how much RAM do you actually need for Photoshop?

[skynet]

I have 512 megs of DDR ram and I have done alot of Image editing, however its never been real professional work. I have never experianced any problems or lagging though. The work I have done never exceeded 10 Layers and the biggest File size Ive ever worked with was probably around 50 megs. I am using windows XP and photoshop 5 too.
However If you are going to be doing some real professional editing I think a gig or ram would be nice, especially DDR. But that is only if your going to be working with file sizes above 100 megs (before saving or combining layers).
It really depends on what you are doing though. 512 has treated me real nice for the small work that I have done.

[coleslaw]

I have been able to use 256MB RAM in a 500MHz K6-2 system for several years now without any problems in Photoshop. Sure, applying filters and what-not takes a bit longer than a faster system, but it's still very manageable.

[Ladogaboy]

Originally posted by coleslaw
I have been able to use 256MB RAM in a 500MHz K6-2 system for several years now without any problems in Photoshop. Sure, applying filters and what-not takes a bit longer than a faster system, but it's still very manageable.

But that is as much the processor as the ram, right, coleslaw?

Chosen, 256 megs is fine for me, but I also don't think that I would see much of a gain. But that is because I'm still running Me, and I don't think it is quite as good at managing the memory.

[xsiled2]

ive been throwin down wit PS with 64mb :D

[Jeffbx]

Also depends on the version of PS -

We had 5.5 running smoothly on W2K for a long time with 256MB. When we updated to PS 6.0, it started choking on less than 512MB with the same images.

[DoPeY5007]

I am building a dual PIII system and I want to max the board... I want the full 2gig :D

PS should run smooooooooooooooth :P

[hapoo]

shiiiiit... 486, 16 megs of ram haulin' ass! it WAS like PS 2 or 3 but still. You should've seen how long the filters took.

[coleslaw]

Originally posted by chosenfool
does PS actually take advantage of SMP, or dual-processor rigs? does it actually make use of the 2 processors? Yes, Photoshop offers SMP support. :P

[Cantacuzene]

I have 768 megs and it works pretty well. I noticed that once you hit a certain level of RAM the CPU begins to be the factor that holds you back. I imagine it's the same if you have a fast cpu and low RAM. I guess the best solution is to get a fast system with at least 384.

[ZrEo0]

i have photoshop using 256 on its own, and about 30 gigs os a scrach file, it works well:D