RAM Doubler
review by Mel Miller, Alamo PC

How many times have you tried to open two or more programs simultaneously in Windows 3.x and received "Insufficient Memory" warning messages? Well, if you're like me, probably more often than you care to remember.

RAM Doubler is a software-only solution to memory management problems encountered in Windows, regardless of the amount of installed system RAM. Whether you have 4MB or 32MB of RAM, RAM Doubler will allow you to take full advantage of your installed memory. If you want or need to run several applications at once, then you are really going to love RAM Doubler for Windows.

How does it work?

RAM Doubler really doesn't double the amount of RAM available to your system, as its name suggests. What it does do, according to the manufacturer, is "double" certain "critical aspects" of windows memory. Windows does not do a very good job of managing free system resources and conventional memory. Conventional memory (the under 1MB area of system memory), is typically used for hardware drivers, DOS, and network software. Unfortunately, many windows applications that have VBX files (Visual Basic Extension) will load in this area, prompting the "Insufficient Memory" warning. RAM Doubler corrects the problem by moving network software and hardware device drivers out of this area freeing space for applications.

The second area that RAM Doubler impacts is system resources. Windows applications draw heavily on available system resources from memory areas that are fixed in size and are called heaps. Each program and its associated menus, icons, and windows eat up space in the relatively small heaps. Eventually, after opening and using two or more applications, you will reach a point where virtually all free system resources have been consumed, and attempts to open additional programs result in the "Insufficient Memory" message. RAM Doubler essentially doubles the size of these system resource heaps, preventing them from becoming depleted.

Finally, RAM Doubler efficiently compresses memory that has been recently used, but is not likely to be used again soon. Examples of this would be software used to start the computer or launch a program. This memory compression technique frees additional RAM for other applications.

What will it do for you?

With RAM Doubler you can use all of the available RAM that your system is capable of providing. You will be able to open all of your office suite applications, leave them open, and enjoy listening to a CD or read your e-mail at the same time.

I put RAM Doubler to the test by loading it on a 486 DX2 66mHz system running Windows for Workgroups with 16MB of RAM. During a normal session on this computer, I would typically be able to keep only two or perhaps three programs open at the same time before using up all available system resources. After installing RAM Doubler , I find I can now open as many as six programs before dipping below the 50% free system resources level. To check system resources levels, select About Program Manager from the Help menu in Program Manager.

Installation and Ease of Use

Installing the software was really slick. The program comes on a single 3.5 inch diskette and takes all of 15 seconds to install, no kidding! I didn't have to do anything else, and no changes were made to my autoexec.bat or config.sys files. Wouldn't it be great if everything we had to install were so easy.

Once installed, and after restarting Windows, you will see the "RAM Doubled" message in the lower right hand corner of your screen. If you encounter any problems or think that RAM Doubler has caused a conflict of some kind, you can disable it on start-up of Windows by holding down the escape key. There is also an uninstall option.

System Requirements

PC with a 386, 486, Pentium or equivalent processor, Windows 3.1 or 3.11, or Windows for Workgroups 3.11 (running in 386 enhanced mode), 4MB of RAM, 8MB recommended. Note: This program does not work with Windows 95 or Windows NT, and will require an update for Windows 95.

Compatibility

The manufacturer states that RAM Doubler works on "virtually all current PC systems and configurations," but that a few hardware and software combinations do not work with the program. The user is instructed to check the readme file on the diskette for a complete listing of compatibility issues discovered after the manual was printed. I discovered that Paradox 5.0 for Windows would not run after installing RAM Doubler. I called the technical support number and spoke to a very courteous and helpful technician who walked me through a number of steps, but all to no avail. Now, when I want to run Paradox, I must disable RAM Doubler, which is inconvenient but not unbearable.

Price, Manufacturer

RAM Doubler is available from local software vendors at prices ranging between $55 and $60. RAM Doubler is a product of the Connectix Corporation. Customer Service department: (800) 950-5880 or (415) 571-5100. Connectix, 2655 Campus Drive, San Mateo, CA 94403. It is on the World Wide Web at http://www.connectix.com The Web site contains at software patch that fixes dozens of compatibility problems.