How do you know how much ram you need in your system before acquiring it, assuming that you are going to work with 3D, Video and Photo how much ram would you say is enough?
How do I know I have to stay at 16 or go to 32 or more, how does more ram really affect my applications?
Thank you!!
Too generic, sorry.
“3D apps” means very little.
If you do large fluid sims even 32GB can be tight.
If you only use ZBrush, until the 64bit beta is out, 4GB is al it can use.
In general 16GB these days is kinda the entry point, and 32GB is considered a generous but not ridiculous amount.
As an absolute bare minimum for a poor student I would say 8 gigs is ok and will get you through so long as you’re careful. 16 gives a lot more breathing space and should allow you to do whatever you like so long as youre not being stupid. 32 will be plenty of headroom and last the computer its life unless you’re simulating the entire north atlantic flooding through a major city, then to bump it to its limit.
Or maybe a realworld example, until last month I had a 12 gig machine, I only ever ran out of memory twice whilst working. Once when the project was simply too complicated and once when I was trying to make the software crash on purpose. I do everything from architectural interiors, product visuals, animated 4k theatre set backdrops. Cinema 4D after effects, photoshop etc. I don’t do fluid water, smoke or fire sims, I don’t have the patience. I’ve had to close email, itunes and my web browsers a couple of times but it has all been manageable.
I can be more specific, this new system would be used mainly for 3D, exact apps would be C4D, Maya and Rhino(doing at most 2k renders) other apps would be Photoshop Illustrator for image and After Effects Premiere for video, some sculpting would be done with it for training purposes programs like Mudbox mainly. Also what amount of MHz is enough for the case I am posting here, I am reading there is 1600MHz 1866MHz and 2133MHz which one should I be getting.
I thank you nonetheless since you did answer my question, being on a tight budget I am seeing that 16gb would be enough for me 32gb is possible though a bit more pricey.
Thanks!!
EDIT: Thanks Matt, was posting right at the same time as you.
Memory speed doesn’t make a huge difference, anything at, above, or one notch below the motherboards rating is fine. eg. if the motherboard recommends 1866, then anything faster is fine, or anything one rating lower like 1600 wont have much impact.
If you don’t do FX work, don’t do massive renders, don’t use particularly hungry apps like Nuke, or do 4k work, 16GB will see you through mostly anything with ease.
Make sure you buy them to fill only half the slots so you have an easy upgrade path to 32 if a job ever comes through that requires you do an emergency memory bump (so if you have four slots buy 2x8 sticks, not 4x4 even if they might be 20 bucks cheaper).
Mash pretty much mentioned everything you need to know frequency (Mhz) wise too.
For ArchiViz, 32GB is a must. Even 48-64GB would be used for large scale scenes.
Ofcourse, this statement means multiply instances of CAM/CAD/PS…etc…opened.
Cheers!
It’ll vary depending on task. I’m currently working with 7+ gig maya files that just opening them eats up 28 gigs of ram.
For most compartmentalized tasks, IMO 16gigs is plenty. If you are running multiple apps where you’re going back and forth between a couple open 3d files and a compositing app, you’ll want 32 or more gigs.
