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photoshop ram allocation

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Cecil, Thanks for the info and for all the knowledge you bring to this forum. I have 4gb of ram now and will retest.
--
Greg Koop
 
Thanks for the info in this thread. I have 4 GBs of RAM & XP Pro and have ramped up the CS2 memory settings to the max 100%.

Now if I could only find a simple recipe for dummies in English as to how to set this 3gb switch.
 
Yes.... many thanks. Just going through the process of buying a new system and dealing with some debate that anything above 2GB is not usable
depending on which version of WinXP or Vista you have.

--


Newsy FZ20 user
http://newsy.smugmug.com

.
 
There are a number of situations where setting the 3GB switch can get you into serious trouble, even to the extent of having to re-install your operating system and all its applications from scratch. Admittedly, this doesn't happen often; but, why take any chances?
If you want to set the 3GB switch, do it THIS way:

As, Steve Bingham says . . .
-- Click on "Start"
-- Click on "Run"
-- Type "MSCONFIG" into the text box, and
-- Click on "OK"
-- Click on the "BOOT.INI" tab

You will find something that looks nearly like this . . .

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" fastdetect NoExecute=OptOut
NOTE: The line following [operating systems] is all on one line.

INSTEAD of simply adding the " 3GB" switch to the 'MS Win XP Pro' line, create a NEW line that is identical directly below it, adding " 3GB" as the FIRST switch (if there are any others set on your system). Your BOOT.INI file should look like this . . .
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" fastdetect NoExecute=OptOut

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Pro - 3GB" 3GB fastdetect NoExecute=OptOut

BTW: " fastdetect" prevents XP from bothering to look for a serial mouse and " NoExecute=OptOut" sets XP to prevent certain types of viruses and malware.

Having BOTH system execution lines in the BOOT.INI file sets you up for dual boot operation with standard non- 3GB operation as the default (it's first on the list. This way, should something go wrong, you can always just pull the plug, wait a few moments, plug it back in, and start fresh. The alternative is that if XP is set to boot automatically in " 3GB" mode and fails miserably because of memory address duplication or serious driver problems, you are stuck with a dead system. (Yes, the drive can be removed, taken to another system, added as a non-bootable drive, the boot.ini file found and edited manually, probably undoing the damage; but there are no guarantees.)
-- So, save your edit and close the utility.
-- Shut down and re-boot XP

You will be given a choice of which version of XP you want to use (with the non- 3GB version being the default if you do nothing in 30 seconds). Choose the " 3GB" version and see what happens. If, after you've tried it out for a few days, all is still going well, you can re-edit the BOOT.INI file, making the " 3GB" option the default (first in the list) and changing the timeout delay to 8 or 10 seconds. This means that, if you do nothing, XP will boot normally in " 3GB" mode.

I do NOT recommend removing the dual boot option when using the " 3GB" switch because, twice in the three years I have been using it, I've had an automatic update alter a hardware driver resulting in XP 3GB crashing and I've had to boot in non- 3GB mode in order to fix the problem. Had I not kept the dual-boot option in place, I would have had to remove the drive & operate or re-install the OS from scratch.
Hope this helps,
~ Ed
 
a BIG help - thanks. This saves me from looking behind my PC for that damn 3/gb switch ;)
 
I recently clocked 86 seconds (frpm 95 at 80% in CS2). I am overclocked at 3.525 mhz (x-6800) and using 100% in PS CS2 or CS3. Same. It seems you should be a little faster - perhaps 110 or so. Hmmm. I will leave it to the REAL experts. I just figure out HOW, they can figure out WHY.
--
Steve Bingham
http://www.dustylens.com
http://www.ghost-town-photography.com
 
My E6600 OC'd to 2.88 , (1)500GB, (2)200GB, GeForce 7600GT, 4GB RAM, 3GB, with 100% assigned to CS2 hit 106 seconds. My system had been hitting 160 seconds with 2GB RAM and 55% assigned to CS2 and 140 seconds with 4GB and the default 55% assigned to CS2.

If you want to pump up your Driverheaven scores -- overclock that processor, and set Photoshop to use 100% of the RAM. On the other hand -- it's just a score, and if you are like most of us... your system is a screamer already, and you might not even notice the difference (I dont).

