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[BimmyLee]

I have OS9 running on a MDD G4 and it is absurdly consuming over 500 MB memory instead of the 60-70 MB that it should. This has caused apps like Unreal Tournament to quit unexpectedly due to running out of memory (mostly during LAN play), even with the MDD maxed out at 2 GB. How can I troubleshoot this and identify why the OS is hogging so much memory?

[refinery]

This is normal behavior. OS9 is not capable of addressing 2GB of memory, only 1.5gb, so they make the machines say OS9 is consuming an extra 512mb of memory. I suppose it was easier than having to explain to folks why they have 512mb of RAM that can't be used.

I'm sure someone else will have better details but yes it's normal.

[Mat]

running out of memory, even with the MDD maxed out at 2 GB

Are you aware, that you have to assign the possible memory manually for every user program?

[IIO]

it can also mean that one of the RAM sticks is partially broken.

if you use OS9 only on ths machine, you might want to remove one anway.

[aBc]

Select Unreal Tournament’s actual game icon. Click it only once and then ⌘+ the lower case letter i to “Get Info”. Sorry, no games loaded here so I’ll  substitute the iTunes app here instead. You should see a window like the one on the left, where you can then pull down to Memory, in order to arrive at the window on the right… where you can then manually increase the Preferred Size of the app’s (in this case, Game) memory requirements in order to adjust the amount of memory that it can utilize. Which is what I believe Mat was alluding to above.



However, you might also want to “optimize” (reduce) that basic reported 573.2 MB that Mac OS 9.2 currently uses on your machine as it is currently configured - by turning off and / or disabling certain extensions, control panels, etc. that are unnecessary for what your primary intended use(s) are or might be? If so then visit and review:

https://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php?topic=2765.0

Do read Reply #3.
 
And especially everything under…
1) INITIAL TWEAKS - and through to 4) ADVANCED TIPS & TRICKS.

Oh and BTW, Welcome!

[BimmyLee]

Thank you so much for the help here. I was definitely NOT aware that I needed to manually assign the preferred memory size to every user program. I'll start doing that going forward, and will also look into those optimization tips. Thanks again everyone, really appreciate this community!

[Bolkonskij]

The value you find there is what the developer(s) suggested. From my experience, they often were a bit stingy with RAM usage - especially if you run with today's higher resolutions, you'll quickly hit the ceiling. Given RAM isn't really a constraint anymore, feel free to add a good chunk - it really helps to avoid crashes with some applications. (browsers, 3D games, ...)

Other than that, kudos to @aBc who provided an excellent explanation!

[IIO]

The value you find there is what the developer(s) suggested.

i think most developers just measure the space after load and use this - i.e. the absolute minimum.

that is why it can be clever to add some 5% to all your apps - or 10% if it was made for OS´s older than 9.x as an attept to avoid stability issues.
(quite some OS7 apps will not even launch in 9.2.2 when you leave the default value.)

using a high value making use of all your system memory is more or less only needed for apps like photoshop or audio workstations.

a nice little "trick" is also to make two copies of cubase or photoshop in their folder, one using everything and another one only using half your RAM or less. this avoids that you´ll ever have to change those values you set after install.

[Jubadub]

@BimmyLee Bump up the Mac OS 1.5GB RAM limit to 1.628GB with the file in the 1st dowload from this page. Your MDD will be pleased!

To use it, simply replace the "Mac OS ROM" file in your system folder with the one from the download, then reboot.

Courtesy of @ELN and other Mac OS 9 Lives! members.

[aBc]

Thanks Jubadub. I’d forgotten all about the “Limit Breaking” Mac OS ROM 10.2.1 Modification of 2017 and only downloaded (now eight years later) installed and tested it last night on an MDD 1.25 GHz DP. It worked - but more on that later.

Considering that BimmyLee is currently running an MDD with Mac OS ROM 9.6.1 maybe an “updated” clean install of OS 9.2.2 from the Forum’s “Universal Install” [https://macos9lives.com/downloads] might first be warranted, even before the Mac OS ROM 10.2.1 Modification?

Mac OS ROM 9.6.1 shipped with the original MDD and was very soon thereafter updated to Mac OS ROM 10.2.1. Who among us is still running an MDD with Mac OS ROM 9.6.1?

And considering that BimmyLee’s MDD might still have its’ original hard drive AND all of the possible 20+ years worth of accumulated useless, space-taking and performance-choking clutter… it might be time for a new drive, SSD, etc.? (And possibly relegating the old drive to retirement or onboard slavery as a second drive?)

Of course it could be interesting to see what effects the Modification might provide installed over an original Mac OS ROM 9.6.1 - or if it’s a prerequisite to already have Mac OS ROM 10.2.1 installed before the Modification.


If you find it difficult to view the above image (and numbers) clearly, you might simply drag it to your desktop for viewing. Or temporarily switch to the Forum's "Blu" theme.