[R] question about running out of memory on R

[Johan Jackson]

Aha. Thanks Jim you rock. So my system is probably hitting that upper
limit of 2-3GB (a 32 bit issue I assume). Looks like I need to go 64
bit.

BTW, --max-mem-size looks like a command line command. Can I execute
something similar from within .Rprofile so that it does this each time
I start R?

Thanks again for your help,

Johan Jackson


On 11/5/07, jim holtman <jholtman at gmail.com> wrote:
> Even when it does start using virtual memory (which you never want it
> to do from a performance standpoint), there is still the physical
> limitation (e.g., a 2-3GB on Windows depending on how you have it
> configured) that you can not exceed.  Also the maximum memory is set
> to:
>
> --max-mem-size=N
> (Windows only) Specify a limit for the amount of memory to be used
> both for R objects and working areas. This is set by default to the
> smaller of 1.5Gb24 and the amount of physical RAM in the machine, and
> must be between 32Mb and 3Gb.
>
> This is a parameter on the startup command.  On my machine I have 2GB
> and let it default to 1.5GB.  This number should be less than the
> physical memory on your system.  This is what is "runs out of".
>
>
>
> On 11/5/07, Johan Jackson <johan.h.jackson at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hi all,
> >
> > R newbie, but have been reading the boards and learning lots. I have
> > read all documents & list-serve responses I could about R and memory
> > but still no answer.
> >
> > QUESTION:
> >
> > When the sizes of your objects exceeds your available RAM, R switches
> > to Virtual Memory right? If so, why does it so often run out of memory
> > and return an "unable to allocate XXX KB" error shortly after
> > switching to virtual memory when there is PLENTY of virtual memory to
> > be had (I think)?
> >
> > I have noticed this on both my mac and my pc, so it doesn't seem to be
> > OS specific.
> >
> > Any help in understanding this would be most appreciated!
> >
> >
> >  - J Jackson
> >
> > ______________________________________________
> > R-help at r-project.org mailing list
> > https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help
> > PLEASE do read the posting guide http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html
> > and provide commented, minimal, self-contained, reproducible code.
> >
>
>
> --
> Jim Holtman
> Cincinnati, OH
> +1 513 646 9390
>
> What is the problem you are trying to solve?
>