Lost memory in CS3

PP
Posted By
Philip Procter
Oct 26, 2007
Views
379
Replies
3
Status
Closed
I installed CS3 into a windows xp machine equiped with 2gb of RAM (2x1GB). The board can hold 4Gb maximum 4x1GB). Photoshop reported about 1.6GB RAM available, whcih seemed reasonable.

I just installed another 1GB stick. Windows reports the extra 1GB, no problem, but Photoshop now says there is about 1.8GB RAM available. Task mamnager shows 2.6GB available.

Anybody have any idea why isn’t Photoshop reporting and allowing me to use that missing 0.8GB?

Thanks,

2p
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B
Boskey
Oct 26, 2007
"Philip Procter" wrote in message
I installed CS3 into a windows xp machine equiped with 2gb of RAM (2x1GB). The board can hold 4Gb maximum 4x1GB). Photoshop reported about 1.6GB RAM available, whcih seemed reasonable.

I just installed another 1GB stick. Windows reports the extra 1GB, no problem, but Photoshop now says there is about 1.8GB RAM available. Task mamnager shows 2.6GB available.

Anybody have any idea why isn’t Photoshop reporting and allowing me to use that missing 0.8GB?

Thanks,

2p

http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowledgebase/index.cfm?id=3200 05 Please read the "How Photoshop allocates RAM" and "New capabilities with 64-bit processors" sections.
While this link is for Photoshop CS2, but the memory issue is the same in CS3.
B
babaloo
Oct 27, 2007
A 32 bit OS can only address 2gbs of RAM. Micrsosoft will say the limit is 3gb for XP and 3.5 for Vista but for practical purposes that is not true. Microsoft will say that the OS will actually load into that unreported RAM but in fact there is no difference in performance, as you have seen, by going beyond 2gbs of RAM with a 32 bit OS. Vista ready boost does not work–most subjective tests show no improvement or actual slowing of the computer, and Vista is already slower than XP for most operations. Theoretically a 64 bit OS can address more RAM than you can possibly shovel into your motherboard. However many programs are not compatible with 64 bit OSes (particularly CD/DVD authoring, Video editing and multimedia, anti viral) and many peripherals lack 64 bit drivers or the 64 bit drivers are not as functional as 32 bit drivers.
For Photoshop key issues are whether drivers are available for color calibrator, printer, scanner etc. CS3 runs on 64 bit Windows XP or Vista. If you really need more RAM, as opposed to thinking you do or being obsessed by the need to fill empty DIMM slots, install 64 bit Vista (which is acutally more polished than 64 bit XP ever was) in a dual boot configuration and experiment.
S
SpaceGirl
Oct 27, 2007
flambe wrote:
A 32 bit OS can only address 2gbs of RAM. Micrsosoft will say the limit is 3gb for XP and 3.5 for Vista but for practical purposes that is not true. Microsoft will say that the OS will actually load into that unreported RAM but in fact there is no difference in performance, as you have seen, by going beyond 2gbs of RAM with a 32 bit OS. Vista ready boost does not work–most subjective tests show no improvement or actual slowing of the computer, and Vista is already slower than XP for most operations. Theoretically a 64 bit OS can address more RAM than you can possibly shovel into your motherboard. However many programs are not compatible with 64 bit OSes (particularly CD/DVD authoring, Video editing and multimedia, anti viral) and many peripherals lack 64 bit drivers or the 64 bit drivers are not as functional as 32 bit drivers.
For Photoshop key issues are whether drivers are available for color calibrator, printer, scanner etc. CS3 runs on 64 bit Windows XP or Vista. If you really need more RAM, as opposed to thinking you do or being obsessed by the need to fill empty DIMM slots, install 64 bit Vista (which is acutally more polished than 64 bit XP ever was) in a dual boot configuration and experiment.

It WILL make some difference, but very much depends on your computer setup and whether you are using PhotoShop in isolation. If you are using PhotoShop + Illustrator heavily at the same time, 3Gb or more would make a difference. Windows would occupy some memory, and you can set PhotoShop to use 100% of what it sees.

But on the other hand Windows is terrible at memory management so will always be swapping to disk whatever you do, so I’d recommend (if you already have 2Gb RAM) is getting a 10kRPM or 15kRPM disk drive to use as dedicated scratch for PhotoShop, and turn off the scratch for all other drives. It will make a HUGE difference.

My second recommendation would be, if you are serious about graphics work (or any multimedia work), ditch the Windows machine all together and get a Mac. Windows is just terrible at all this stuff, you won’t regret the switch.

—

x theSpaceGirl (miranda)

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