RAM

[mabcomp]

The Korg PA5X arranger keyboard comes equipped with 4 GB of RAM. This RAM is used for loading and managing samples, sounds, and other performance-related data.

Adding extra RAM could potentially speed up some processes, particularly if the system frequently utilizes all the available RAM and starts using slower storage as virtual memory. However, in many embedded systems like the PA5X, the amount of RAM is often fixed and not user-upgradable due to hardware design constraints. The performance is more likely limited by the CPU and the overall system architecture rather than just the amount of RAM.

To improve the loading times and overall performance, Korg would need to optimize the OS and firmware rather than just adding more RAM. As an end-user, there is usually little you can do to upgrade the RAM in such specialized hardware.

If you experience long loading times, ensuring the system software is up-to-date can sometimes help, as manufacturers often release updates that optimize performance and reduce load times.

[chelsea4023]

Hi,
I wasn't actually aware of this fact but I do have two laptops and a Desktop P.C.(all quite old) with Windows 10 on them. I upgraded them all to 16Gb Ram when I first got them over five years ago.

I also have the Korg Nautilus 88 which (I believe) has quite dated hardware inside (e.g. it takes over 3 minutes to load up and is the current top of the range Korg workstation).
Chris

[Nemik]

All 32-bit operating systems have a 4GB RAM limit.
Unless Korg change for 64-bit OS, adding more RAM is pointless, because will not recognize by OS.

[AntonySharmman]

Actually in Pa5X maximum User Samples plus localized samples mentioned memory , is lower speed Nand Ram of motherboard that hosts
the whole samples loaded in Pa5X nothing to do with real ECL Ram.

Streaming from disk method (DFD) that was applied since Pa3X age for factory samples , is dropping a portion of samples (preloading)
into Real ECL very fast Ram that is capable of real time reproduction of samples (>100 times faster than Nand or SSD memory ).

In this ECL real Ram that is less than 2 GB , all Pa5X factory samples (15Gb) plus 4GB of capable user memory plus localized samples memory
(used in Musikant/Oriental versions ) are dropping their first little portion of samples , plus all required OS Linux system files and preserved Ram.
Actually Nand Ram of motherboard in Pa5X acts as SSD and all are saved there and nothing in mSD or virtual 1GB Korg Disk that are
working only as storage media.

This is an entirely different architecture from WIN/MAC to compare with , user can't alter anything all are fixed and only Pa developers will decide
of what would alter via major OS Update like they did in Pa4X Next that provided for first time streaming method for user samples and as
they did in Pa1000 latest OS , where localized memory portion was provided and added to users samples capacity !

Hardware is always fixed and nothing will ever change , only Users or Localized space redistribution of existing fixed on board Nand & ECL Ram.



Hope this helps

[JagiChan]

Actually in Pa5X maximum User Samples plus localized samples mentioned memory , is lower speed Nand Ram of motherboard that hosts
the whole samples loaded in Pa5X nothing to do with real ECL Ram.

Streaming from disk method (DFD) that was applied since Pa3X age for factory samples , is dropping a portion of samples (preloading)
into Real ECL very fast Ram that is capable of real time reproduction of samples (>100 times faster than Nand or SSD memory ).

In this ECL real Ram that is less than 2 GB , all Pa5X factory samples (15Gb) plus 4GB of capable user memory plus localized samples memory
(used in Musikant/Oriental versions ) are dropping their first little portion of samples , plus all required OS Linux system files and preserved Ram.
Actually Nand Ram of motherboard in Pa5X acts as SSD and all are saved there and nothing in mSD or virtual 1GB Korg Disk that are
working only as storage media.

This is an entirely different architecture from WIN/MAC to compare with , user can't alter anything all are fixed and only Pa developers will decide
of what would alter via major OS Update like they did in Pa4X Next that provided for first time streaming method for user samples and as
they did in Pa1000 latest OS , where localized memory portion was provided and added to users samples capacity !

Hardware is always fixed and nothing will ever change , only Users or Localized space redistribution of existing fixed on board Nand & ECL Ram.



Hope this helps

Antony, you always have been impressive with your vast knowledge on SW/HW topics. Hats off to you Sir.

I am in the automotive industry and the IVI (In Vehicle Infotainment)/DID (Driver Info Display) etc., that we develop and design are based on SoC's (System On Chip) and they have very little real ECL ram compared to the so called "NAND / SSD RAM". You can read the datasheet's from some SoC manufacturers and you'll realize what we are saying.

For those who are not conversant, ECL stands for "Emitter Coupled Logic"; and the RAM that is made of this kind of logic is called ECL RAM. This is the fastest RAM available as on date; however it is way too expensive and it has to be used judiciously. The RAM in a laptop or PC is of this type. ECL needs to be powered on continuously and complex circuits are needed to retain the data.

The NAND memory is kind of flash and it is quiet cheap. You could get a TeraByte of this memory for the fraction of price of an ECL RAM.

As Antony rightly mentioned, a ECL is used for realtime data processing, which in this case happens to be sound. To ensure real-time playback and processing, ECL RAM is used for buffering and the NAND is used for storage.

The real ECL RAM or NAND cannot be upgraded because it is fixed in the SoC and the SoC selection is done during design of the HW. That is exactly why Korg has provided the USB/SD card interface, so that we can store our data without limits.