Hello,
I have been reading several posts throughout the forums and would like to confirm a few things on the best MAC/Photoshop CS3 set up.

Here are my specs:
MacPro 2 x 2.8 Ghz Quad-Core Intel Xeon - MAC OS 10.5.4
PS CS3 10.0.1 (Full CS3 as well)
18 GB 800 Mhz DDR2 FB-DIMM
Internal Drive 1 = 320GB from Apple, partitioned in half. 50% OS, System Drive, Applications, etc. 50% Scratch disc.
Internal Drive 2 = 320GB Hitachi Main Media/working Files
External Drive 1 = 750GB GTECH SATA II, 7200 RPM/16MB cache - Secondary Freelance Media/working Files
External Drive 2 = 1TB Maxtor, 1 Touch. I'm not too fond of this drive, but I have it and use for a dedicated B/u, Super-Duper and Time Machine. (FYI - I also have an off-site b/u server)

I believe I have searched and read most of the recent posts on the subject. But, maybe I missed something. If so, please provide a link. Here are the two that I thought were most relevant to my question.
"Optimize performance in Photoshop CS3 & Memory allocation and usage (Photoshop CS2)" and all the associated links provided. <http://www.adobeforums.com/webx/.3bbb6813>

"Scratch Disc/RAM allocation issues" <http://www.adobeforums.com/webx?128@@.59b5c2e9>
Thank You!

What I do primarily with the system:
Graphic Design for both print and the website design. Occasionally very large files for vehicle wraps and/or large format banners.

New on the horizon: HD Video Editing/Final Cut. I know that is another forum. But if you have experience with that, please chime in. If necessary, I can take that part of the conversation to another forum. My primary focus is performance with CS3, most of my time being spent in PS.

So, here is my questions:
1) Is my current set up the best for PS CS3 performance?
2) Have I missed anything?
3) Can/should I reduce the scratch disc size? Is this size overkill?

19GB Ram, Set PS Memory Usage to 100% "Available-Memory Allowance"
150GB dedicated scratch disc

Thank you in advance,
Steve

Internal Drive 1 = 320GB from Apple, partitioned in half. 50% OS, System
Drive, Applications, etc. 50% Scratch disc.




this is not good. the scratch needs to be on a second drive so the system and scratch are not fighting for the use of the read write heads.

Buko,
Hmm, I did not think of that. I can make that change.

Can I gather that the BEST would be to have completely separate drive as a dedicated scratch disc, NOT a partition of ANY drive?

How about the size of that disk?

It is my understanding that you can use a partitioned secondary HD as scratch as long as you set the first partition on that drive as the scratch disk.

I have a 50gb partition set up as my scratch disk.

Jim, I thought of that after Buko's post,.. but if the file I was working on was saved on the same disc and the partitioned Scratch disc, wouldn't I be faced with the same scenario Buko mentioned? A "fighting for the use of the read write heads."?

...but if the file I was working on was saved on the same disc and the
partitioned Scratch disc, wouldn't I be faced with the same scenario Buko
mentioned? A "fighting for the use of the read write heads."?




Not really. The only time such conflict would occur is during Saves, which does not happen all that often. Scratch disk usage by PS is constant.

Also remember that hard drives slow above 40% full or so. Keep drives that need speed no more than about half full.

Allen,
That is very helpful. It will keep me from having to purchase another drive for scratch only. I know drives are relatively inexpensive, but in the current economy, every $ matters!

So, then I would be good to reformat the following:
Un-partition Internal Drive 1, leaving the whole drive for OS, System Drive, Applications, etc.
Partition Internal Drive 2. Media/working Files & Scratch.

What would be a recommended space for scratch? I have 320GB to work with and I am currently only using about 50GB of for Media/working Files. (but this will continue to grow)

Drives are cheap....

Get the smallest drive from Apple (250GB?) use that for your OS and Apps.

Pick up 3 more drives, 2-250GB and 1-500GB (minimum).
Newegg.com has 500GB Seagate Barracuda's for under $70.

Use one for files/media, one for scratch, and the third for backup.

Never buy hard drives or RAM from Apple. They charge MUCH more than current market prices.

Un-partition Internal Drive 1




not necessary