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1. Re: Photoshop spikes and lags with good pc.
PIX10 Oct 17, 2013 3:27 AM (in response to NinBuu)Hi NinBuu
Your CPU and GPU are getting on the far side of old now, which is kind of ok but they are both lower-end consumer parts. This shouldn't mean Photoshop is unusable, but you're unlikely to get super smooth performance.
However I think what's really biting you is the amount of RAM you have available. Windows is probably eating half of that, and Photoshop will by default only access ~half of what's left over -- check out the Memory Usage slider under Preferences->Performance to see what you actually have available.
Check out the system scanner at crucial.com to see how much RAM your motherboard can take. You have Windows Ultimate so you can install >16GB, system permitting. If you're working on A4 300dpi images, I'd recommend it. But don't expect miracles - I have a very high-end workstation and drawing a 2500px brush in an A4 layer isn't exactly realtime here either.
You don't mention HDD space available - I'll assume you have plenty, but in the same Performance panel, ensure there's plenty space free on your scratch HDD, and if you have an additional internal drive try assigning scratch to that. Don't use an external drive for scratch if you're after performance.
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2. Re: Photoshop spikes and lags with good pc.
NinBuu Oct 17, 2013 3:50 AM (in response to PIX10)My motherboard has 4 slots for RAM supporting upto 16GB 1066 and 1333Mhz support. I have actually 3.3GB ram available for use for Photoshop. But I have only allotted 2GB to it, so I can multitask(if needed, like copying files or something). Also the ideal range Photoshop shows me to allot is between 1.8 to 2.3 GB.
Cache disk isnt getting full so i guess i have enough space for photoshop. Nonetheless, cache disk has 160GB free. I have 500GB HDD divided into 3 partitions. C for windows, D for my work, and E for miscelleneous.
So for realtime response, i need a kind of super ultra high end workstation? just aksing? That means nothing is wrong with my photoshop or pc, and i can get over the fact that it lags.
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3. Re: Photoshop spikes and lags with good pc.
PIX10 Oct 17, 2013 4:23 AM (in response to NinBuu)More RAM will always help - as we say here, you can never have too much RAM. You have plenty HDD space by the sound of it.
1066-1333Mhz is revealing, as that's quite slow. It won't make a huge difference on it's own, but you're in a position where everything is adding up to work against you.
You definitely don't need a high end workstation, or even a workstation class PC. If you do consider buying a new PC you don't need to go crazy - an i5 coupled with 2nd tier graphics card (i.e. 670, 770, AMD equivalents) and a lot of RAM will make a very big difference.
Obviously better gear results in a better experience (and is better futureproofed), but sometimes the cost doesn't equate to sensible spending -- my PC has about $8000 worth of bits in it, but it's not necessarily eight times as good in Photoshop as a $1000 PC. My PC is used for doing heavy duty 3D work; it's slightly overkill for Photoshop.
If you plan on doing serious high-res work then think about buying a good PC to work with. Take a look at current gen iMacs, which are very nice to work with - you can get similarly specced PCs with a much smaller premium. But RAM is your friend...there's nothing nicer than not having the sound of an HDD churning away at your ear.
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4. Re: Photoshop spikes and lags with good pc.
NinBuu Oct 17, 2013 5:40 AM (in response to PIX10)Looks like I need a complete overhaul. I am thinking of upgrading next year. I was thinking
i5 3570 (non k version since i dont plan on oc) or shoudl I go for 4th gen?
8 gb 1666 RAM (I think 1666 is good enough?)
Not planning on upgrading graphics card, but If I do, I want to go in Zotac's gtx 760 or 660 2 GB cards(I guess thats good enough for gaming). Zotac has better service in my country than any other brand.
AsrockZ77 mobo (need tha for 3rd gen i5)
I have an external hard disk for storage, so I am suffice with a 500 gb internal hdd, but I do plan for a good budget SSD for booting. (Please recommend a good budget SSD)
Do I need to invest in cooling? I mean I plan on buying a Corsair's carbide cabinet that comes with 2 front fans and 1 back fan. Do I need more? I live in India so, its quite hot here in summer, like 45+ celcius usually in day time.
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5. Re: Photoshop spikes and lags with good pc.
PIX10 Oct 17, 2013 6:00 AM (in response to NinBuu)You'll see a good performance jump all-round with that setup - shop around and check out places like anandtech.com and tomshardware.co.uk for guides on CPUs and motherboards (I'm assuming you're thinking of building your own).
1666Mhz RAM is fine, and overclocking is rarely worth it - you'll get better performance with serious applications from having more RAM, and overclocking stability becomes harder to maintain the more RAM you add.
560 is ok - you can replace it at any time anyway, and add more RAM as and when you feel the need. Motherboards are the hardest thing to change obviously, so as I say shop around when you get closer to the date you want to purchase, as there's always something new on the horizon, and read the tech forums for advice - particularly on cooling and PSU recommendations (I've not built a DIY system for a while so I'm not the best person to ask).
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6. Re: Photoshop spikes and lags with good pc.
NinBuu Oct 17, 2013 7:21 AM (in response to PIX10)Yeah, I guess you are right. When I want to upgrade, i will see around at what is the latest.
But the problem is, I dont think i will be that well off to buy latest stuff, and that is why I usuall buy something that is like a year or more old, I get better deals you see.
Those sites wont work for me, I am from India.
I guess the most important thing I will have to look for is a good Mobo. I have a corsair 600 w (had to get it due to buying a 560) PSU so I guess that will be enough for future. But cooling.
Yes I am and will always build my own PC. Its cheaper and I cna understand more about the hardware and maintain it. You see I dont want to be in the blind, when suddenly something happens.
Thanks for help, good sir.

