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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Setting up a new G5, scratch disks, Tiger,etc
Joshua Brown, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Salt Lake City | UT | USA | Posted: 7:39 PM on 04.26.05 |
->> We are getting a brand new G5 here at work and I have a meeting tomorrow to tell the IT people EXACTLY how I want it set up. It's a dual 2.0ghz with 1.5 GB of memory in it.
I have a list of all the programs we want on there, my main question is this...
Is it worth configuring a scratch disk for Photoshop or any other programs? Any links to hard numbers showing significant speed increases in Photoshop using one?
Obviously Photoshop and Photo mechanic are what we are using 90 percent of the time, but we will also be doing more multimedia with Final Cut or audio editing.
More memory is better. But are there any hard numbers out there for the G5's? What sort of speed difference is there between 1.5 and 2.5 GB's of memory. I know Photoshop maxes out a 2GB, maybe CS2 is different.
If we do partition the hard drive, what is the best configuration? The machine will be shared and have multiple users if that matters. I was thinking three partitions, one small scratch disk, one large one for files and projects, and a third one for the system.
Finally, can you guys think of any reasons 10.4 (tiger) would be beneficial in a newspaper setting?
Thanks. I want to make sure we set this one up right so we work the kinks out before purchasing two more G5's at the end of the week. Feel free to email me offline if you have any insight. |
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Todd Corzett, Photographer
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Livermore | CA | USA | Posted: 8:04 PM on 04.26.05 |
->> You will not see a speed difference (well, any noticeable one) with a scratch disk on the same physical drive as your OS/Application. A scratch disk is typically a separate drive (not just a separate partition).
Tiger... the thing that really looks great here is the "Automator" feature. I'll be interested to see if I can setup an automated workflow from inserting CF into computer to my sort... and then from sort to ftp. There is also core image, but I think I'll do my adjusting in Photoshop.
-Todd... |
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Joshua Brown, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Salt Lake City | UT | USA | Posted: 8:50 PM on 04.26.05 |
->> I guess Automator is only for Applescript applications according to an email I got from the Photo Mechanic people. But its promising for sure.
OK, then how much of a performance boost would we get if we added a second drive? either internal or external. |
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Tim Tadder, Photographer
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San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 9:06 PM on 04.26.05 |
| ->> If you add a second internal try to get one that spins at 10000rpms. This will really give you photoshop a boost. Put nothing else on the scratch disc and you will see a huge increase in speed. I have this set up on my machine and it flys. |
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Ron Scheffler, Photographer
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Hamilton (Toronto area) | Ontario | Canada | Posted: 12:27 PM on 04.27.05 |
->> Regarding your question about Tiger and whether or not to have that installed: It might be a good idea. Assuming your newspaper is similar to those with which I have had experience, it may be a long time before another round of upgrades comes along. This way you will start off with the most current OS available, for which all the future apps will be written. If you are adding a couple other G5s in the future, they will probably ship with Tiger, so you might as well keep everything consistent. This will allow you to learn Tiger now along with all the new stuff you are getting, rather than having to go through that process once you are settled into a comfortable workflow.
Some general Photoshop tips for improving performance: http://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/317280.html
http://www.macgurus.com/guides/photoshopguide.php
I like Tim's idea of the 10K scratch drive. For best performance, before moving into RAID territory, three drives might be the ticket. One for OS. One for files. One for scratch. Unfortunately the G5 comes configured to only support two internals... but that could be modified. There are a few kits out on the market.
http://www.wiebetech.com/products/G5Jamplus.php
http://www.transintl.com/store/category.cfm?Category=2490
If you want to stick with two internals, get the 10K for scratch and partition the OS drive so you have a separate area for photo files. |
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