RAM for Everquest

[ceebones]

Noob here wondering if I can run EQWIN 2 on my system. I have seen all the ram requirements but I need it broke down (sorry not up on all the computer lingo lol).
I have a 2.53Ghz P4 with only 768 RAM. I have a Gforce 5500XT 128mb graphics card which plays EQ single session just fine. I don't know how running two sessions at the same time wil react. Please advise.

Thanks !

[Lax]

It's a matter of some pretty simple math. Your 768MB of RAM is going to be the limiting factor here, because a) EQ takes up a lot of RAM, b) the operating system takes up some RAM, and c) if you're like other people, you also have other programs running. So lets pretend you've used 128MB for the operating system and background programs (maybe an IM client or email, or a browser, and this is pretty conservative), leaving you with 640MB free. Now, divide that by the number of sessions you want to run. 2? Okay, divide by 2. 640/2 is 320. That's the absolute highest amount of RAM you can use per session before you run out of RAM. It's nearly impossible to get EQ to only take that much RAM if you have all expansions. In order to do it, you HAVE to turn off all graphics settings. Low textures, only the luclin models you need to sit on a horse or whatever, no complex sky, dynamic lighting off, etc. Even then, it's going to be close. An expansion or two ago, it took roughly 300MB just to log into the game past character select, and then it went up after walking around a zone as more textures loaded.

So basically, it's going to be very hard to run 2 without running out of RAM. The consequence of running out of RAM is some hard drive chugging at possibly inopportune times, and particularly when zoning or switching sessions (or if you try to load up other programs, etc). You will still be able to launch and play both sessions, but you will take performance penalties by running out of RAM. If you want to know what to upgrade on that system in the future to aid in multiboxing, I would definitely increase the RAM first.

[ceebones]

Thanks for the info.... I only a 2 slots for memory and can have a Max of 2gig. I currently have a 256 and a 512 stick. So, I need to have at least 1.5gig to operate 2 sessions with all other background programs to play with any type of consistancy? Just trying to understand it correctly.

[fearless]

Personally I recommend 500mb of ram per session running at minimum options. Before DOD came out that was enough to work with, after DOD that may need to be bumped up a bit.

[Lax]

1GB as fearless mentions is probably fine, and 1.5gb would offer you plenty of breathing room for two sessions, regardless of your settings.