Photoshop CS on XP Memory Caching

JA
Posted By
Jeff_Anduza
Feb 6, 2004
Views
347
Replies
15
Status
Closed
Does anyone have a solution for this:

When Photoshop is running on my machine Photoshop will start caching memory pages. The system will stutter as a result of this (i.e. mouse sticks at regular 2 second intervals, performance meter idles at 12% instead of the normal 0%, and any sound skips at those intervals). The duration of these caching episodes can be anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes.

I have found that if I shut down Photoshop, the system instantly goes back to normal. Once I restart Photoshop the system is fine for sometime, but the caching will start again. The number of documents or applications open does not affect this. Shutting any other applications or processes will not stop it.

It does seems that if I do not switch applications, then this does not occur as often.

Here is my system:
Intel Pentium 4, 2.40GHz, 2GB RAM, 80GB HD (80% free), secondary 40GB HD (70% free) used as scratch disk, 9800 Radeon Pro 128MB
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DM
dave_milbut
Feb 6, 2004
turn the allocated memory down to about 50% in photoshop. turn off background thumbnail creation and high quality thumbs.
JA
Jeff_Anduza
Feb 6, 2004
When you say "background thumbnail creation" is that the same as "Allow Background Processing" in the File Browser Prefs?

If so, it’s already off.

High Quality Previews option is also off.

The allocated memory is at 25%, that was the first thing I checked.

Photoshop is still doing that background caching.

sigh.
JM
Jason Murray – The Great One
Feb 6, 2004
With those specs, you should not have a problem. Mine are similar (Xeon, not P4) and I am really fine. I must add the I have HT though. I guess this did not help.

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When you say "background thumbnail creation" is that the same as "Allow
Background Processing" in the File Browser Prefs?
If so, it’s already off.

High Quality Previews option is also off.

The allocated memory is at 25%, that was the first thing I checked.
Photoshop is still doing that background caching.

sigh.
DM
dave_milbut
Feb 6, 2004
The allocated memory is at 25%, that was the first thing I checked.

bump it up to 50% and see if it’s any better.
CC
Chris_Cox
Feb 6, 2004
If allow background processing is off, and the file browser isn’t open – then Photoshop isn’t doing anything in the background.

So, I don’t understand what you’re seeing.
JA
Jeff_Anduza
Feb 9, 2004
Chris,

What I am experiencing is this — my system is caching/writing huge memory pages. I know this from looking at the performance monitor (at control panels>administrative tools>performance).

The system stutters for some time during this caching.

What I have discovered is that closing Photoshop will stop the caching and the system returns to excellent performance.

It may not be a Photoshop issue. It’s just that closing Photoshop stops it, and it does not happen (at least not yet) when Photoshop is not running.
CC
Chris_Cox
Feb 10, 2004
That would normally mean that you have Photoshop’s memory percentage set too high, or that some other application wants a LOT of RAM and is paging Photoshop out of RAM.

The first thing to try is reducing Photoshop’s memory percentage to 75% or less.

As for other apps forcing Photoshop to be paged out – I don’t know. You need to figure out what other application you’re running that is sucking up so much RAM.
JA
Jeff_Anduza
Feb 10, 2004
Chris,

I have tried many different memory percentages for Photoshop (see the entire thread). The caching issue occurs even when Photoshop is the only application(I kill every unnecessary process as well).

It must be something in the OS. I think this forum may not be able to solve this, but thank you for your time.
AP
Alec_Pytlowany
Feb 10, 2004
I have similar problems using XP Pro and have followed the above suggestions without success. PS CS just runs slow on my Dual CPU, 1 GB RAM system with the Patch Tool slower than v7, and the Move Tool pretty much useless as it is incredibly slow on 40+ MB image files.

Today my desktop stopped working while running a Plug In, requiring a reboot and losing all my work.

PS CS also runs as slow on my single CPU laptop running XP Home but I haven’t tested it with as many tools and filters as my desktop.

V7 on both runs great and does not use the Page Filing that CS does and with v7, I had my memory allocation for PS 7 much higher, up to 85%. With CS I’ve tested it from 50% to 85% and have settled on 65%. But even with 40 MB 8 bit files, CS bogs down and then bogs down my entire computer. v7 doesn’t.

I like some features of CS but I sure can’t use it much. I’m not computer literate enough to totally tweak by computers and shouldn’t need to as v7 works fine right out of the box on the same systems. Or Adobe needs to write very specific steps on how to get the most out CS.
CC
Chris_Cox
Feb 10, 2004
Alec – please don’t add to an unrelated topic. This topic was about a very specific problem, which isn’t even close to what you’re describing. You need to look at the existing topics about CS being slow — it is most likely due to a problem on your system, but there are some unexplained slowdowns that we’re still looking into.
JA
Jeff_Anduza
Feb 18, 2004
I found the solution:

The problem was with virtual memory, specifically the paging file was fragmented.

This was not an issue with applications other than Photoshop. (The OS would really write the page file when Photoshop was minimized).

This was fixed by changing the paging file’s location from my main drive to my scratch drive, and then back to the main drive.

In addition I changed the size of the page file from 1.5 times RAM to 2 times RAM (3GB to 4GB).

The entire system improved, dramatically, but I never would have noticed without Photoshop running. Hope this helps.

Microsoft had this article available:
< http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/expertzone/columns/mcfedr ies/03june16.asp>
DM
dave_milbut
Feb 18, 2004
I haven’t locked down my win swap file since 9x. XP seems to do fine handling it on it’s own. Nice article.
JJ
Jay Jhabrix
Feb 19, 2004
Does W2K handle the swap file the same was XP does or is there a difference?

Cheers…

JJ
SB
Scott_Byer
Feb 19, 2004
They handle their paging files the same way by default.

-Scott
JJ
Jay Jhabrix
Feb 20, 2004
Thanks Scott….

Cheers…

JJ

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