Paging out with 3GB of Ram normal?

[wing70301]

Hello all,

I'm running on a C2D MBP, Rev. B. I recently bumped up my rig to 3 GB of ram, because I would page out a lot when I was running with 1 GB. However, I find that I'm still paging out a lot(at a slower rate, however). I'll normally just do basic internet stuff, but dabble a bit in FCP, Photoshop, and iMovie. Is this normal? If not, what can I do to about this? Thanks!

 

[Papajohn56]

Hello all,

I'm running on a C2D MBP, Rev. B. I recently bumped up my rig to 3 GB of ram, because I would page out a lot when I was running with 1 GB. However, I find that I'm still paging out a lot(at a slower rate, however). I'll normally just do basic internet stuff, but dabble a bit in FCP, Photoshop, and iMovie. Is this normal? If not, what can I do to about this? Thanks!

It's normal because you have a motherboard that supports dual channel RAM. for ideal performance, you should use two identical sticks of RAM, size and speed.

 

[wing70301]

I think I'm a little confused. If I add another 2 GB stick, identical to the one I already have, it'd be running in dual channel, but that extra 1 GB isn't going to be utilized. Would adding another 2 GB stick reduce the pageouts that I'm seeing?

 

[martinmartin]

What does paging out mean? And how do you know if your computer is doing it?

I see that term thrown around here a bit, but I don't know what it means.

Thanks.

 

[jdechko]

For intensive applications that you've listed, some amount of paging is going to be normal, especially if you're working on large files. Nothing is going to fix that besides either a) not using those programs, or getting b) getting a Mac Pro. Think about this, a normal single-sided DVD is 4.7GB. In order to completely stop paging, you'd need way more than 4.7GB of RAM (image + OS X + any software running). Like you said, though, you're still getting page outs, just at a much slower rate (and presumably only when you're running FCP, PS, and iMovie). So don't worry about it.

EDIT: I just looked at your attachment; that's a lot of pageouts, how long has the machine been running? How does it look after a fresh boot under normal usage (read: without firing up FCP, PS, and iMovie)? If you've done anything in those programs since a fresh boot, your numbers will be off.

martinmartin, read this: http://guides.macrumors.com/Enhancing_Performance_Of_Mac_OS_X#How_to_determine_if_you_need_more_RAM

and wing70301, you might want to read the entire link posted to see if any of that helps.

 

[Shaduu]

What does paging out mean? And how do you know if your computer is doing it?

I see that term thrown around here a bit, but I don't know what it means.

Thanks.

Paging out is when your computer moves files from the RAM onto the harddrive. If your pageouts are larger than your amount of pageins then you need more RAM.

To see your pageins/outs, launch Activity Monitor (Finder > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor) and it'll be near the little memory pie chart thingy.

 

[martinmartin]

Paging out is when your computer moves files from the RAM onto the harddrive. If your pageouts are larger than your amount of pageins then you need more RAM.

To see your pageins/outs, launch Activity Monitor (Finder > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor) and it'll be near the little memory pie chart thingy.

Thank you for the reply - I guess I'm ok for the moment...

 

[wing70301]

The picture from earlier was about three or four days without a reboot. Just did a fresh reboot and used it lightly (ie. no pro apps) for about 10 minutes. Here's what I get. What do you guys think?

For intensive applications that you've listed, some amount of paging is going to be normal, especially if you're working on large files. Nothing is going to fix that besides either a) not using those programs, or getting b) getting a Mac Pro. Think about this, a normal single-sided DVD is 4.7GB. In order to completely stop paging, you'd need way more than 4.7GB of RAM (image + OS X + any software running). Like you said, though, you're still getting page outs, just at a much slower rate (and presumably only when you're running FCP, PS, and iMovie). So don't worry about it.

EDIT: I just looked at your attachment; that's a lot of pageouts, how long has the machine been running? How does it look after a fresh boot under normal usage (read: without firing up FCP, PS, and iMovie)? If you've done anything in those programs since a fresh boot, your numbers will be off.

martinmartin, read this: http://guides.macrumors.com/Enhancing_Performance_Of_Mac_OS_X#How_to_determine_if_you_need_more_RAM

and wing70301, you might want to read the entire link posted to see if any of that helps.

 

[Laslo Panaflex]

Do you use Motion? Motion is very memory intensive, and since it uses your video card exclusively to render all items, you will get many pageouts, there is no way around it, unless you get more ram.

 

[jdechko]

The picture from earlier was about three or four days without a reboot. Just did a fresh reboot and used it lightly (ie. no pro apps) for about 10 minutes. Here's what I get. What do you guys think?

It's as I suspected. You're fine as far as RAM is concerned. Now go enjoy your computer.