Turbo Mem will defragment your RAM and will reclaim the free RAM other applications doesn't use, as well as accelerate applications using a "turbo-charge" method, which puts disk information in RAM for much faster access.
TurboMem will reclaim RAM from MacOS and applications, so that when the application you are currently using needs memory, it is available. This will improve computer performance and frequent slow-downs or "lag" periods.
MacOS X's RAM allocation system is dynamic, but Turbo Mem's system is much better: is is faster, since it tries to avoid at all costs virtual memory, and it is more intelligent, since it will take RAM from a background application when the foreground one needs some.
As soon as there isn't enough free RAM, Turbo Mem will defragment it and will automatically accelerate it "on-the-fly".
You can also ask Turbo Mem to "turbo-charge" an application. If you want to launch an application such as Photoshop or a recent game such as Deus Ex, just turbo-charge it with Turbo Mem and it'll have plenty of free RAM for a smooth executing. Turbo Mem will also automatically accelerate applications on-the-fly, on launch, for a smooth and fast execution, with less "watch" or "beach ball" cursors!
Turbo Mem has plenty of other great features, such as cache adjusting, defragmenting when reaching an "alarm" level or total RAM scrubbing.
Carbon?
TurboMem is a Carbon application. If you use MacOS X, it will run natively. If you use MacOS 8.6 or better, it will also run natively. You shouldn't worry about this.
Installation
TurboMem requires MacOS 8.6 or MacOS X 10.0. TurboMem is not compatible with the Public Beta of MacOS X.
If you want TurboMem to defragment your RAM when needed and to accelerate applications, you must keep it launched. You can place TurboMem in the Startup Items folder for MacOS 9 and you can drag it on the Login control panel for MacOS X.
Note! Do not change the RAM allocated to TurboMem. To work properly, you must leave the default settings. If you change them, TurboMem will not work properly.
Registration
TurboMem is the result of hours, days, weeks and months of hard work. That is why it is a Shareware.
The Shareware fee for TurboMem is just US $19.95. Considering the time TurboMem will save you, the $19.95 price is a bargain.
To register TurboMem, please visit:
http://www.macunicorn.com/register.htm
We will send to you a registration code for you within 48 hours to enter in the Enter Code dialog.
Instructions for use
Quick start
Launch TurboMem. It will display a registration dialog. Press "Not yet".
As soon as TurboMem is launched and as soon as the registration dialog is skipped, TurboMem will defragment your RAM and accelerate the front application.
Everytime an application is launched, closed or if an RAM alarm level is reached, TurboMem will defragment your RAM and accelerate on-the-fly the front application.
You don't have to do anything else. If an application reclaims more memory or if the free memory within the application goes under 10K, TurboMem will automatically give the application more memory.
Basic functions
In the File menu, choose "Show TurboMem". TurboMem will display the list of all the launched applications. Click on an application to have more info about it.
TurboMem will display a floating window, with the current RAM usage and the memory TurboMem can reclaim. It will also display more application-related info, as well as the launch time and launch location.
The CPU use time allows you to know how much CPU time an application used. For example, if an application is launched but inactive, TurboMem will not count it as CPU time. An application you launched in background can take quite a lot CPU power. TurboMem allows you to know what applications will use your CPU even in background. You can then quit the application(s), if you wish to do so. Since MacOS X distributes CPU power itself, the CPU power will always stay on "0 seconds" under MacOS X.
Since TurboMem tracks in real-time the memory status, it can be a great developer tool to see if your application has memory leaks.
The TurboMem window will display a RAM status indicator. If the status indicator becomes red, TurboMem couldn't free enough memory to maintain a stable and fast system. If this happens, quit an application or restart your computer.
Advanced functions
Even though TurboMem automatically defragments RAM when needed, you can defragment the RAM yourself at anytime. To do so, show the TurboMem window and click "Defrag RAM". The defragmentation will take more time then when TurboMem defragments the RAM automatically.
When there is not enough free RAM and when a defragmentation doesn't help a lot, or if a poorly written application filled your memory with memory leaks and temporary data, you need to scrub your RAM. Scrubbing your RAM will recover every free RAM data, will flush temporary data and will erase memory leaks. This is a "hard" defragment method, though, so it is best used before launching a game or a heavy app, or after quitting a heavy app.
To scrub your RAM, show the TurboMem window and click "Scrub RAM".
TurboMem will turbo-charge (accelerate) applications on-the-fly, when launched. However, the technology is more efficient if invoked using TurboMem. To do so, show the TurboMem window and click "Turbo-charge". TurboMem can charge any standard application but can also turbo-charge background applications.
Turbo-charge uses a lot of RAM and CPU power; make sure that you use it only when required (for heavy applications or games).
Cache tuning
Tuning your cache properly can greatly improve computer performance, even if, for each computer, a different setting is required. Since a reboot is required everytime you change your cache settings, even under MacOS X, large cache settings are perfect for fast computers.
To tune your cache, choose "Cache tuning" in the Tools menu. Please note that the RAM cache/Disk cache used by TurboMem and the cache memory used by the system are two different cache settings. TurboMem allows you to tune settings you cannot tune using MacOS.
Preferences
TurboMem has optimal settings by default, but your computer might work best with other settings than the default ones. To change TurboMem's preferences, choose "Preferences" in the Edit menu. All the functions are thoroughly explained there.
Enjoy is all we can say!
Disclaimer and copyright
TurboMem is Copyright ⌐2000-2001 Mac Unicorn Software.
Turbo-charge is Copyright ⌐2000-2001 Mac Unicorn Software.
Even if TurboMem is bug-free, we make no warranty whatsoever, either implied or express, as to its correct functioning. When using this software, the user assumes all responsibility for damages caused, directly or indirectly, by its use.
Thanks
We thank all our registered users, but many people offered their support and helped us to improve TurboMem. We worked on it more than 7 months before it was ready for prime time. We especially would like to thank RJ Matthews, for his very cool MacOS X icons.
Distribution
You can include TurboMem (unregistered version) on the Internet and on free CD-ROMs. Please note that if you do so, we would like you to warn us.
TurboMem is Shareware, which means that you are allowed to use it on a trial basis for up to 25 tries. After this period, if you want to continue using it, you are expected to pay the required Shareware fee.
How to contact us
If you wish to tell us how great Turbo Mem is, if you have a bug report or if you found an easter egg, send us an e-mail at:
turbomem@macunicorn.com
Version history
1.0.2
- Fixed a bug that caused sporadic garbage on the screen when some Kaleidoscope schemes were applied
- Added in the Preferences a function hiding the status message box when defragmeting or turbo-charging
- Slightly improved RAM defragmenting method, shouldn't cause a few Carbon-related crashes
- A few interface bugs fixed
- Updated MacOS X icons
1.0.1
- TurboMem will launch properly if VM is enabled and will not display the message "Change TurboMem's RAM allocation" anymore
- TurboMem won't display erratic lines on the screen anymore
- The real-time application information won't auto-hide when TurboMem is not the front application
- TurboMem now properly displays used/reclaimed memory under MacOS X
