Re: Computer upset by large images

On May 11, 6:16 am, Chris Malcolm <c...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I've recently started loading large images into my desk top computer
(roughly 2600 x 3900) and playing about with them using Picasa, which
does all sorts of whizzy graphic effects as you move images and
thumbnails around. After usually about 15-20mins of this a switch
trips with an audbile clunk in my computer and it reboots.

My guesses are that I'm using the graphics processor on the vid card
more, and either this is overheating, or the high rate of bulk memory
transfers is heating something else, or the floating point hardware is
getting a lot more exercise than usual and heating up too much, or the
extra power consumption is a little too much for the PSU.

I've taken the side panels off and scoped internal temperatures with a
remote IR reader. The hottest thing I've found is on the video board.
From the backside of the main finned and fanned processor chip on the
video board I get a reading of about 55C when not using Picasa, and
the reading rises to over 60C when using Picasa. Is this the culprit?
If so will a bigger fan or heatsink on it fix the problem?

The processor has a very large heatsink and fan on it, and things are
too crowded for me to get good temp readings off that.

Just hoping that some other photographers have stumbled over this one
before and got some useful tips :-)

--
Chris Malcolm c...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx DoD #205
IPAB, Informatics, JCMB, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JZ, UK
[http://www.dai.ed.ac.uk/homes/cam/]

Generally the success of working with graphics files is dependent on
how much RAM is in your computer, and how well the graphics program
interfaces with that RAM. I would expect Picassa to be designed to
work with smaller images (web images) and not be all that efficient in
working with the system RAM. It sounds like you have to increase your
system RAM in any case. If the computer is rebooting at 20 minutes
then save exit and restart Picassa every 10 or 15 minutes. The other
alternative is to get another editing program I'm not suggesating
Photoshop (my choice) but GIMP (free), Corel Photo (whatever they are
calling it now), PaintShop Pro, or Photoshop Elements. All of these
are programs designed to work with your larger images. The first thing
to do is get your system RAM up to at least 1gb (XP) or at least 2gb
(Vista) more is better.

Tom

.

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