Slow Speed experienced when changing between programs/windows

[Oddjob]

Firstly, can I say what a great program. Top marks and with the Forum its even better.

I currently use:

OS Name   Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version   5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
System Type   X86-based PC
Processor   x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 9 GenuineIntel ~3000 Mhz
Total Physical Memory   2,560.00 MB

Photo Mechanic 4.5.3.2


I am finding that when I alternate between programs/windows such as PM and outlook, or PM and Photoshop, or PM and any other program, PM takes approx 10-20 seconds to come back to life, meaning that it hangs for a moment or two, eventually springing back to life after 10-20 secs. As I heavily multitask, this can cause some delay in editing when you have to wait for a program to come to life each time you see to another process/program.

Is there any solutions to this or is it a case of memory allocation/switching to PM.

Best Wishes,

Chris.

[Kirk Baker]

Chris,

Firstly, can I say what a great program. Top marks and with the Forum its even better.

I currently use:

OS Name   Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version   5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
System Type   X86-based PC
Processor   x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 9 GenuineIntel ~3000 Mhz
Total Physical Memory   2,560.00 MB

Photo Mechanic 4.5.3.2


I am finding that when I alternate between programs/windows such as PM and outlook, or PM and Photoshop, or PM and any other program, PM takes approx 10-20 seconds to come back to life, meaning that it hangs for a moment or two, eventually springing back to life after 10-20 secs. As I heavily multitask, this can cause some delay in editing when you have to wait for a program to come to life each time you see to another process/program.

Is there any solutions to this or is it a case of memory allocation/switching to PM.

It sounds like PM is taking a long time to rescan the folders that you're browsing.  PM rescans each contact sheet when you resume it.  How many contact sheet tabs do you have open and what would be the total number of files/folders being browsed?  Also, what sort type are you using?  Filename sorting is the fastest, custom sorts and sorting by Capture Time are the slowest.
Are you browsing files from your local hard drive or files on a networked drive?

-Kirk

[Oddjob]

Hello Kirk,

I would say that I tend to have 2-3 contact sheets open, viewing Tiff files ranging 24mb - 48mb, across a network. Each contact sheet would be 50 -150 images, and sorted by Filename.

All the Best,

Chris.

[FVlcek]

Also, what are your cache settings for PM (in Preferences, under Cache - disk and memory allocation) and Windows virtual memory? If you set too high RAM memory allocation for PM (or other single program you might be running concurrently, like Photoshop), leaving too little for others, Windows will have to swap big amounts of memory to disk (virtual memory). Or if PM has too little, it will (I presume, as I am just an user) have to read the entire contact sheets cache (containing all the thumbnails et cetera) from its own virtual memory (cache).

As you say you are accessing the files over a networked drive, when you switch hence and forth, does your own computer's disk drive spin heavily, all the time while you wait for PM to resume? That would in my humble opinion indicate improper memory allocation, and as Windows XP is not much crafty in managing its physical and virtual memory, it might start to page its kernel itself to virtual memory if you run low, which slows everything considerably. You could then play around with PM and WXP and Photoshop's memory settings, leaving additional free memory for windows itself and other running programs. In my experience, memory management on Windows has never been much fun

[Oddjob]

Hello Frantisek,

Thanks for the pointers, I will look into WXP's Memory Management Setup too to see what programs are hogging all the memory.

Best Wishes,

Chris.

[JAS Photo]

PM is a different software since I upped my Virtual memory BIG DIFFERENCE.

Kirk - I posted a note a few weeks ago but I think you should do some tests and make an OFFICIAL recommendation to all XP users. (like you have nothing else to do)

[Oddjob]

Hello Jasphoto,

Whats the best way to go about making the changes to my Virtual Memory in XP Please?

[JAS Photo]

Here are a couple links - the third one also talks about moving it to different hard drive if you have one. also a good idea for Photoshops scratch file.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308417
http://www.cyberwalker.com/article/790
http://www.2000trainers.com/windows-xp/changing-windows-xp-virtual-memory-settings/

[FVlcek]

Here are a couple links - the third one also talks about moving it to different hard drive if you have one. also a good idea for Photoshops scratch file.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308417
http://www.cyberwalker.com/article/790
http://www.2000trainers.com/windows-xp/changing-windows-xp-virtual-memory-settings/

If you have two drives, just don't put photoshop's scratch on the same one as windows virtual memory.

With 2.5GB RAM, I would from my experience suggest either 768 or 1024MB RAM for Photomechanic, if you run it concurrently with Photoshop but nothing else. Same for Photoshop. Windows would need the left for itself and some other resident programs like antivirus. Or better, max your RAM if possible, it's cheap these days. Outlook is somewhat memory hungry, so you might stick to even lower figures, as the more windows can't keep in RAM, the more swapping it needs which slows everything down. Try to experiment around :-)