How do you get the most out of your PC?

[mjs1973]

I bought a new laptop last spring so I could run the newest version of PS, and take it with me when I travel. I love the computer, but it just doesn't seem as fast as it should be. Granted, I do shoot RAW so I'm working with large files, but I still think it should run faster than what it does.

The computer is a Toshiba, P35-S609, and has a 3.20GHz processor, and 512mb of RAM and I'm running Windows XP Home addition. PSCS2 is the only thing I'm running for the most part. I have installed a couple other programs for burning DVD's, but I never have them open while working in PS. The laptop has never been online so there shouldn't be anything on it, other than what it came with, and the few programs I installed.

I know nothing about getting the best performance from computers, so any help you can give me would be greatly appriciated. The more step-by-step instructions you can give me the better.

[Peter_AUS]

More info about the chip needed, I am thinking it is probably Celeron chip in it. Even thought 3.2Ghz seems high, RAM is always a big thing with running Photoshop, the more the quicker it will run and process images when doing things, like filters, noise ninja, etc. Try increasing your swap file and set you behind the scenes to programs high priority. I haven't used Windows XP Home editon, only Windows XP, it is much quicker than Windows 2K.

Right click on My Computer on the desktop and select advance, you will see performance in there, Select Adjust for Best Performace for faster Windows, because it turns all the pretty things off that you really don't need. On the Advanced Tab you will see there is a place for Memory Usage and Performance.

That is about all I can suggest, other than turning off any programs that are installed that you don't need. Look at running msconfig and see what is turn on maybe you can turn off somethings in there. You do that by clicking Start and then run and type in msconfig and enter, brings up a window with a listing and tabs, have a look in there.

[JSPhoto]

MJS,

In addition to what Peter suggests, I suggest upping your ram at least 1GB more than what you have. My Toshiba sped up an amazing amount once I added more ram, but wit was even faster with a single 1GB stick in slot one than it was with two 512MB sticks. This also helps poky desktops.
It will help the Celeron chipped machines, but the biggest change will occur on P4 machines...Celeron chipped machines just don't deal with graphics as well as they should.

JS

[mjs1973]

Thanks Peter. The laptop has an Intel Pentium 4 Processor 538 in it. That's about all I know. I did go into the performance part under My Computer and selected for Best Performance. I also went under msconfig and had a look. I have NO idea what all that stuff is in there, but everything that could be checked, was...

I will play around with it later this week to see if selecting Best Performance makes a noticable differance.

[mjs1973]

Thanks for the advice JS. I did think about adding some more RAM when I first bought the machine, but wanted to wait to see what it would do, and I just kind of forgot all about it. Perhaps when my I build up my photo budget a little more. I just dropped $100 on film... The laptop is still much faster than my desktop, but just not as quick as I thought it would be. Then again, is any computer ever really fast enough?

[masdog]

MJS,

One of the first things I do with any computer I get is turn off unnessecary services. Windows, by default, runs a number of services that you don't need, and they suck up memory and lower your system's performance. I wouldn't recommend just going in and turning off services - this can screw your computer up royally (trust me...I learned from experience). There are a few websites out there that discuss the different services, what they do, and if you really need them running.

[Lionheart]

Here's a test to try. Run PS with AC power, versus batteries and see if there is a speed difference. Most laptops on Intel processors step down their speed on batteries-I know mine always have, especially my old laptop that ran on a desktop P4 2,8 GHz chip.

[mjs1973]

I almost never run my laptop on batteries, it's always plugged in. The screan darkens to save power when using the battery and it's too hard to work on images like that.

[Asylum Steve]

Michael,

First of all, I would recommend 1G of RAM as the minimum to anyone running full version PS working with large files (such as RAW of TIFF). Memory is cheap, so...

There's an easy way to gauge how much of your PC's resources you're using in PS. WIth an image file open, press the F key to toggle screen mode until you see an info bar at the bottom of the image window.

On that bar is a small black triangle. Click on it to bring up a side menu. Mouseover "show" to bring up another side menu. Click on "efficiency"...

Now you should see an efficiency percentage on the bottom bar. As you work, any number below about 90% means you're using your ps scratch disk (hard drive virtual memory).

Anything below 60%-70% means your system is struggling and you definitely could benefit from more RAM.

[mjs1973]

Thanks Steve. That is very intersting. I opened a large (36mb) .psd file, and it said 100%. Photoshop CS2, is the only program I have open, and this photo is the only file open. I selected the whole image, and made about 5 dupicate layers of the image, and the percentage dropped to the low 60's. Then I selected all the new layers, and trashed them, and the percentage only went up to 70%. Then I closed the file, opened it up again, and it was at 100%. I added some USM, still at 100%, then I resized the image to make it a bit bigger, and it dropped to 21%!!! I guess I better invest in some RAM!!