Memory issue with M1 Mac and Lightroom Classic 10.3

[EarPlugs]

I am running into serious performance issues with LR Classic 10.3 on a M1 Mac with 16GB RAM and 2TB SSD.

My LR Classic Catalog is about 15GB with approx 900,000 images. Yes it is a big catalogue. Opening the catalog is no problem, processing files is usually ok, but once I start to do other tasks, such as face detection, or do some file management tasks, say Synchronizing Folders, the machine quickly runs out of memory. I see that LR often consumes way more than 16GB of memory according to Activity Monitor... and usually, once it uses more than 16GB, the machine will slow to a crawl. Is this because my catalog is so big? I really do not want to break up the Catalog, but this is not functional. I am sure this has a lot with the fact that the M1 Macs are currently capped at 16GB of RAM, but I wonder if there is anything Adobe can do to work around this limitation for the time being.

[dj_paige]

I can understand how synchronizing folders with a catalog of 900,000 images would use a lot of memory.

... but I wonder if there is anything Adobe can do to work around this limitation for the time being.

I think you can change your workflow so that synchronizing folders is not needed. You can also add more memory.

[EarPlugs]

Oh I never tried to Sync the entire catalogue! I only tried to sync a folder, perhaps with 1000 images, and it would choke. 

And no I cannot add more memory. That is not an option in the current M1 Macs.

[dj_paige]

Yes, I understand, but to sync 1000 images, the entire catalog has to be searched for  duplicates.

Anyway, you need to file a formal feature request/bug report with Adobe.

[DdeGannes]

Lightroom Classic specs is Minimum Ram 8 GB, Recommended 16 GB.

If you are using LrC and Photoshop CC at the same time I would prefer and advise getting more. Currently I am using an iMac 2015 model with 24GB and I have put the M1 Mac with 16GB limitation as a replacement out of my mind.

[EarPlugs]

No I am not using LR and PS at the same time.

I had 64GB in my iMac Pro before. But with the new M1 Macs, they max out at 16GB, there's no way to add more.

[Ian Lyons]

Given that the issue relates to perfomance on hardware that LrC has only just been updated to support natively, then I think it best you submit the details on the Lightroom Classic Feedback forum https://feedback.photoshop.com/topics/lightroom-classic/5f5f2093785c1f1e6cc40872 This forum is monitored by Adobe QE, etc