3GB switch in Solidworks 1

[Vinay2479]

There is option called 3GB switch in some of the 3D CAD softwares.Is there any similar option in Solidworks so that we can make use of more RAM space.

Regards,
Vinay

 

[Eltron]

A simple forum search found a plethora of info. Check this thread:

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=155411

Dan

http://www.eltronresearch.com

Dan's Blog

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

The /3GB option is a Windows setting, not a CAD specific setting.

 

[kellnerp]

Plethora, I like that.

The 3Gb switch will give about 1Gb more useable ram. SW will typically begin to have problems when it is using 1.6Gb of RAM. The 3GB switch will extend that to 2.6GB. This only applies to 32 bit computers. 64 bit can use pretty much all the RAM you can throw at it.

TOP
CSWP, BSSE

http://www.engtran.com

http://www.niswug.org

"Node news is good news."

 

[PDMAdmin]

Here's more info from the Microsoft website:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms791558.aspx

Over the years, I have not personally seen much of a benefit from the 3GB switch. I usually work with large assemblies containing complex parts, so an extra 1GB of usable RAM is not enough. It wasn't until I upgraded to a 64-bit OS that I was able to meet the resource requirements for most of my projects.

 

[NomLaser]

Don't forget that you need to change your system settings to allow more virtual memory as well. I run XP-64 at home and forgot to change this and once I did it made a big difference in everything that used a lot of graphics.

 

[CADone]

Vinay,
I found a video. Try this. But, as Kellnerp mentioned, its suitable for 64 bit OS.

http://www.screencast.com/users/CADGeeks/folders/Jing/media/c76d7a7e-5cdf-4e80-8629-a0e7a40ffc65

Thanks,
C1

 

[fcsuper]

It's not recommended unless working on a Server, according the Microsoft. It doesn't really work the way that many people think, just as virtual memory doesn't really work the way most people think.

Matt Lorono
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group
and Mechnical.Engineering Yahoo! Group

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

... but it does work! It definitely allows SW to use an extra Gig before it crashes.

From

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/291988

APPLIES TO

* Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
* Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition (32-bit x86)
* Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
* Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
* Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition
* Microsoft Windows XP Professional
* Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)

From

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/PAE/PAEmem.mspx

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="????" /3GB

Note: "????" in the previous example can be the programmatic name of any of the following operating system versions:

Windows XP Professional
Windows Server 2003
Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition
Windows 2000 Advanced Server
Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition

 

[beachcomber]

It works - and not just for SolidWorks.
We were having problems loading some of our larger assemblies and drawings in SolidEdge.
After adding the /3GB switch we have not really had any problems.
I ADDED another line into the boot.ini file.
This enables you to have a choice, at boot time, of running with or without the switch enabled, just in case the sytem is unstable or you have not added the line correctly.

bc.
2.4GHz Core2 Quad, 4GB RAM,
Quadro FX4600.