RAM size used to run TC/MC

[bmarkus]

It is stated several times, that many TC/MC users are using low RAM machines. Lets see the figures, please vote!

[Lee]

1 Toshiba Magnia has 128 MB
3 Compaq Deskpro EN have 256, 256 and 384 (voted once as "256")
2 Dell Poweredge have 4GB and 4GB (voted once as "over 3GB")

[thane]

Running a Compaq Deskpro EN with 512M, which I'm told is the max for that box.

(Oh yeah, and I replaced the CMOS battery. Thanks again Lee.)

[Lee]

I'm curious to see how many users have under 128 MB and how light of a memory foot print TC can have and still be useful.    I occasionally run TC in Qemu on Win XP and I can't devote too much ram to it on that box or there's not enough left for my Windows bloatware.

@ Thane - do you think these Compaqs will outlast the new batteries?  :}

[Jason W]

Until a few months ago, all my boxes were 400-800mhz with  128mb or 256mb of ram.  Recently got my hands on  a p4 with 1G of ram, so I use it make most efficient use of my time when compiling.  Most of the resource requirements of running a TC desktop are due to the applications themselves as the linux kernel and the busybox or gnu utilities do not require a lot more machine than they did a few years ago.  Browsing the modern web with a modern web browser will take gobs of ram and cpu regardless of the distro. 

TC is frugal with hardware resources by default by use of mounted extensions, using gzip instead of lzma for compressing squashfs,. 4kb squashfs block size to minimize RAM use.  I have run TC on a 64mb machine with xmms, links web browser, and gtk1 versions of emelfm and gqview, and console apps for a light but usable desktop. 

[Guy]

It depends which day I answer the question.

As I have mentioned on other posts, I have used free computers which other people discard for Tiny Core and the internet. Thousands are being discarded every year. I also swap parts. For example, I take the one with the fastest cpu, put in the largest ram and hard drive.

A few years ago I obtained a 667 mhz computer, which had 512 mb of ram. I used that for a few years.

Recently I have tried others. I used an 800 mhz computer for awhile, then a 1.5 ghz computer with 256 mb of ram.

Since then I have obtained a 1.6 ghz computer. When I first used it I had 1 gb of ram (2x256 and 512). Since then I obtained a 1 gb ram sim. I took out a 256 mb sim and put in the 1 gb, giving me 1.75 gb. However, with that combination the computer would malfunction on rare occasions. This is the only time I have experienced this. Normally ram works or doesn't work. As a result I removed the other 256 mb sim. I am now running 1.5 gb (512 and 1 gb).

I voted as 1.5 gb. That is what I am using now.

You can never be sure what will happen tomorrow, but it is not very likely I will come across a higher performance computer which someone is discarding for some time. But you never know.

Edit: Since posting this, I have picked up a 2.4 ghz computer. It is amazing what people throw away. I am now running this 2.4 ghz computer with 1.5 gb of ram.

[Guy]

Just a suggestion.

Why not include 4 gb, 8 gb, then over 8 gb.

A large proportion of computers being sold now have 4 gb. Some are being sold with 8 gb.

Include the high end as well as the low end.

[bmarkus]

Just a suggestion.

Why not include 4 gb, 8 gb, then over 8 gb.

A large proportion of computers being sold now have 4 gb. Some are being sold with 8 gb.

Include the high end as well as the low end.

Goal of this survey is to see the low end which is targeted by TC. In this aspect doesn't matter too much if it is over a GB.

Current kernel supports up to 4GB RAM. proper question at the high end would be 'do we need kernel with > 4GB RAM support?'

[Guy]

Current kernel supports up to 4GB RAM. proper question at the high end would be 'do we need kernel with > 4GB RAM support?'

That would be handy to know.

Particularly as this topic may be added to for years, and the results in the future may be different, as computer performance is increasing.

You do what you think is best. I am not trying to be difficult.

[bmarkus]

You do what you think is best. I am not trying to be difficult.

You don't In the beginning I thought to compile a more complex survey but to get a real picture on what hw is used would be better to use special reporting application which sends anony hw inventory to a centralised database. This is used by other distributions too to colelct info on their user base.

Need some time to find the proper toll or script it.

I'm ready to host the central side.

[althalus]

Current kernel supports up to 4GB RAM. proper question at the high end would be 'do we need kernel with > 4GB RAM support?'

Slightly off topic, however, even with two 2GB ram strips, conky is only reporting my maximum memory as 2.9GB *shrug*

[bmarkus]

Current kernel supports up to 4GB RAM. proper question at the high end would be 'do we need kernel with > 4GB RAM support?'

Slightly off topic, however, even with two 2GB ram strips, conky is only reporting my maximum memory as 2.9GB *shrug*

What is reported by 'free' in a console or lxtask?

[althalus]

Current kernel supports up to 4GB RAM. proper question at the high end would be 'do we need kernel with > 4GB RAM support?'

Slightly off topic, however, even with two 2GB ram strips, conky is only reporting my maximum memory as 2.9GB *shrug*

What is reported by 'free' in a console or lxtask?

Code: [Select]

$ free
                       total             used             free   shared      buffers
  Mem:      3050784      1861932      1188852            0       125956
 Swap:            0            0            0
Total:      3050784      1861932      1188852


[Guy]

An additional request: Those using small ram, what are you using your computer for?

[curaga]

My 64mb-ram machine is a gaming platform. Running freedos on that beats the dos emulators nearly always.

TC is on it to facilitate easier downloading and other non-gaming usage. I even installed freedos on it via TC.