would be very similar, but there are bound to be complications - I'm really not qualified to comment on that though, it's way over my head!


fwiw, i seem to remember a cycling person comment recently on these forums that currently, regardless of your physical ram, the maximum 32-bit max-5 can address is 2GB. not sure why, but in my experience this seems to be the case with a number of apps.

fwiw-2, while i am not qualified!, i think a 64-bit re-write is an absolutely colossal task. jkc from cycling mentioned recently on these forums in a jitter2-related post that yes, they are working on 64-bit for max-6. in fact it is probably the reason we do not hear from every cycling employee on the forums these days! i'll also wager that they have to wait for ableton's 64-bit re-write as well (which the abes have also said they are currently working on).

i expect 64-bit not likely to be 'soon'!


have heard from support, so yes, this is a RAM limitation, it's inherent in any 32 bit application, unfortunately.

I always thought, incorrectly, that is was the OS, and not the application, that ultimately determined how much RAM could be utilised.

64 bit Max is "still down the road a bit".

I always thought, incorrectly, that is was the OS, and not the application, that ultimately determined how much RAM could be utilised.  

64 bit Max is "still down the road a bit".


Vista MaxMSP RAM limit issue