In the Classic OS, it was so easy to see when you were getting around to needing a RAM upgrade. Programs would each take up a preset amount of memory, and when they started using so much that you needed to turn on VM, you were in upgrade territory.
Now I am all up-to-date with OS X, since getting my G5 in Oct. '03, but RAM usage eludes me -- let me explain. I have iPulse, which handily gives me the dope on how much RAM and VM are being utilized by each app. Now, my RAM usage never goes past halfway or so, and yet my G5 really seems to choke on VM when I do heavy work, particularly in Photoshop, esp. printing from it (the document being spooled, I guess). I am very sensitive to excessive hard disk activity that indicates VM is being used, from years of having to deal with low memory situations.
So, if I'm not low on real RAM, why does the disk suddenly go through massive read-write operations like it's sending stuff all over the place, when all I'm doing is saving or switching apps? iPulse shows all kinds of stuff happening at times like these. Do such tasks always involve the VM, OR is my Mac calling on VM to supplement the RAM because it would take up too much real RAM???
Oh, I have 768 MB.
Now I am all up-to-date with OS X, since getting my G5 in Oct. '03, but RAM usage eludes me -- let me explain. I have iPulse, which handily gives me the dope on how much RAM and VM are being utilized by each app. Now, my RAM usage never goes past halfway or so, and yet my G5 really seems to choke on VM when I do heavy work, particularly in Photoshop, esp. printing from it (the document being spooled, I guess). I am very sensitive to excessive hard disk activity that indicates VM is being used, from years of having to deal with low memory situations.
So, if I'm not low on real RAM, why does the disk suddenly go through massive read-write operations like it's sending stuff all over the place, when all I'm doing is saving or switching apps? iPulse shows all kinds of stuff happening at times like these. Do such tasks always involve the VM, OR is my Mac calling on VM to supplement the RAM because it would take up too much real RAM???
Oh, I have 768 MB.