Should I buy a new computer??

[roanjohn]

I currently own a Gateway desktop computer with:

Intel Pentium 4 with 2.53 MHz Processor
512 MB of RAM
80 GB HD space

I realize that when I process these 6 mp photos - the computer takes FOREVER!! I sometimes get so drowsy waiting for the computer to work on just one file!!! And now, my HD is running low...........so I am always editing and erasing most of the photos from my shoot (which is a good thing actually).

The computer runs fine otherwise.........its just editing takes FOREVER!!!

So the question: should I just upgrade my RAM??? oR am I better off buying a whole new system??

:oops:

Ro1

[mikesd]

Your problem could depend on alot of things. I have proccessed photos decently on less and although your specs. could be better but there not bad either. The first thing I would check is my video card, min 64mb and you really need a 128mb card. Upgrading your memory to 1 gig would help out some also. Also are you sure your computer is free of spyware? Spyware as you probably already know can slow things down horribly. With your specs I wouldnt think you need a new computer but a little upgrading could do wanders. One other possible thing, if your hard drive is full adding a second 7200rpm drive could solve your problem also

[Scottes]

Yep, I agree with mikesd. Upgrading to a gig will most likely do wonders. Adding another drive, not just for more space but it will most likely be faster AND will allow you to move the Photoshop swap file to another drive. This will be very noticable for the times you hit it.

I've got a 1.8 GHz with a gig of RAM, a slow drive and a fast drive. I only complain when stitching panos or doing noise removal on an 8 MP, 16-bit image. The rest of the time I'm fine.

And I noticed a great improvement when I went from 512 to a Gig. (Except noise removal...) It just about tripled the amount of RAM available to PS.

[roanjohn]

Cool!! I will look into buying more RAM............BTW, how do I check for my video card??

RO1

[eosster]

Right click my computer then click on properties, you should get system properties then click on hardware tab, press device manager then, click on display adapters. It should tell you what kind of video card you have, you can check for the specs at video manutacture's website or it could be a generic video driver from the intel or whoever, then you might just have to go buy one and install it. Make sure you disable onboard video card from the CMOS, if it is onboard type of video card.

Cheers,

Charles,

[mikesd]

Here is a free download program that will tell you anything you want to know about you computer. I have used it several times and is recommended on the computer boards for gathering computer info. It is called aida32. http://www.majorgeeks.com/download181.html Here is a great place to buy memory that will tell you excatly what type of memory your computer uses. http://www.crucial.com/

[roanjohn]

Thanks!!!!! I will do this tonight as soon as I get home!!! WOW, this forum is GREAT!!!

Ro1

[Jon]

Since you have a Gateway, you can probably find out from their website what video card you have (if the video isn't on the motherboard, and thus using part of your system RAM).

[roanjohn]

I found out my video card............its: 128MB NVIDIA GeForce4 MX440..........does this have any effect on photo editing?? The guy said it only matters for gaming...........Should I upgrade this??? What do you guys think??

I also found out my RAM - its the DDR PC333............I think thats correct.

Ro1

[mikesd]

If it were me I would just go with the memory upgrade. Do you know if you currently have one 512 mb stick or 2 256mb sticks. If you only have one 512 life is good.

[tim]

I'm gona tag onto the end of this thread too... first i'll say I agree - upgrade your RAM.

I have an Acer Aspire 1703, a Desknote - basically a laptop case with desktop components, except for the video card which is a notebook part. It's a desktop P4 2.66MHz, 768MB desktop RAM, 17 inch LCD built in. I have the supplied 64MB onboard video (sis M650), which I upgraded to an nVidia 64MB card laptop card, but it failed and I don't know whether to ask for a refund or to get them to get me a new one. Does anyone want to take a guess if it'll improve the speed in photoshop? Right now the file browser can be really slow at times.

[Youngster]

I have a 1,8 G computer with 40GB HD and I have had no problems for the past 3 years.

Sure I would _like_ an upgrade but I really don't need it. I back everything up on CD's anyway.

[Jesper]

I agree with the others, add more RAM... And here's another tip:

My computer has an 1.53 GHz Athlon XP processor, 1 GB RAM and two 80 GB harddisks. Since a while it was running slowly - especially booting and starting programs was slow. It looked like my drive C: was running really slowly. Then I found this tip in a magazine:

Go to Device Manager (right-click on My Computer, choose Properties, Hardware, click on Device Manager button). Now click on "IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers". You'll most likely see a primary and secondary IDE channel. Right-click on the primary IDE channel, choose Properties, Advanced Settings. You'll see in what I/O mode your IDE devices are running.

My drive C: was running in PIO-mode, which is very, very slow - it should be running in Ultra DMA mode. For some reason I couldn't change it to Ultra DMA mode, so I just uninstalled the primary IDE channel device in Device Manager and rebooted. After rebooting, a new driver was automatically installed, and now it runs in Ulta DMA mode 5, and my computer is a LOT faster.

[mikesd]

Hey Tim, my guess is maybe a little but not by much. Youngster makes a good point which I also do, limit the amount of files on the hard drive and back everything up on CD. I do everything on two laptops, one with 1.4 pentium m/ one with 3.06 pentium 4, both with 512 ram, both with 64mb video, one 40gig HD/ theh other 60gig HD. The only time I slow down to an untolerable level is when I have the HD loaded with files. I try to keep no more than 20 to 40 files on at any one time and it makes a big difference in speed for me.

[roanjohn]

THanks everyone!!!

AFter much research.........here is what I ordered:

From crucial: 512 additonal RAM!! YEY!!! I have 2 slots in my computer........one has the 512 mb of ram and the other slot is free.

From zipzoomfly: a Lacie external HD with 250 GB of HD space (USB 2 and 7200 RPM).

I really hope to see an improvement with the way Photoshop edit my photos.....for the longest time, I've been taking (Medium/superfine) so I don't have to deal with the time lag.

JESPER - that sounds scary..........and complicated......:)

RO1

[Jesper]

JESPER - that sounds scary..........and complicated......:)Yes, but my computer is a lot faster now and it didn't cost me anything! :D

[tim]

From zipzoomfly: a Lacie external HD with 250 GB of HD space (USB 2 and 7200 RPM).


I have an external USB2 hard disk, with a laptop drive in it, it only get 20MB/sec transfer compared with 50-60MB/sec for my main drive. If you're going for performance i'd definitely recommend an internal one.

[roanjohn]

I have an external USB2 hard disk, with a laptop drive in it, it only get 20MB/sec transfer compared with 50-60MB/sec for my main drive. If you're going for performance i'd definitely recommend an internal one.
I don't think I have space for another internal............I'm not sure about this though.............

RO1