Photoshop CS5 Memory Usage Preference

With the advent of 64-bit Photoshop CS5 for Mac, performance is simple—

Install enough memory, and Photoshop will scarcely touch the scratch volume.

Install 24GB for set-and-forget for most users, of 16GB if that is the limit. Mac Pro users should prefer 24GB (4/6-core machines) unless 32GB is really needed, because memory speed is higher with 3 modules on 2009/2010 Mac Pros.

Photoshop Memory Usage setting

Using 70% is the smart move until and unless tests show that more is faster.

The operating system version, Photoshop version, other programs, etc, all influence whether too high a setting improves performance, or instead causes virtual memory paging and/or degrades the ability of the system to have enough spare memory for drive caching. It is a performance see-saw effect under some conditions.

Use 70% setting unless testing proves more is faster

Systems with 24GB or more

Systems with 32GB or more can get away with higher percentages used, since many of the fixed demands for memory change only slightly when more memory is installed.

System with only 8GB or 12GB are more limited in the amount of memory available to Photoshop without negative side effects, especially if other programs are running.

Enough is enough

Remember too that enough is enough— Photoshop will use what it needs, up to the limit set with this preference.

Using a setting of 90% instead of 70% is meaningless when Photoshop really only needs and uses 40%. Photoshop will use what it needs up to the limit; it does not pre-allocate the memory, it’s simply a future limit when Photoshop is launched.

Getting more memory

See discussion on this page.

Optimal memory for 8/12-core Mac Pro — six modules