Copy link to clipboard
Copied
I recently updated my MacBook from a 2017 i5 with 8gb of RAM, to a 2023 M3 with 8gb of RAM. I know 8 isn't ideal, but on my last laptop it was fine for me.
I had hoped my new laptop would match the performance of my old one, however it appears in an odd way it doesn't. If I open a brand new PSD on my new laptop, it is slow! Even just resizing or typing text needs a buffering time.
However, this is where it gets odd. If I open a PSD I created from my old MacBook on my new MacBook, it runs flawlessly. I can even delete every layer, resize the canvas, design what I want without hassle.
why is this?
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
@Robert36486252euy5 8 GB total RAM means you are actually underperforming for Photoshop. Mac OS takes up some of that total, as do other apps.
With newer software, requirements become more evident when lacking in resources.
The three big items are RAM, GPU and HD space. Don't skimp on any.
As for the documents, do you have Maximize Photoshop Compatibilty activated? It could be that 2017 documents don't have the same weight as newly created ones.
Either way, Id upgrade your RAM with Apple to at least 16 - it's fairly inexpensive.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
What are the pixel sizes of these files, and how many layers?
I'm not asking about file sizes, because that depends on compression. What matters is the decompressed data when the file is open.
In any case, 8 GB is nowhere near enough. The integrated GPU in the M3 uses system RAM, and lots of it. You only have a couple of GB left for Photoshop. As long as you have scratch disk space it may continue to run, but not very efficiently.
Normally 16GB should be considered minimum, but for Apple Silicon that should be doubled to 32 GB.