Photoshop CS3 - Do I have a RAM problem?

Dinarius · 25-02-2008 01:49PM #1

I'm using CS3 on PC/Dual Core/2Gb RAM.

In the last week or so, while running fairly straightforward tasks such a Image Processor to convert TIFFs to Jpegs (sometimes coupled with a sharpening Action), I am experiencing a noticeable slowdown in performance.

Typically, when opening the image to convert it to a Jpeg, the scroll bar appears. This never happened before. Also, the History and Layers palettes go blank. Occasionally, instead of the chequer board pattern appearing while the image is being converted to 8bit and Jpeg, the image window goes completely white.

I uninstalled CS2 and CS3 and reinstalled just CS3. I also ran Disc Cleanup and Defrag. But, the problem is still there.

It's almost as if the program is having a problem accessing RAM. However, this machine is used for nothing else except CS3 and a few small apps. such as Firefox. But, when CS3 is open, everything else is closed.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Anti · 25-02-2008 04:09PM

A simple way to find out if its your ram causing the problem is to run memtestx86 over night. It will check for any errors and report it to you. But i dont think its yoru ram, as you dont say you have noticed a slow down in any other programs. Check your hdd out. Run a program called HDtach or another called HDtune

Personally i cant use cs3 on a machine with 2gb of ram, i find it a bit slow. So if you find its not your ran you could order more, as it is dirft cheap atm. For example i managed to get 4gb of overlcockers ram thats in my sig for 61£ from overclockers.co.uk

Dinarius · 25-02-2008 05:42PM

Anti,

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Two others I have spoken to don't think it's my RAM either. They think it might be my video card or its drivers.

I am running an NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS.

ForceWare version: 163.71
Memory: 256Mb
Video BIOS version: 5.71.22.14.09
IRQ: 16
Bus: PCI Express x 16

Anything that should be changed in that?

Anything that I could check/change in the card's settings?

Will try the programs you mentioned.

Thanks.

D.

calex71 · 25-02-2008 07:16PM

I'm running CS3 on a lower spec pc than you are OP,

Vista
1.5gb ram
Radeon X800GTO 256mb
lastest drivers

3ghz P4 cpu

And have never had anything near what you have been experiecing, is a bit sluggish to open up at 1st but it always was ;-) and certainly no slower than the gimp . Is it slow to open the files aswell?? and what about when you apply a heavy duty filter to a picture???

Whats task manager reporting in terms of cpu usage when all this is going on??

Also I did come accross this on another site :

"Are you by any chance using a Logitech mouse? If so, check out its controls
and make certain "Disable acceleration in games" is NOT checked. The driver
in some cases mistakes Photoshop for a "game" and causes strange
interactions...""

This worked in this guys case.

Dinarius · 25-02-2008 07:26PM

I think that the problem may have been my NVIDIA driver. I have updated it and all seems fine, though why it developed a problem, I'm not sure. Maybe one of the Windows Automatic Updates created a conflict?

Yes, I am using a Logitech mouse, but I can't find a box in the Control Panel that says, "Disable acceleration in games". Might it be somewhere else? Also, I've had this mouse since the start, so it's unlikely to be the problem.

Thanks.

D.

calex71 · 25-02-2008 07:34PM

Dinarius wrote: »

I think that the problem may have been my NVIDIA driver. I have updated it and all seems fine, though why it developed a problem, I'm not sure. Maybe one of the Windows Automatic Updates created a conflict?

Yes, I am using a Logitech mouse, but I can't find a box in the Control Panel that says, "Disable acceleration in games". Might it be somewhere else? Also, I've had this mouse since the start, so it's unlikely to be the problem.

Thanks.

D.

Look under start \ programs \ logitech \ setpoint

there should be an icon in your system tray for it also

Dinarius · 25-02-2008 07:50PM

Logitech isn't on the list. I suspect that's because I'm using it with a Windows driver. So, the games option may not be an issue.

This computer is used only for CS3. I have two others for admin.

Many thanks.

D.

Anti · 25-02-2008 07:59PM

I was thinking driver, but since you had vista i didnt think it would be an issue as i turned auto updates off. Glad to see its sorted now though.

Dinarius · 02-03-2008 09:18AM

Thanks for the feedback guys. Much appreciated.

For the record, I'm running XP Pro not Vista.

My video card is an NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS.

One more question.......

I have now installed the latest version of the NVidia driver. It is version 6.14.11.6921 dated 5/12/2007.

Everything seems to be running fine.

However, I have been told that if I switch off the parts of the driver I don't need (e.g. ability to watch TV on my computer) that I am likely to run into even fewer problems.

This computer is used *only* for Photoshop CS3. It will never be used for anything else. Therefore, I'd like the bare minimum of Nvidia items running.

So, how can I switch off what I don't need with the Nvidia driver? Apparently, it's in the Startup menu. But, which items?

Many thanks.

D.

Photoshop CS3 - Do I have a RAM problem?

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