I currently use a Dell 460 workstation with dual Xenon 3.2 processors running Windows XP pro with 4gig of RAM.
I work on 2 gig files every day and my machine is so slow. What type of machine do people use to work on large files for large format printing? SGI machines? Something capable of 8gig or more of RAM.
As far as I know, you can’t get a Dell workstation with more than 4 gigs of RAM. And Windows XP pro 32 bit can’t utilize more than 3.5 gig of RAM. Anyone else have a solution?
Back when I built my box, dual Athlon/Opteron boards were available that could use a lot more RAM than most people could afford. I assume they’re still out there. Your options for a 32 bit OS include server 2003—as long as you’re using CS2. I have heard that CS3 will not install on the Server edition.
Or Vista for that matter, the memory support for OSX and Vista are about the same, just check which addition you buy (some of the basic etc only support smaller amounts of ram. Given your already working with a windows based system this would be the cheeper way to go than to buy a completly new system and OS and Software.
I would check that the /3Gb is in your start up files so you are really takinging advantage of the 4 gig at the moment. Even with 2 gig files + os +PS you shouldn’t really be topping out your memory too much. You might find better performance increases from raiding your work drives, increasing the load times and scratch drive speeds for a much lower cost.
Windows Vista Edition 32-bit (x86) Windows 64-bit (x64) Windows Windows Vista Ultimate 4 GB 128 GB Windows Vista Enterprise 4 GB 128 GB Windows Vista Business 4 GB 128 GB Windows Vista Home Premium 4 GB 16 GB Windows Vista Home Basic 4 GB 8 GB Windows Vista Starter 1 GB N/A
Excuse me for interrupting but I have the same question as the poster on a much smaller scale.
Running Lightroom and CS3 I am bogging down with an old Pentium lap top. I am going to purchase a new lap top this weekend.
It will be my work computer as well so they only purchase Think Pads, and it will have to run Windows XP. Does anybody have a recommendation on a model? What Processor, Ram, and hard drive space would be optimum?
What is the budget for this laptop? For a Lenovo laptop that’s loaded for peak performance and a widescreen, I’ve priced one out at about $2400 that provides the following, with no warranty other than basic, so things like that you’d still have to tailor to your needs:
* Lenovo ThinkPad 16 Widescreen @ $2403.00 Intel Core 2 Duo T7700 (2.4GHz 800MHz 4MB L2 cache) Windows XP Professional 15.4-inch WSXGA+ TFT Panel (1680×1050) NVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M Graphics (128MB) – no option but this 4GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory 100GB 7200rpm Hard Drive (Larger capacities available but slower rpm) 8x Max Dual Layer DVD Recordable, Ultrabay Slim Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Integrated Bluetooth PAN (added option, nice to have I think) Battery: 9 cell Li-Ion (more running time than standard 6 cell)
Certainly you can pare down from that. Note for peak performance with PS, a 2nd hard drive for a scratch disk is nice to have but actually hinders performance if you use an external Firewire or USB2 drive. And Lenovo doesn’t offer any laptops with 2nd internal hard drive options, so I suggest going with the fastest performing drive rather than the largest capacity one. If the drive runs low on space, that’s where a nice USB2 external drive is handy.
