MXL5: Macintosh System Memory Requirements

 Last reviewed: March 13, 1998
Article ID: Q139406
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a
  • Microsoft Excel for the Power Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a

SUMMARY

The amount of memory required by your Macintosh and by Microsoft Excel can vary depending on the following items:

  • The version of Microsoft Excel that you have installed: that is, Microsoft Excel for the Power Macintosh, Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh (68K), or Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh and Power Macintosh (a fat installation).
  • The type of installation (that is, whether you are running a shared installation across a network or a local installation)
  • The state of the Virtual Memory setting (it can either be On or Off)
  • The state of the RAM Doubler extension (it can either be On or Off)
  • The setting for the Preferred Size of Microsoft Excel (this option is set in the Get Info window)

MORE INFORMATION

The following table outlines the approximate memory requirements for your computer system and for Microsoft Excel under the given scenarios. 

                                                      Additional     Memory
  Type of    Version  Type of       Virtual  RAM      system memory  heap
  Macintosh  of Excel installation  Memory   Doubler  to run Excel   to run
Excel 
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Power Mac  Power    Local         Off      Off          3800K     10643K
   Power Mac  Power    Local         On       Off           350K     4096K
   Power Mac  Power    Local         Off      On            350K     4096K

   Power Mac  FAT      Local         Off      Off          3550K     9350K
   Power Mac  FAT      Local         On       Off           300K     2816K
   Power Mac  FAT      Local         Off      On            300K     2816K

   Power Mac  68K      Local         Off      Off           600K     2850K
   Power Mac  Power    Shared        Off      Off          3900K     10643K
   Power Mac  Power    Shared        On       Off          6800K     4096K
   Power Mac  Power    Shared        Off      On           6900K     4096K

   Power Mac  FAT      Shared        Off      Off          4000K     9350K
   Power Mac  FAT      Shared        Off      On           7000K     2816K
   Power Mac  FAT      Shared        On       Off          7000K     2816K
   Power Mac  68K      Shared        Off      Off          1300K     2816K

   68K        68K      Local         Off      Off           650K     2816K
   68K        68K      Shared        Off      Off           650K     2816K
NOTE: The number in the "Additional system memory to run Excel" column is the increase in the system heap after Microsoft Excel has been started on your computer. In most cases, the values listed in the "Memory Heap to Run Excel" column should be the default setting for the Preferred Size.

Note also that having Virtual Memory or RAM Doubler turned on will not greatly affect system memory usage on a 68K Macintosh or a Power Macintosh running Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh (not Power Macintosh); therefore, these scenarios are not shown in the table.

The large variation in system memory heap and Microsoft Excel memory heap on a Power Macintosh occurs because of the way program code is handled on these computers. For additional information on how virtual memory is handled on a Power Macintosh, please see the following article(s)in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q127084
   TITLE     : Power Mac Programs Require Less RAM with Virtual Memory

   ARTICLE-ID: Q120506
   TITLE     : How Virtual Memory Works on a Power Macintosh
RAM Doubler is manufactured by Connectix, a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.

Additional query words: 5.00 5.00a mac PowerMac application binary
Keywords : xlmac kbenv kbfaq
Version : MACINTOSH:5.0,5.0a
Platform : MACINTOSH

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Last reviewed: March 13, 1998
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