Guidelines for Allocating RAM for Solver and Element Data
The default values for RAM allocation for the block solver and for element data are minimal values. If your machine has sufficient RAM and swap space available, you may be able to improve the performance significantly by increasing RAM allocation above the default values.
If you decide to use values other than the defaults, you can generally improve performance by following these guidelines:
• For a static or prestress analysis with the direct solver, block solver RAM should not exceed one-half of your machine RAM. In this case, the RAM allocation for element data has no effect and the default value is the ideal choice.
• For a static or prestress analysis with the iterative solver, block solver RAM and the RAM allocation for element data together should not exceed three-quarters of your machine RAM. A recommended starting point is to allocate one-tenth of your machine RAM for your block solver and one-half of your machine RAM for element data.
• For a modal, prestress modal, or buckling analysis, block solver RAM and the RAM allocation for element data together should not exceed one-half of your machine RAM. A recommended starting point is to allocate one-quarter of your machine RAM for the block solver and one-quarter for element data.
• Block solver RAM and the RAM allocation for element data together should never exceed three-quarters of your machine RAM.
You can find specific information about the block solver RAM and the RAM allocation for element data in the element calculations section of the study/study.pas file, located in the directory for output files.
To set solver RAM allocation, refer to
Guidelines for Setting Solram.