AI10 slow downs on upgraded PC

[Danny_Finch@adobeforums.com]

I just received a new machine from our IT department. The only difference between the old and new set-up is a newer/faster processor. The video card, OS and all other components are the same. However I'm experiencing performance hits in the following areas:
1) The Print dialog takes a long time to appear.
2) Text that is copied takes FOREVER to paste and return the cursor to the previous tool.
3) Opening existing files (especially those containing linked images) takes longer.

My system specs are:
Dell Optiplex GX270 running Win2000 SP4 on a Novell network
NVidia geForce FX 5200 video card driving dual Dell flat panel displays
1GB RAM

Any thoughts?

-Danny

[BobHill@adobeforums.com]

Danny,

Check this one out from Adam Lane:

A slowdown after a prolonged use might be a memory consumption issue relating to the Undo system. There is no limit to the amount of Undos that Illustrator records except for the amount of memory you have.
In Illustrator's preference file, you will find a setting called "memoryUsage" that defaults to 65...which is 65% of your physical memory. This limit is intended to keep Illustrator from causing the OS to page to disk.

However...this setting may not be optimal for any given machine.
Use the Windows Task Manager to confirm this is happening to you. Illustrator.exe will be listed and it's "Mem Usage" will be quite high...many hundreds of megabytes, probably. Also, your available physical memory will be quite low...under 10 megabytes...when swapping.

If this matches your condition...reduce the memoryUsage number from 65 to 50. This may stop your swapping related slowdown entirely.
Also, this situation is greatly worsened when you have other applications in the background. Photoshop, too, likes to have a great deal of memory...use both Illustrator and Photoshop heavily and at the same time...and your machine will "tank".

Bob

[latchet_mcbride@adobeforums.com]

Hi Danny

Just a thought, not sure if its relevant or not - have re-reset the scratch disk setting in preferrences?

Latchet

[Paul A Porter]

I have Illustrator CS. Where in the preferences is "memoryUsage" setting? I've looked forwards and backwards in the preferences and can't find it.

Win 2000
1.5 GB RAM

[latchet_mcbride@adobeforums.com]

Paul - Edit>Preferences>Plug-ins and scratch disks> then set your primary and secondary scratch disks. Check the manual/help files for explanations on these. I have found that using specific empty partitions in your HDD works well.

Hope this help. Let me know if it works for you.

Latchet