VFSU and multithread

[gmac]

I am following up from a 2009 topic about vray, SU and how much memory it takes, uses etc. (it was under a topic about using windows 7 and the aftermath)

http://forum.asgvis.com/index.php?topic=6290.0

Dalomar said..."Nope...2 gbs. In order for a 32 bit program to top out at 4 gbs on a 64bit system it must be compiled with the Large Address Aware tag. As far as I know, SU is not compiled with that tag, so it will still be limited to 2 gbs of memory usage no matter where it goes."

Assuming this still holds? So if buying a new system there is little reason to get more than say a dual processor, 64 bit system with 4-6 gb of ram since vfsu and all doens't use that much. the second processor is for other things running simultaneously?

i understand that there may be other app's that "might" take advantage of multithreading like ACAD, Revit, Photoshop and its relatives ( i haven't checked). My main reason for asking is in these troubled times, I'm trying to upgrade at my office pc and the difference between a fairly standard machine with a decent Graphics card and a beefed up quad and boat load of ram, etc could be several months.

bottomline, vray is still running in su8 so can only use 2gb of ram?

the rest of that thread was about accessibilty and there not being a demand incentive amongst pro users. Seems like an old way of thinking. but it was an old thread.

GREG

[thomthom]

Re: VFSU and multithread

So if buying a new system there is little reason to get more than say a dual processor, 64 bit system with 4-6 gb of ram since vfsu and all doens't use that much. the second processor is for other things running simultaneously?

Get as many CPU cores as you can, and fast ones. VfSU will use them.
And yes, there is a point to getting more than 4-6GB RAM - VfSU and SU won't be the only application that your computer runs. You're doing 3d modelling - you're most likely have other graphic related applications, such as Photoshop or similar, that will benefit from more RAM. Also, more RAM means you can have more applications running simultaneously without them fighting for the memory.


By the way, I recently found a little utility that let me enable LargeAddressAware flag in SU - which means under 64bit windows it can then use up til 4GB RAM.


Memory aside - get the quad-core.

[justinj1023]

Re: VFSU and multithread

I can't seem to find the utility you memtioned, LargeAddressAware flag. Could you point me in the right direction?

Justin

[dkendig]

Re: VFSU and multithread

just as a heads up, you are actually "hacking" the SketchUp executable to enable additional memory usage. Lots of users have reported no problem, but... as I mentioned in Micha's post about a utility that does this, you are hacking Google's product to do this...

http://forum.asgvis.com/index.php?to...19093#msg19093

[dionysg]

Re: VFSU and multithread

Im using the 3 gb switch which is actually 3,7 gigs.



This is from a scene im working right now with the latest WIP (.96). To make it work you need to have more than 6gigs of ram cause win7x64 uses about 2 gigs for system resources so even if you get sketchup to 2,5 gigs it will shut down as the system wont have any memory to use.



Here im rendering with skethup (scene above) and in physical memory ive got 8Gb RAM and 211 MB free when that goes close to 0 its bye bye vfsu.

The steps to get that 3gb switch in Win7 is :
1) Get 8gigs or more RAM
2)Use either this http://ntcore.com/4gb_patch.php or this http://www.ntcore.com/exsuite.php . Both do exactly the same, except that the first is automated and the second prog is manual.Use CFF Explorer only if you want to know what the automated version changes to sketchup.exe to make it large address aware (Google CFF Explorer 3gb switch or something like that).

!!!!!!!REMEMBER to back up sketchup.exe before doing anything!!!!!!!!

3) Run 4gb patch locate your sketchup.exe and patch.

4) To enable the 3GB switch on Windows Vistaâ„¢ or Windows 7:

1. Right-click Command Prompt in the Accessories program group of the Start menu. Click Run as Administrator.
2. At the command prompt, enter "bcdedit /set IncreaseUserVa 3072" (without the " ").
3. Restart the computer.

