Setting up PC to maximize CS4 and LR

Any recommendations on how to set up my computer to maximize the speed of CS4 and LR? I finally made the leap from an older laptop as my primary machine for PP work. Heres what I have now:

Quad Core Q8200
2.33Ghz Proc
8MB DDR3 Ram
1TB HD

Other than photography apps (both plugins and standalones) I will only be running itunes and Office and a couple small programs off this computer.

See the workstation tweeking FAQ/thread at the top of the "Computers" forum for a start.

Thanks CDS.....I didn't even see that sticky there!

Medic1 wrote in post #8480451
Other than photography apps (both plugins and standalones) I will only be running itunes and Office and a couple small programs off this computer.

Make sure to disable the itunes helper and quicktime startup/services as well, those take up memory and CPU time and do absolutely nothing for you. If it's an old version of Office, turn off the VB debugger service (new ones might also do it)

Thanks for the tips...I will make sure I make those adjustments

Is there any settings that need to be changed specifically in PS or LR to let them take full advantage of the computers memory etc? Does PS automatically recognize the quad core and use them accordingly to speed up its processing etc? Or is that something I need to change so that PS uses it to its maximum capability?

Medic1 wrote in post #8490397
Thanks for the tips...I will make sure I make those adjustments

Is there any settings that need to be changed specifically in PS or LR to let them take full advantage of the computers memory etc? Does PS automatically recognize the quad core and use them accordingly to speed up its processing etc? Or is that something I need to change so that PS uses it to its maximum capability?

LR2 and photoshop will both install 64bit versions if your OS is 64bit (vista, xp, or 7, OSX has 64bit LR2 support but no CS4 programs in 64bit). All other CS4 programs are 32bit only. That means ~3gb max per program. Remember that some plugins (make that most plugins) are still only 32bit, so you will have to launch the 32bit version of photoshop to use them (32bit is also installed if you chose to have it installed at setup).

PS:CS4 currently uses some multithreaded filters, but the vast majority of the program is still single threaded. LR2 will use all available threads (in windows, for OSX, closer to "1+number of processor threads/8" threads from the tests I've seen) for previews and exporting, though many features are not multithreaded. If you notice that the cpu is not being utilized to it's maximum in LR2 (may happen even on windows sytems, will happen on OSX systems until a patch is released), you should split previews and export operations in two and run both concurrently (just start the first half, then start second half once the bar shows up near the LR logo). Following Moppie's link will get your computer pretty much to the top it can be, other things should be tried only once you get used to the computer and know you can fix settings that may have gone wrong.