Why is RAM needed for Garry's Mod? - Help

Read this thread, before you read : [url]http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1375712[/url] Ok, so how is RAM needed for Garry's Mod, or games in general? On system properties it says, 2.62 GB of RAM, but on a program i use it says... Type : DDR2 Channel # : Dual Size : 4 GBytes System properties says 2.62 GB, CPUID CPU-Z (Program) says 4 GBytes

Every game needs RAM.

RAM is needed to store and access memory. If your computer doesn't have enough, and a game/program requires more, it won't have anywhere to store the memory it needs. According to the Steam PC System Requirements, the minimum RAM needed for GMod is 512MB, and it is recommended that you have 1GB.

[QUOTE=Chessnut;44260504]Every game needs RAM.[/QUOTE] all computers need ram modern atleast

Then i have enough RAM, Then why does it crash when i join a server with downloads? P.S This happens on MineCraft when starting up new world

Can you post your full specs?

What do you mean by that?

Like your motherboard, processor, graphics card, etc.

CPU : Name : Intel Core 2 Extreme X68000 Code name : Conroe Technology : 65 nm Specification : Intel(R) Core(TM) CPU X6800 @ 2.93GHz Core Speed : 3415.89 MHz Motherboard: Manufacturer : ASUSTeK Computer INC. Model : P5W DH Deluxe Rev 1.xx BIOS : Brand : American Megatrends Inc. Version : 2801 Date : 7/10/2009 Memory: Type : DDR2 Channel # : Dual Size : 4 GBytes

Are you runnng a 32 bit version of windows?

Yes

Update your graphics card driver, that fixed my minecraft issue way back when. If that doesn't work make sure java is correct installed and buying more ram is cheap and easy to install. 32bit windows can only have up to 4gb of ram while 64-bit can have 64gb of ram (maybe more not sure)

My graphics card is updated and i reinstalled java again, still doesn't work

[QUOTE=YourStalker;44261874]Update your graphics card driver, that fixed my minecraft issue way back when. If that doesn't work make sure java is correct installed and buying more ram is cheap and easy to install. 32bit windows can only have up to 4gb of ram while 64-bit can have 64gb of ram (maybe more not sure)[/QUOTE] If you had read the previous posts/last thread, he stated he's downloading custom content from a server and he's crashing because he is out of memory. Graphics card drivers aren't related to this issue. Also, what? Java isn't a requirement for Garry's Mod.

He's referring to his Minecraft issue when he's talking about Java.

That's what I figured too, but he's written it stating that boardindaddy should update / install / reinstall Java, which would have absolutely no effect in this problem. The real solution to this: Install a 64 bit OS. You cannot use the total 4 gigabytes of memory because of the fact you are running a 32 bit OS. [editline]17th March 2014[/editline] [QUOTE=code_gs;44260526]...the minimum RAM needed for GMod is 512MB, and it is recommended that you have 1GB.[/QUOTE] Garry should really update the requirements. I can't play for over an hour or two on my alt PC (vanilla Windows 7 install) without running out of memory (2 sticks of 1GB, and two 256MBs, so 2.5GB)

[QUOTE=TylerB;44262553]That's what I figured too, but he's written it stating that boardindaddy should update / install / reinstall Java, which would have absolutely no effect in this problem. The real solution to this: Install a 64 bit OS. You cannot use the total 4 gigabytes of memory because of the fact you are running a 32 bit OS. [editline]17th March 2014[/editline] Garry should really update the requirements. I can't play for over an hour or two on my alt PC (vanilla Windows 7 install) without running out of memory (2 sticks of 1GB, and two 256MBs, so 2.5GB)[/QUOTE] I never ran out of memory and I play on a 2GB brick, must be paging file ;)

Try allocating more swap memory. Just temporary though, to see if the amount of RAM is too low. Google it :)

How can you tell if you ran out of memory or not? GMod on average uses up to 1GB of RAM, btw. I never had a problem running GMod on an old ass PC with 1.5GB of RAM. Except for low FPS maybe. [editline]17th March 2014[/editline] [QUOTE=Svenskunganka;44263749]Try allocating more swap memory. Just temporary though, to see if the amount of RAM is too low. Google it :)[/QUOTE] He's not on Linux.

Lower the quality usually make it use less RAM. Also, RAM will only make the loading screen faster and give a better perfomance.

[QUOTE=Robotboy655;44263785]How can you tell if you ran out of memory or not? GMod on average uses up to 1GB of RAM, btw. I never had a problem running GMod on an old ass PC with 1.5GB of RAM. Except for low FPS maybe. [editline]17th March 2014[/editline] He's not on Linux.[/QUOTE] Swap exists on Windows aswell, just by a different name; "Virtual memory". Although the Linux method is alot more optimized, Windows only allows page files while the Linux kernel generates a mounted swap drive. Reference: [URL="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-virtual-memory-size#1TC=windows-7"]Microsoft.com[/URL]

[QUOTE=Svenskunganka;44263884]Swap exists on Windows aswell, just by a different name; "Virtual memory". Although the Linux method is alot more optimized, Windows only allows page files while the Linux kernel generates a mounted swap drive. Reference: [URL="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-virtual-memory-size#1TC=windows-7"]Microsoft.com[/URL][/QUOTE] Yes, but it is not called swap, which is my point. :v:

[QUOTE=Robotboy655;44263933]Yes, but it is not called swap, which is my point. :v:[/QUOTE] Then say so instead of "He's not on linux". That would make me think swap memory (virtual memory, same shit different names) only exists on Linux if I didn't know already. EDIT: Let's just leave it there shall we, doesn't matter if you Google Windows Swap Memory or Windows Virtual Memory. You'll get the same results.

[QUOTE=Robotboy655;44263785]How can you tell if you ran out of memory or not? GMod on average uses up to 1GB of RAM, btw.[/QUOTE] Playing for 3-4 hours on my BuildRP server (wiremod, sprops, some tools, nothing that should use much memory) usually results in a crash to desktop error, though I've seen errors in console after disconnecting referring to "OUTOFMEMORY", though it was a DirectX error, and the graphics card I put in it has more than enough memory to play the game. I've watched the memory usage of hl2.exe, idling on my BuildRP server results in around 80-90% memory usage after 2-3 hours. [editline]17th March 2014[/editline] [QUOTE=ChickenLegGuy;44263804]Also, RAM will only make the loading screen faster and give a better perfomance.[/QUOTE] Although the comment on faster performance is mostly correct, why did you include "[it] will only make the loading screen faster ..."? The loading screen just loads a web page, that doesn't use enough memory to make a difference.

So, i tried putting this code in autoexec.cfg... [QUOTE]//Taken from Quantum's Little Config. datacachesize 128 //GeneralDataCache in MB. Use 64MB for 1GB, 128MB for >= 2GB mem_max_heapsize 2048 //MAY CAUSE INSTABILITY. Has to be set higher because of CommandLineCommand "-heapsize"| Maximum amount of memory to dedicate to engine hunk and datacache, dont user more then half of your Memory[/QUOTE] and it didn't work sadly.

Try these params instead: [CODE] datacachesize 64 mem_max_heapsize 1024 [/CODE]

Nope :(

take the RAM out of your computer and it wont even boot up

You wan't me to take my RAM out of my computer? >_> [editline]20th March 2014[/editline] Also a JailBreak server works for me, but it doesn't have downloads for me.

Your computer might not be reading all your RAM because you're on 32 bit. Also you really need to get off Windows XP, it's going to curl up and die soon. So get Windows 7 or 8 64 bit then try again