If sketchup becomes unstable to disable the 3GB switch:

1. Copy paste the backed up sketchup.exe from previous step
2. Right-click on Command Prompt in the Accessories program group of the Start menu. Click Run as Administrator.
3. At the command prompt, enter "bcdedit /deletevalue IncreaseUserVa" (without the " ").
4. Restart the computer.



!!!!!!!As always use it on your own risk!!!!!!!

Hope it helps

[camionero]

Re: VFSU and multithread

That memory limit is a pain in the *** and the worst thing is that sk developers say that 64 bits are usless to them ..They dont realize what they could have ,, Im tired of sk crashing on my renders so i nedd to delete geometry, models, use low res textures and so ... its so frustrating to see those gorgeous renders from max...

[thomthom]

Re: VFSU and multithread

That memory limit is a pain in the *** and the worst thing is that sk developers say that 64 bits are usless to them ..They dont realize what they could have

But to be fair - SketchUp itself doesn't really hit close to the memory limit. It's only the renders, like VfSU, that runs inside SketchUp that have any real use of it. Going 64bit can very well make the application perform worse - since it has to deal with bigger data. 64bit is no magic bullet.

[rspierenburg]

Re: VFSU and multithread

Um...doesnt the 'free' amount of memory mean very little. I believe no matter how much memory your computer has Windows will attempt to use every bit of it (hence only showing 211mb free) what isn't actually in use by programs etc is setup under 'Cached' memory.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Rob

[thomthom]

Re: VFSU and multithread

Um...doesnt the 'free' amount of memory mean very little. I believe no matter how much memory your computer has Windows will attempt to use every bit of it (hence only showing 211mb free) what isn't actually in use by programs etc is setup under 'Cached' memory.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Rob

Correct

[dionysg]

Re: VFSU and multithread

Yes but vfsu uses the amount of memory that win7 alows it to use. Hence when the amount under free goes close to 0 vfsu crasses

[thomthom]

Re: VFSU and multithread

Windows automatically frees up the cached memory for applications that uses needs it.

[camionero]

Re: VFSU and multithread

Thomthom one question about the "future of sk" whats the feature or the thing behind Max to make those giant models were the only limit is your machine ????
and whats in your opinion the next big step for sk ?and one more what can sk do in order to RENDER bigger projects without crashing ??
So much thx for your time and answer
And you are the man of ruby´s ;D

[dkendig]

Re: VFSU and multithread

thomthom is a wizard

[thomthom]

Re: VFSU and multithread

Thomthom one question about the "future of sk" whats the feature or the thing behind Max to make those giant models were the only limit is your machine ????
and whats in your opinion the next big step for sk ?and one more what can sk do in order to RENDER bigger projects without crashing ??
So much thx for your time and answer
And you are the man of ruby´s ;D

Future of SketchUp? Google don't design SketchUp as a render application, so rendering from within SketchUp do present some challenges. From the discussions there has been lately in regard to SketchUp and feature request it's not something they will be focusing on either. Remember SketchUp is designed as a sketching application - it's not the same animal as 3dsmax. SketchUp renders real time sketchy models in the viewport - while applications such as 3dsmax display a much more degraded view and require the model to be explicitly rendered. SketchUp is more of a What You See Is What You Get modeller - so everything you render is pretty much something you need to explicitly model. While 3dsmax has a number of special features and plugins where the viewport only represent loosely what will be rendered. (Fur, grass etc...) And you have other features such as parametric geometry where the viewport display a lower subdivision than what is rendered. SketchUp also have the inference engine that add some overhead.

However, they are looking into making SketchUp LargeAddressAware. If they do that it'll help a bit, you can use up to 4GB on 64bit systems.

While Google do work to improve SketchUp's performance (SU7.1 was a good improvement) it has a different role in the toolbox than 3dxmax. If you constantly find yourself limited you want to look at other tools. (For instance, if you ever want to do animation I'd never recommend SketchUp for the job.)

[deanfitton]

Re: VFSU and multithread

DIONYSG

Sorry to ask something un-related.... could you shave your curtain model please? ive been looking for some time for something like that,

kind regards dean