[R] mmap error on macbook pro

[Shyamasree Saha [shs]]

Dear List,

I am trying to read some files using read.csv and total size of those files are 3.99 GB. I am using MacBook Pro with 4GB RAM(snow leopard). I also tried to run a chunk from those files and altogether the size was 1.33 GB. But every time I was getting the following error

R(1200) malloc: *** mmap(size=16777216) failed (error code=12)
*** error: can't allocate region
*** set a breakpoint in malloc_error_break to debug

I managed to run smaller chunks (400MB) and I also saved the object. But problem is when I try to load some of those objects(which is not more than 1.5 GB altogether), I get same error again. Can someone please help? why am I getting this error? does R need more space than the actual file size? I may buy new machine if its something related to RAM size. but if it is some R problem then it will be very useless to buy new machine. So, I really need to know why this is happening.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

regards, 
Shyamasree