Not enough memory to complete this operation.

[Luisdaballest]

I am getting the "Not enough memory to complete this operation" error message. Barely any DAX measures are used in this moodel, and the few DAX used is just IF statements. The data sources are 8 excel files, the heaviest file is 14 476 KB, the rest files don't go above 2 060 KB. I tried clearing the cache, increase Max number of simultaneous evaluations, increase Max memory used per Evaluation to the reccomended limits. Also tried increasing Max allowed MB . This report was made by a coworker, he is able to update it, but he has changed of department and now it is my job to update it. We both use a ThinkPad, and have almost the exact same specs except from the CPU. 

My specs: 

13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-1335U 1.30 GHz

RAM16.0 GB 

Windows 10 Enterprise 22H2

My coworker who also has a ThinkPad has the same RAM, but his CPU is a 13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1355U 1.70 GHz

Is upgrading my laptop the only viable option?

[danextian]

I encounter that sometimes for operations that I don't expect to consume at lof memory? Have you tried closing all opened Power BI windows then reopening the file you're struggling with?

[Shahabh786 · Accepted solution]

It sounds like you're running into a frustrating issue with the memory limitations in Power BI. Given the specifications you’ve shared, upgrading your laptop might not be the only solution, especially since your coworker is able to update the report with a similar setup. Here are a few things to consider:

1. CPU Performance: While the i7 in your coworker's laptop is more powerful than your i5, this typically affects processing speed rather than memory capacity. However, the i7 might handle certain operations more efficiently, which could help with memory management.

2. Data Model Optimization: Since the Excel files aren't particularly large, it’s possible the data model might need optimization. Check for any unnecessary columns or tables in the data model that can be removed. Also, consider using Power Query to pre-aggregate data before loading it into the model.

3. Evaluate Query Dependencies: Sometimes, even a few simple DAX measures can result in complex query plans, depending on how your data is structured. Ensure that your DAX queries are efficient and that there are no unnecessary calculations happening during data load.

4. Check Power BI Version: Ensure both you and your coworker are using the same version of Power BI. Sometimes, differences in software versions can cause performance discrepancies.

5. Other Technical Adjustments:

   • Page File Settings: Try increasing the page file size on your laptop, which can help if your system is running low on RAM.
   • Background Apps: Ensure there are no other heavy applications running in the background that might be consuming memory.

If the above steps don’t resolve the issue, would you be able to share the .pbix file with some sample data? You can mask any sensitive information or replace it with dummy data. This will allow us to take a closer look and provide more specific guidance on how to address the problem.

[Luisdaballest]

I had to redo some DAX formulas, I optimized 5 or 6 formulas until I was able to update the report myself.