Ram memory allocation for maya?

[f2k]

i have an intel pendium iv/1.6gb mhz cpu, ati fireGL 8800 video card, 1 gb ddr ram memory, and 60gb hd.
yet maya utilizes all cpu power but only about a quarter of availale ram memory (290mb at top) even when it's rendering a scene slowly.

i am new to "pc world" from mac. with mac, it's possible to allocate ram memory for applications.
does maya allow users to maximize its ram memory usage? and where on pc can i go to change ram memory allocation?

thanks for help!
f. : )

[user_deleted]

I think it has to do with the OS you are using. If you are on win2k/xp then I don' think you can manually allocate memory.

As long as you disk doesn't thrash then the extra memory is no needed by maya.
eg. rendering

[deke-kincaid]

Maya will use as much memory as it needs. If it isn't using the entire 1 gig of ram then it doesnt need it. Even with the old macos 9 if you allocate the 1 gig of ram to one app it didnt necessarily use all 1 gig of it. Even though it would tie up that 1 gig of ram so no other app could use it. Windows works similar to Mac osX where it grabs the ram that it needs when it needs it and gives ram back when it doesnt need it(after you finish rendering for example).

[f2k]

thanks for the info!
f. : )

[f2k]

thank you for the info!
f. : )