[wallie32]

I use my system mainly for running Photoshop CS & Premiere.
Lately while using Photoshop when I have been using some of the tools mainly the smudge tool my computer has just froze up. I have had to switch off then on again.
Other times it seems to be running slower than usual.
My system is:
Windows XP Pro
Athlon XP 2100
1gb Ram
Asus A7V333 mobo
2 120gb hard drives in a raid array.

I am thinking of upgrading and would like suggestions on a good setup.

I have been told the best I can do with my present mobo is a Sempron 3200
but am wondering if I should be going for an Athlon 64 with a socket 939 mobo.
Also is a dual core worth the extra cost with the present generation of software.
Thanks for any advice and information on this.
wallie

[erick295]

If you are having problems like that with Photoshop, then that is a software issue, not your computer... you probably have spyware or something similar running in the background... you should move this to Win XP and get some help resolving the problem there.

[linskyjack]

I agree---both PS and Premiere should run on the system you described--maybe not as fast as some more powerful CPU's but you should definately not be getting freezes.

[Guyzer]

Ditto above. I had a system with a 2500+ and 512 mg ram and it was a bit slow but never locked up when I ran those apps. If it ran ok before and the problem started recently then you have other issues.

[slipe]

Edit>preferences>Memory and Image Cache. Set the memory usage to 85% or so of your available RAM.

Shut down anything you don’t need running before opening Photoshop. And run a spyware sweep as Eric suggested along with a virus scan. If you don’t do that regularly, spyware can use a lot of RAM and processor cycles. Adaware is easy to use for spyware and PC Pitstop gives a good second opinion on viruses. Both are free. http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/ and http://www.pcpitstop.com/antivirus/default.asp

You are probably using up your RAM when you smudge if you are using a large brush on a large image. It shouldn’t lock the computer so that you have to reboot when that happens unless something is amiss with your virtual memory. Look in Edit>Preferences>Plug-Ins and Scratch Disk and make sure it is on a drive with lots of space – preferably a physically different drive than your C drive.

Have you tried sitting on your hands for a minute or so when it locks. It appears locked sometimes when you run out of RAM. But when it is caught up everything should work.

I doubt a faster processor in your current setup would fix the problem.

[wallie32]

Thanks for the information.
I am following your suggestions and will let you know how I come on.
Thanks again.
wallie

[blaqDeaph]

Have you changed any hardware or software recently? I'd recommend that you do a scan for viruses/malware also.