Thread: PC RAM in Compilation

  1. #1
    Devil's Advocate SlyMaelstrom's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Out of scope
    Posts
    4,079

    PC RAM in Compilation

    This seems like a silly question with an obvious answer, but I just wanted to make sure.

    How significant would more RAM in a computer speed up compilation time if any? Let's say going from 512mb of RAM to 1.5Gb of RAM.

    I would imagine much of the load in compilation is dealt with in all the CPU's computations, but I figured better ram would help.
    Last edited by SlyMaelstrom; 05-20-2006 at 08:30 PM.
    Sent from my iPadŽ

  2. #2
    User
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    499
    More RAM makes more of a significant difference in computers with less RAM to begin with, like say upgrading from 64mb -> 512mb. Except for memory-intensive tasks (not compiling!), and multi-tasking, upgrading from 512mb to 1.5gb RAM isn't going to help that much. That's just my opinion though.

  3. #3
    Devil's Advocate SlyMaelstrom's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Out of scope
    Posts
    4,079
    Yes, I guess that makes sense. I'm just not sure if compiling extremely large projects could put some real weight on the memory. Anyone that works on a pretty large programming team that compiles huge projects regularly should have a good idea of whether RAM help in those cases.

    The biggest difference I've noticed so far is how fast programs close. I used to close games like Oblivion of Need for Speed Most Wanted and it would take my PC about a minute to settle down before I could open anything else. Now things close instantly and everything still runs smooth. I'm greatly pleased with that.
    Last edited by SlyMaelstrom; 05-20-2006 at 11:36 PM.
    Sent from my iPadŽ

  4. #4
    and the hat of int overfl Salem's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    The edge of the known universe
    Posts
    39,660
    More RAM is always better, so long as your OS can make use of it.

    It will
    - reduce the amount of swap file activity,
    - increase the amount of file system caching
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
    If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.

  5. #5
    Registered /usr
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    Newport, South Wales, UK
    Posts
    1,273
    So, if you've got a few include files in your project weighing in at over 100MB each, it will go faster.

  6. #6
    and the hat of int overfl Salem's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    The edge of the known universe
    Posts
    39,660
    If you've got a GB of memory, and all you run is minesweeper, windows will find a reason to use the swap file.
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
    If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.

Popular pages Recent additions subscribe to a feed

Similar Threads

  1. RAM upgrade
    By BobS0327 in forum Tech Board
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 12-10-2008, 08:14 AM
  2. Replies: 1
    Last Post: 10-27-2006, 01:21 PM
  3. Programming and RAM
    By spveer in forum C Programming
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 06-16-2005, 11:17 AM
  4. Post you pc pics (mods)
    By biosninja in forum A Brief History of Cprogramming.com
    Replies: 33
    Last Post: 03-15-2004, 04:15 PM
  5. Building a pc...water cooling/tons of cooling?
    By Shadow in forum Tech Board
    Replies: 22
    Last Post: 12-20-2002, 05:03 AM