how much ram is "enough"

Hi,
I about to get a new system (pc) I would like to be able to run ps and illustrator at the same time. I also fewquently have BIG layered files - A2 size 48 bit for example can get up to 1.5gb (but typically 200-500MB). Anyone got an opinion on whether 1 GB ram is enough, or do I need to go the whole hog and get 2?

Getho

With files that size, I'd max out the machine.

Bob

PS will work lots better with 2 GB. Don't allocate all of the physical RAM to PS though.
Jim
wrote in message

Hi,
I about to get a new system (pc) I would like to be able to run ps and illustrator at the same time. I also fewquently have BIG layered files -

A2

size 48 bit for example can get up to 1.5gb (but typically 200-500MB). Anyone got an opinion on whether 1 GB ram is enough, or do I need to go

the

whole hog and get 2?

Getho

Just curious ... how DO you allow PS Photoshop physical RAM?

Dee

"Jim" wrote in message

PS will work lots better with 2 GB. Don't allocate all of the physical

RAM

to PS though.
Jim
wrote in message

Hi,
I about to get a new system (pc) I would like to be able to run ps and illustrator at the same time. I also fewquently have BIG layered

files -

A2

size 48 bit for example can get up to 1.5gb (but typically 200-500MB). Anyone got an opinion on whether 1 GB ram is enough, or do I need to go

the

whole hog and get 2?

Getho

1.5GB file size x 5 ram required = more than any current computer can use
(and much more than Photoshop can use). 3GB minimum (2gb = max of Photoshop, 1GB extra for other software, including Windows.)

"Dee" wrote in message

Just curious ... how DO you allow PS Photoshop physical RAM?
Dee

This value is listed in the "Memory and Physical Cache" tab under the "Preferences" tab. Remember, no process can allocate more than 4GB in a 32bit system. Windows slices out 2GB for itself (the system must be mapped into the process space). That leaves 2GB of virtual address space. What the tab does is determine how much of the 2GB must be permanently mapped to physical memory.

You should leave a certain amount of the physical memory for Windows, else it will start paging. Paging of the operating system results in serious performance loss.

Jim