How Many Formers?

[Straybow]

Brand new as of January. HP a410e Athlon XP2800, integrated ProSavage, integrated sound. XP Pro. Only 256M (which I intended to upgrade ASAP, but variable workload has dropped off).

My latest game locks up during base processing, and so far no changes to the save (un-Hold-ing units and moving them, changing production, hurrying production) has prevented it. Tried about 6 times before giving up.

[Enigma_Nova]

Use a nifty program called 'task manager' to see if you've run out of memory.

I don't know what the fault is, sorry. I never have problems with SMAX on my
P4_2.4GHz 512MB_DDR + (lots of good stuff) rig.

I should get a better rig eventually, though.

[Chaos Theory]

Thanks to virtual memory, computers almost never run out of ordinary memory (i.e. not system resources, the limited, mismanaged memory Windows needs) these days. However, if you run out of physical memory, your computer will slow down.

[Straybow]

I use FastDefrag2 to clean up the flotsam and jetsam left behind by apps and OS. Several cleanings can get huge hunks of memory freed up.

The problem still occurs, even with a freshly booted PC & a sweep or two of FastDefrag.

[jtsisyoda]

Win XP with 256MB RAM is pushing your luck, IMHO. This is the equivalent of supporting three formers with Morgan running Democracy. Run a Hive Police State by getting 1GB RAM like me.

*Trying desperately to get back on topic*

[smacksim]

I was going to say similar. XP grabs all the memory it feels like. 256 isn't an unreasonable lunch for XP. I'd run 98 with that amount of memory. 512 is minimum IMHO. With memory so cheap, what's the excuse?

-Smack

[Skanky Burns]

XP reserves 256mb for itself if you have more than that on your system. Regarding 98 - it doesn't recognise any memory over 256 or 512 - I forget which. The point is, adding more memory is like having your reserve energy at over 20,000. Sure, it makes you feel good but it doesn't help you any until you start using it.

[Chaos Theory]

I think Win98 can handle up to 2 GB of memory, though that's also a limit on combined physical and virtual memory.

If you run sysmon (in Win98, not sure what other windows flavors have) you can monitor your memory usage. If you routinely exhaust it, get more or change your habits. If not, then like Skanky said, don't worry about it.

As a programmer, I know how to use arbitrarily large amounts of memory, and so will get more than I think I will use regularly. I might get a whim to generate a 12800x10240 picture...

[Straybow]

Unfortunately, I'm still stuck with simple economy. I'd like to switch to FM, but I can't find a faction who will trade me the tech. Yang is supposed to be paying me back a 200 EC loan, but I'm not holding my breath.

In other words, the plan was to upgrade as soon as I got a little scratch (and as you said, it doesn't take much). My 2nd job, whence cometh all funds for diversions such as computer games, has folded on me. Theoretically it still exists, and will provide me some hours (including back pay of a couple hundred bucks) any day now…

[Skanky Burns]

My point was that 98 can not use more than 512mb of physical memory. You may stick 16gb in there, but only the first 512mb will ever get touched no matter how large an amount of memory you request. Though I guess the point is moot since Stray has XP.

[Straybow]

FastDefrag2 has consistently claimed 30-50 mb free while running SMAC, so that isn't the problem.

I found out the cause, quite by accident. While checking for memory usage with various operations I switched wallpapers. Then I loaded up SMAC, and a save that previously worked suddenly didn't work. I tried a few other "good" saves and found a second that locked up. The sound was messed up, too.

XP allows jpgs for wallpaper, and in switching I had gone to one of the jpgs that came with XP. Switching back to a randomly chosen bmp, and now the 2 saves were again "good." Switching to None fixed 2 other saves that had been "bad." (The third had been deleted or overwritten.)

Dang XP

[Enigma_Nova]

WTF?
What do the wallpapers have to do with anything?
Must be a memory issue.

[Chaos Theory]

I found that I couldn't run Ragnarok Online unless I had first played a bit of SMAX. Also, if I have point32.dll running, SMAX suffers from the interceptor bug. If I don't, it doesn't.

[Enigma_Nova]

Very weird.
Well, I can't explain it. Send it to the techs at Micro$uck and see if they know!

[livid imp]

Originally posted by Enigma_Nova
WTF?
What do the wallpapers have to do with anything?
Must be a memory issue.

Actually, using jpgs as wallpaper can cause problems. In order for XP to use jpgs as a wallpaper it turns on "Active Desktop" which is infamous for causing bugs/crashes in applications.