p.1 #1 · How to setup a scratch disk in Vista 32bits?
I hear a lot of discussion about a "scratch disk" that can significantly enhance performance in CS and LR. Can I ask what is it and how do I set one up?
I currently have a E8400 3Ghz with 3G ram, using Vista 32 bits. My storage setup is with 2x 320GB hard drive using RAID 0 setup. Does this configuration allow "scratch disk" setup?
Step by step instruction in Vista environment will be very very very nice..... as I am not really computer literate.
p.1 #2 · How to setup a scratch disk in Vista 32bits?
You will already have a scratch disk nominated for Photoshop - you can see where this is under Edit -> Preferences -> Performance. Photoshop uses this area to store temporary data as you work on your images. You can get a performance advantage if you use a physically different hard-drive to your 'System' drive (i.e. the drive on which your OS and programs are usually installed).
In your case your System data is 'striped' across 2 drives (two drives are used to increase speed but your computer will see effectively see them as one area). If these are the only drives you have, the PS Scratch disk will have to reside on the same drives as your OS and programs. You would need to add a separate drive if you wanted to allocate your scratch disk to a separate disk (which should result in better performance).
LR is similar - it has a temporary space set aside (which it calls cache) which you can similarly allocate to any of your computer's hard drives.
p.1 #4 · How to setup a scratch disk in Vista 32bits?
Yes, that's all you'd need to do! It's difficult to quantify the performance increase you would get (I certainly can't). HDDs are cheap enough now so you could always give it a go, noting that you'll always find use for additional storage regardless. I'd just check that you have enough space inside your case for another drive and your motherboard has a spare SATA port (which your HDD will connect to).
I have my OS programs on one (10,000rpm) drive, scratch on a separate (10,000rpm) drive, LR catalog on a separate (7,200rpm) drive, Images on 2 separate (7,200rpm) drives as well as 8GB RAM, fast processor and I still find PS slow at times!
