Constantly running out of RAM

[mgstolk]

I am running a PowerMac Dual 2.0 G5 with the latest updated version of Tiger. I have maxed out the RAM to 8GB and upgraded the original video card to support my 30" display.

I use a helper applications called "Free RAM". This program basically calculates what RAM you have available.

I am a graphic designer and need to run Quark Xpress 7, InDesign, Photoshop & Illustrator (CS4 with latest updates) simultaneously. On top of these 4 I also run Mail, Safari, Acrobat Professional, Extensis Suitcase X and iBiz (time management). These programs are all running all the time.

After launch and all apps running, everything is great. I have 2.95 GB of RAM still free (Free RAM). As the day goes by, and I have opened and closed numerous files this amount of free RAM dwindles and eventually I am left with 96 mb of RAM just before the CPU says "Enough is enough!" and everything grinds to a halt.

Now previously I was running CS2 and I never ran into this issue. The problem started when I upgraded to CS3. Now with CS4 I am seeing the issue almost daily.

Now comes the question... Is the issue simply outdated hardware? Or, do I have a software issue. I am afraid to purchase a new CPU in the attempts to remedy this problem. If, in fact it is only a software issue. I find it strange that after a restart I have almost 3GB of RAM available. And yet as the day goes by I run out of RAM. I understand that as I open files more RAM will be used to support the open file. However, after the file is closed the RAM should free-up and be available again.

Any thoughts?

 

[djackmac]

I am a graphic designer and need to run Quark Xpress 7, InDesign, Photoshop & Illustrator (CS4 with latest updates) simultaneously. On top of these 4 I also run Mail, Safari, Acrobat Professional, Extensis Suitcase X and iBiz (time management). These programs are all running all the time.

After launch and all apps running, everything is great. I have 2.95 GB of RAM still free (Free RAM). As the day goes by, and I have opened and closed numerous files this amount of free RAM dwindles and eventually I am left with 96 mb of RAM just before the CPU says "Enough is enough!" and everything grinds to a halt.

Now previously I was running CS2 and I never ran into this issue. The problem started when I upgraded to CS3. Now with CS4 I am seeing the issue almost daily.

Now comes the question... Is the issue simply outdated hardware? Or, do I have a software issue. I am afraid to purchase a new CPU in the attempts to remedy this problem. If, in fact it is only a software issue. I find it strange that after a restart I have almost 3GB of RAM available. And yet as the day goes by I run out of RAM. I understand that as I open files more RAM will be used to support the open file. However, after the file is closed the RAM should free-up and be available again.

Any thoughts?

No software is created perfectly. Its sounds like some of those apps have memory leaks. When you close a file do you quit the program that was running it? Because otherwise I can't see closing a file doing much to free up RAM. Moving from CS2 to CS4 and all other factors being the same that's really not surprising because the newer versions are even more RAM hungry that the previous versions. Since a lot of apps are susceptible to memory leaks the only real cure to that is a restart. How much free HD space do you have? There should be at least 1.5 times the amount of RAM available for swap file usage on the HD.

 

[MisterMe]

I am running a PowerMac Dual 2.0 G5 with the latest updated version of Tiger. ...

I use a helper applications called "Free RAM". ...

... Is the issue simply outdated hardware? ...

Any thoughts?

You are on a "fool's errand." Free RAM sounds like a utility designed to "help" you along your way.

Here's the deal. MacOS X is UNIX. It is a preemptive multi-user multi-tasking virtual memory operating system. The OS automatically allocates memory as needed. It also tries to use all available RAM.

Unused RAM is wasted RAM.

MacOS 9 allows the user to allocate RAM to each application. In the older OS, it was possible to have unused or free RAM. It was also possible for your running apps to need more RAM than was available on your system. MacOS X is not MacOS 9+1.

Ditch Free RAM. Go and worry no more.