Connectix RAM Doubler
Never run out of RAM Again
For a quick look at Connectix, check out the previous article about the Connectix QuickCam.
Connectix unveiled RAM Doubler at the 1994 Macworld Expo San Francisco. As the name suggest, RAM Doubler increased the available RAM by a factor of two. Unlike other products, RAM Doubler actually worked.
You’re probably saying, “Why would you buy software to double your RAM? Just buy extra RAM.” Unfortunately, RAM was expensive at the time. For example, an 8 MB stick cost $300. So, paying $99 to double your RAM was pretty cost-effective.
To explain how RAM Doubler worked, here is a quote from the Chicago Tribune:
The trick, explained technicians at Connectix, lies in using three separate techniques to enhance the size of random access memory, or RAM.
First, the software makes sure that each application doesn't request more memory than it really needs. Second, the software compresses data held in memory so that it takes less space. Third, it can swap this compressed data to the hard drive.
In effect, the software uses ultrafast RAM space in place of the hard-drive storage that is used when Macs are set for virtual memory, a common tactic for solving memory shortages.
I also discovered a video demonstrating how RAM Doubler worked.
RAM Doubler was very popular when it was released. According to an article in TidBITS, “The software hit of Macworld SF was definitely Connectix’s RAM Doubler. Roy McDonald, Connectix’s president, said that they sold about 3,000 copies at the show, and about another 3,000 through normal channels. Considering that RAM Doubler shipped the day of the show, that’s not too shabby.”
Here is a blurb from a review from the May 1994 issue of Music Technology:
Because RAM Doubler is, obviously, doing a few calculations behind the scenes you may notice a very slight drop in performance on slower Macs. I must confess I didn't have any speed problems, but then I was using a Quadra. Generally, however, I'd suggest that the benefits outweigh the occasional time lag.
Because of the way that RAM Doubler works, if you only ever run one program at a time it may not give you much of an advantage. If you want to edit single, large sample files, you'll still get an Out Of Memory error. RAM Doubler is most useful for people who want to have several applications open at once. If you would like use your sequencer while still having instant access to three, four or more other applications but don't have enough RAM to load them all. Doubler is for you.
Unfortunately, once Apple added virtual memory to their systems, RAM Doubler became obsolete. Connectix released a RAM Doubler for Windows in 1995, but was not as popular as the Mac version.
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Fantastic article! Thank you for yet another wonderful visit to the golden era.
Another trip down memory lane for me. I definitely had RAM Doubler installed. It was indispensable!