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So the mac OS uses no RAM? (steal, or
whatever). This is surprising. Does it just use the hard drive as memory
for running system processes, etc?
The article says: "There is a 2GB limit,
however -- 2GB per process. So any single application (again, barring something
like Intel's PAE extensions) is limited to 2GB."
So this isn't a bad thing necessarily ("per app"
being the key phrase), especially if I am running my audio app (e.g,
max/msp) + a separate software app that controls my audio interface (mixer
DSP, etc), or perhaps a looping app as a standalone app, plus my audio
interface software, and any other supporiting apps. What performance
orientated audio app is going to use more than 2GB of RAM? Man, that would be
crazy, eh?
I think everythig is going to be all cool with a
macbook pro and 4GB of RAM. Until someone says that it is absolutely conclusive
that 4GB will no no good whatsoever when running my monster sofware performance
system, I have no issues with paying the extra for that 2GB of RAM.
Kris
Here
is the most succinct post I can find on the subject. I was a little
mixed up - it's not that 32-bit OS's can't see all 4GB, but at least with PC
architecture, about a gig of that 4 gigs will be assigned to system level
devices (video card, PCI bus, etc), leaving you with less than 4GB. In
addition, 32-bit apps can't access more than 2GB each without PAE (which is a
bad idea for an audio machine).
http://dubiousquality.blogspot.com/2007/08/addressable-memory-in-32-bit-operating.html
On
a Macbook Pro, this RAM-shortage might not be a problem - WITH THE NEW Santa
Rosa platform. It is definitely a well-documented problem with all other
Mac/Intel platforms. The new "36-bit" chip allows access to 4GB, and
presumably (this is where I'm not positive) OSX can really use it all because
it doesn't do what Windoze does (steal some of it). In addition, 32-bit
Mac apps can still only access 2GB each.
Hope that
helps.
Doug
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