Inactive memory - I want to clear it.
I have a 2010 macbook pro with 6 gigs of RAM.
WHAT I KNOW: that inactive memory is the "same" as active memory; that inactive memory is basically cached information that can quickly be replaced when needed; that the system automatically regulates inactive and active memory.
Well that´s peachy, but it still causes problems.
THE SITUATION: I am a graphic designer, which means that I use photoshop a lot. Part of my job is the creation of gigantic publicity images which take up a lot of ram memory.
Lets suppose I make giant image A, save it, and then I close it. I make giant image B, save it, and close it. I make giant image C, save it, and close it. At this point, I have all my free memory taken up, and only have inactive memory left. Well, when I go to open up giant image A, it takes forever to load (10 to 20 minutes) and the computer slows to a crawl - even though there are no images or any other memory sucking programs open.
Or lets say that I have giant image A open, but I need to open giant image B and C. Same problem. Since I have no free memory, the system slows to a crawl. What has been my remedy? Force close photoshop, and reopen it. Upon doing this I have a ton of free memory, I can open images A, B, and/or C at the same time and they load at lightning speed (1 to 2 minutes, versus the 10 to 20 minute wait when my computer is relying on inactive memory).
WHAT I NEED: It is easy to say that this is all Adobe´s fault, or that the system´s regulation of memory is vastly superior to Windows, but that isn´t going to help me. What I need is an application, or technique where I can clear as much inactive memory as possible.
This is not a circumstance where I don´t understand what´s happening. I upgraded from 4 gigs of RAM to 6, and while the upgrade has helped it is only relieving a symptom of the problem and not the cause. In my line of work, I need to be able to work quickly and not have to rely on whether my system knows when to replace cached information.
WHAT I KNOW: that inactive memory is the "same" as active memory; that inactive memory is basically cached information that can quickly be replaced when needed; that the system automatically regulates inactive and active memory.
Well that´s peachy, but it still causes problems.
THE SITUATION: I am a graphic designer, which means that I use photoshop a lot. Part of my job is the creation of gigantic publicity images which take up a lot of ram memory.
Lets suppose I make giant image A, save it, and then I close it. I make giant image B, save it, and close it. I make giant image C, save it, and close it. At this point, I have all my free memory taken up, and only have inactive memory left. Well, when I go to open up giant image A, it takes forever to load (10 to 20 minutes) and the computer slows to a crawl - even though there are no images or any other memory sucking programs open.
Or lets say that I have giant image A open, but I need to open giant image B and C. Same problem. Since I have no free memory, the system slows to a crawl. What has been my remedy? Force close photoshop, and reopen it. Upon doing this I have a ton of free memory, I can open images A, B, and/or C at the same time and they load at lightning speed (1 to 2 minutes, versus the 10 to 20 minute wait when my computer is relying on inactive memory).
WHAT I NEED: It is easy to say that this is all Adobe´s fault, or that the system´s regulation of memory is vastly superior to Windows, but that isn´t going to help me. What I need is an application, or technique where I can clear as much inactive memory as possible.
This is not a circumstance where I don´t understand what´s happening. I upgraded from 4 gigs of RAM to 6, and while the upgrade has helped it is only relieving a symptom of the problem and not the cause. In my line of work, I need to be able to work quickly and not have to rely on whether my system knows when to replace cached information.
macbook pro, Mac OS X (10.6.4), 6 gigs RAM