--
Joe

Old Acct: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/postersprofile.asp?poster=hjigihivhdif
 
I'm still trying to "sift salt from sand" re: this 3GB vs 4GB RAM question using XP Pro (32bit OS) and CS3. At work (circa: Jurassic Park) have not had applications that could potentially benefit so much, so never looked into this before. I'm not really interested in pursuing 64bit yet --- and I'm focusing on building a system only for PS CS3 use. I know the extra 1GB won't cost that much more, but if it's not going to be used, or just barely, then I'd rather not waste the money.

I see where Cecil and Steve are using 4GB and getting performance boosts with various PS memory settings. I also see (I think), where there are comparisons between 2 and 4GB. But I don't think I see (maybe missed it) where anyone is posting actual comparisons between 3 and 4GB, getting any appreciable boosts.

Do I understand correctly, that if I install 4GB RAM and use, let's say a 256MB video card like a GIGABYTE GV-RX155256D-RH ATI Radeon X1550 256MB DDR2, the resulting RAM that will actually be used, will be around 3.1GB --- at least no where close to the extra 1GB if using 4 instead of 3?

If so, then CS3 performance with 4GB will NOT be noticeably different than if I only install 3GB. Right? If I only install 3GB, then I also assume there is no point in messing with the 3GB switch?

Also if the above is correct, then I could get a little more RAM use if I down-graded the video card to a 128MB, installed 4GB RAM, and used the 3GB switch. Am I understanding this correctly? I have read that I might see some performance difference just beyond 128 - so that's why I have settled at 256.

Your information and interest in helping is much appreciated. Thanks!

John
 
Talking strictly of using XP Pro for the moment.... If you have 2GB RAM, no problem. If you have more than 2GB RAM, special considerations have to be taken into account.

Just as DOS PCs had both physical and arbitrary limits on memory usage, so do XP-based PCs. MS set an arbitrary limit of 2GB for OS/Application use which can be superseded -- if you have enough RAM -- with the 3GB switch. This switch allows both OS/Application access and physical access to a 3rd gigabyte of memory.

IF (all-caps intended for emphasis) a 4th gigabyte of memory is present and IF (a BIG if) installed hardware does not conflict with the memory space, and IF (another BIG if) hardware drivers don't block arbitrary reassignment of address space by the OS, some parts of that 4th gigabyte of memory may also be made available for OS/Application use. XP will report that the 4th gigabyte of memory is there; but you quite possibly will not have full use of the extra space.
 
WOW - I am even MORE confused than I was when I was looking for the 3 GB switch on the back of my PC
 
The 3rd gigabyte of RAM in conjunction with the 3GB switch gives you 3GB of memory which can be used by the OS and applications -- assuming that the applications can use (or need) the additional memory. (PS/CS does use this extra memory.) If you have a 4th gigabyte of RAM, some of it may or may not be available, depending on your particular hardware and hardware drivers.

The 3rd gigabyte is definitely worth the expense if you are using PS/CS2 or PS/CS3 on a regular basis. The 4th gigabyte is a gamble -- one I would go for if the cost is low enough based on special deals, sales, rebates, whatever.
 
These are great instructions for XP.

Can anyone explain how to set the 3 gig switch with Vista 32?

I've got a new computer with 4 gigs of ram and need to set the switch.
--
Jeff Kott
 
Here is information regarding setting the 3GB switch for 32-bit VISTA with the caveat that I have NOT experimented with the results past knowing that it appears to work.
See: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms791558.aspx

IMPORTANT CAVEAT: Let me repeat -- I have NOT experimented with this setting on 32-bit VISTA other than to determine that it works. I do NOT know if there are other implications or side effects. I have NOT tried other values (e.g., 4096) and do NOT know if alternate values will work or cause problems.
To SET the 3GB switch in 32-bit VISTA, do the following:
1) Right-click 'Command Prompt -- Start > Accessories > Command Prompt
2) Choose 'Run as Administrator'
3) Type "bcdedit set IncreaseUserVa 3072" and press [Enter]
4) Restart the computer

To REMOVE the 3GB switch in 32-bit VISTA, do the following:
1) Right-click 'Command Prompt -- Start > Accessories > Command Prompt
2) Choose 'Run as Administrator'
3) Type "bcdedit deletevalue IncreaseUserVa" and press [Enter]
4) Restart the computer
 
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