Question about RAM and oblivion crashing

[scot]

Hello, I play oblivion for 5 years and never had any major problem, I upgraded my computer some months ago and it can run any game on ultra though my RAM is still 4 GB as I use a 32 system for now.My oblivion works smoothly with it´s max settings but it´s starting to crash randomly.It´s not mod conflicts as I cleaned oblivion and removed all the mods I wasn´t using, mostly I only use better textures, better cities and all the unique landscape and I already use them all in a time where my oblivion didn´t crashed at all so no problem with mods.I noticed that my oblivion uses 1.5 GB RAM and since my 32 system only uses 3.2 I was wonder if it crashes due to the lack of RAM?I use gamebooster and the game lasts longer, I lowered my resolution although I shouldn´t need to and it lasts longer but still with random crashes.If Im allways in a cave it doesn´t crash at all it´s mostly in exteriors or places with lots of stuff so I suspect it´s the game trying to use more RAM and there isn´t any so it crashes.Do you think RAM is the problem?The game is playable but gets annoying having to start it each 10/20 minutes.From brindle village to chorrol took me from 2 hours XD Edited October 31, 2011 by scot

[bben46]

I doubt if RAM is your problem. You are already maxed out on ram for a 32 bit system. Any more than about 3.25G will not be used no matter what you do. 32 bits just cannot address any more. The game itself is maxed out at 2G Ram. To use any more than that you will need a Large Address Aware patch - be sure to get one that will work with a 32 bit and NOT one specifically for 64 bit. Just remember that the operating system, and anything you have running in the background will use RAM also.

 

Start by shutting down any background processes not needed to play - VOIP, instant messaging, Skype, Printer programs (HP is bad about forcing background programs onto you)

 

Auto defrag programs, Windows indexing, and auto update programs running in the background will cause crashes.

Here is a link to Bben's Crash Help

http://wiki.tesnexus.com/index.php/Oblivion_crash_help

[scot]

Yes I do use gamebooster wich shuts down unnecessary programs I only let antivirus running, but I rather start the game in normal mode I don´t like to use gamebooster as I fear messing my computer in case the game freezes and I have no choice but restarting the computer without going to normal mode.I will try that large address aware patch.

 

My specs are: Intel® Core2 Quad CPU Q6700 @ 2.66GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.7GHz

GTX 560 TI

4GB RAM

 

All drivers are updated.

 

 

EDIT:I did found a 4GB patch but it actually made the game worse.Been looking for the large address aware patch and can´t find where to download, is it possible to send me the link?Thank you

Edited October 31, 2011 by scot

[bben46]

As Oblivion is not played on line you can shut down the Antivirus safely. However if you do, I recommend rebooting before going online again.

Norton and McAfee are notorious for being space and processor hogs. While Microsoft Security Essentials is much smaller and works just about as well without getting in the way - and it is FREE. :thumbsup:

 

If the game freezes while running it will not affect Gamebooster. Just check to see whether it is running or not and set it to either game or non game when you restart.

 

Some AV programs do not allow shut down for any reason. Most will default to scan on every read and write to your HD which will slow things down a bit. Most AV programs do allow you to set exceptions to the always scan rule. Setting the game to be an exception can make some difference in speed.

 

The 4Gb patch is an LAA patch. But you probably need the 3Gb as it is intended for 32 bit games. This allows the game to use up to 3Gb, instead of the default up to 2Gb. But only works if you actually have 3Gb available that is not already being claimed by the Operating system or other programs. That means that everything else MUST run in about .25Gb or about 256Mb of ram to use the entire 3Gb for the game.

Be sure to read the instructions.

http://tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=23254

[scot]

Thank you :) I had microsoft security essental, my father said it was really good but I had this Qooqle thing that hijacked my webpages and I couldn´t remove it with MSE so I switched to AVG and manage to clean my computer and remove the malware, I also have advanced system care wich keeps my computer clean, the only things in my internal memory drive wich is 500GB and only uses about 100 GB x) are the operating system obviously, modding tools and the advanced system care, games and steam goes to 1TB external memory drives so lack of memory space is out of option as Im a memory freak and allways keep lots of memory free.I downloaded the 3GB mod but I can´t find the boot.ini :S I tried "search program and files" and only shows boots nifs and textures from oblivion data.Where can I find the boot.ini?I use windows 7.

 

 

EDIT:Found something but didn´t test it yet, in the system´s advanced options there is the perfomance settings then advanced settings and the virtual memory options, my 1TB where oblivion is installed says none, will change it to system managed helps?

Edited October 31, 2011 by scot

[Rydan]

There is no boot.ini in Windows 7. Just go to the Start menu and in the search box type CMD. When "cmd.exe" appears, right click on it, choose "run as administrator" and the command prompt will appear. Now enter the following command: BCDEDIT /set increaseuserva 2900

 

Restart your computer and apply the 3gb patch.

 

Edit: to restore the default Windows setting, use: BCDEDIT /set increaseuserva 2048

Edited October 31, 2011 by Rydan

[scot]

There is no boot.ini in Windows 7. Just go to the Start menu and in the search box type CMD. When "cmd.exe" appears, right click on it, choose "run as administrator" and the command prompt will appear. Now enter the following command: BCDEDIT /set increaseuserva 2900

 

Restart your computer and apply the 3gb patch.

 

Edit: to restore the default Windows setting, use: BCDEDIT /set increaseuserva 2048

 

 

Manage to do that but I got a warning message about kernel o whatever it is, is it dangerous?.Couldn´t get the 3GB mod to work but found a 4 GB patch, tried the game for a bit and it´s probably better, wish I didn´t have to change the CMD.

[Rydan]

Couldn´t get the 3GB mod to work but found a 4 GB patch, tried the game for a bit and it´s probably better, wish I didn´t have to change the CMD.

 

To restore the original settings just repeat the procedure with cmd using this command instead: BCDEDIT /set increaseuserva 2048

[AlfredTetzlaff]

Hi,

Better textures you've said in your OP, are you using Quarls?

If so you might actually run out of Video RAM. Had the same issue when using Quarls (the big one :) )

Crashes always after a few minutes, especially in areas affected by UL and Better Cities ;)

1 GB VRAM was not enough for that package :)

So maybe lay off the textures a bit and see if that helps.

[scot]

Hi,

Better textures you've said in your OP, are you using Quarls?

If so you might actually run out of Video RAM. Had the same issue when using Quarls (the big one :) )

Crashes always after a few minutes, especially in areas affected by UL and Better Cities ;)

1 GB VRAM was not enough for that package :)

So maybe lay off the textures a bit and see if that helps.

 

 

I don´t wish to stop using better textures my specs are goo enough to run any game I should´t need to do that :( I use other better textures caves and plants and food.I don´t remember but I think I managed to use qarl´s textures without problems before.Recently I made a mod that remakes the caves and they have lots of details and don´t crash at all, though they are interiors and don´t load any area.Yesterday been playing, and didn´t crash after I changed the CMD and applied 4 gb patch to oblivion exe and OBSE.Today I´ll try to play more and come back here to tell the results.

 

 

UPDATE: Still crashes :(

Edited November 1, 2011 by scot