Will adding 2GB of RAM help?

BD
Posted By
Benny_D
Jul 3, 2007
Views
281
Replies
8
Status
Closed
Hi all,
I have CS3 and have 2GB of RAM. It works well, but I am always looking for some way to get things going a bit quicker.

Is it worth the extra outlay and add another 2GB of RAM to speed things up a bit? Or doesn’t it make too much difference?
TIA
Ben
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M
MisterOwl
Jul 3, 2007
On Jul 3, 11:41 am, wrote:
Hi all,
I have CS3 and have 2GB of RAM. It works well, but I am always looking for some way to get things going a bit quicker.

Is it worth the extra outlay and add another 2GB of RAM to speed things up a bit? Or doesn’t it make too much difference?

If you’re using a non-64-bit OS, like the vanilla flavored Windows XP, 2 additional GB of ram will help a little bit, but be aware that due to some bizarre voodoo with how XP works, your machine will only "see" 3GB of the 4GB you have installed. There is a hack out there (google "3GB switch") that supposedly helps, but after doing it I noticed no real increase in performance. Hopefully somebody more knowledgeable than me will be able to help more.

Long story short, if you have the money, it can’t hurt. But if you want to feel the *full* effect of doubling your RAM, you’ll need to do a little homework to make it as effective as possible. FWIW, my work machine has 4GB (and vanilla XP Pro) and my home machine has 2GB (same OS), and I have detected no noticable difference between the two when I work on files between them. Of course, your mileage may vary.

Good luck!
J
MB
Michael_Brower
Jul 3, 2007
If you have a 32bit operating system, it can only address the first 3GB of memory. If you are running Windows, you’ll have to set the 3GB switch to get Photoshop to read anything above 2GB. You’ll need a 64bit OS and processor to read the whole 4GB though.
BE
Bob_E._Warren
Jul 3, 2007
Where would that ‘3GB switch’ be found?
Thanks!
BD
Benny_D
Jul 3, 2007
Thanks Michael for the info.
I am using a 32bit machine.
I will get some RAM prices to see if it will be worth the outlay. Ben
C
chrisjbirchall
Jul 3, 2007
Where would that ‘3GB switch’ be found?

XP Pro. Do a search on the Microsoft Web site and read (and heed) the warnings before jumping in!
MD
Michael_D_Sullivan
Jul 3, 2007
The 3GB switch isn’t just XP Pro; works in Home, too.
DM
dave_milbut
Jul 4, 2007
< http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/PAE/PAE mem.mspx>
JS
Jeff_Schewe
Jul 5, 2007
But regardless the answer is yes…even if Photoshop can only use the first 2 gigs, that leaves 2 gigs for use by the system and other apps like Bridge.

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