Catalogs System run out of Application Memory…LrC using 400GB

[mikebore]

Lightroom Version Number

13.5.1

Operating System

1. macOS 14 Sonoma

My brother in law has just increased his RAM from 16GB to 128GB on a 27” iMac (2020) running Sonoma 14.6.1, after seeing red memory pressure and spinning rainbows. The machine correctly reports 128GB RAM. Memory pressure in Activity Monitor was low.

He is very surprised to get the message in the attached screenshot. Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[clee01l]

Lightroom and all apps use the Swapfile to extend RAM. This is what’s is showing And perhaps temporary storage where the Swapfile resides along with all of the temp files LrC creates have consumed all of the space on the Primary disk.

Rebooting MacOS will clear the temp files and the Swap file will start over anew.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[mikebore]

Lightroom and all apps use the Swapfile to extend RAM. This is what’s is showing And perhaps temporary storage where the Swapfile resides along with all of the temp files LrC creates have consumed all of the space on the Primary disk.

Rebooting MacOS will clear the temp files and the Swap file will start over anew.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thanks. Understand about swap which means memory used can exceed installed RAM, but surely this is not normal. It didn't happen to him when he only had 16GB RAM !

 

[clee01l]

I’m no longer a fan of Intel Macs. I think the OS is now focused on Silicon Macs and it will be a matter of time before Apple stops supporting them with OS updates. I think Apple (and maybe Adobe) is trying to say something with this LARGE RAM consumption.

How did he manage to even upgrade the RAM? Most newer machines are limited from the time of purchase. FWIW 64GB of RAM seems to be the most needed for any LrC operations.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Gnits]

In Windows the Pagefile probably does a similar job to the Mac swap file. The size of the Pagefile is often calculated relative to the amount of physical memory. This can create problems / conflicts if the Pagefile consumes more disk space than the user expects and the drive then has difficulty creating other temporary spaces. So, adding a lot of memory to a system may need consideration of the system disk size as well.

This may not be the case here, but adding a lot of memory may need one to consider other factors as well.

 

[mikebore]

How did he manage to even upgrade the RAM? Most newer machines are limited from the time of purchase. FWIW 64GB of RAM seems to be the most needed for any LrC operations.

27” iMacs have always had upgradeable RAM.

 

[mikebore]

In Windows the Pagefile probably does a similar job to the Mac swap file. The size of the Pagefile is often calculated relative to the amount of physical memory. This can create problems / conflicts if the Pagefile consumes more disk space than the user expects and the drive then has difficulty creating other temporary spaces. So, adding a lot of memory to a system may need consideration of the system disk size as well.

This may not be the case here, but adding a lot of memory may need one to consider other factors as well.

Thanks . His iMac has a 4TB internal SSD which had become quite full, but he offloaded a lot of stuff to an external recently so I am confident his internal has plenty of fast space.

 

[clee01l]

27” iMacs have always had upgradeable RAM.

My last 27” iMac had to removed the screen from the case to get to the Memory. (And reglue it when finished.). Not a task for the inexperienced or even many experienced like me.

I’m not sure if OWC even offers the “how to” instructions any more.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[mikebore]

My last 27” iMac had to removed the screen from the case to get to the Memory. (And reglue it when finished.). Not a task for the inexperienced or even many experienced like me.

I’m not sure if OWC even offers the “how to” instructions any more.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Upgrading RAM on a 27” iMac is a five minute user task, rated “ Easy” by iFixit .There is a little panel beneath the hinge giving access to the four slots.

 

[clee01l]

Upgrading RAM on a 27” iMac is a five minute user task, rated “ Easy” by iFixit .There is a little panel beneath the hinge giving access to the four slots.

I have not had a 27” iMac with such a panel for many years. The iMac in question must be ancient. And yes my first iMac had such a panel. My least two did not.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[mikebore]

I have not had a 27” iMac with such a panel for many years. The iMac in question must be ancient. And yes my first iMac had such a panel. My least two did not.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

2020. One of the last 27" iMacs. See this link for example. https://9to5mac.com/2020/08/09/how-to-upgrade-2020-imac-ram-video-5k-27-inch-128-gb/
Note Step 4 about the cover.

 

[clee01l]

I am not disputing the presence of the cover. However IIRC, My 27” iMac was from 2019 and could not be upgraded without removing the screen. A nearly 5 y.o. iMac that will be obsoleted possibly by the year 2026 or so will be hard to justify with more expensive RAM.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[mikebore]

I am not disputing the presence of the cover. However IIRC, My 27” iMac was from 2019 and could not be upgraded without removing the screen. A nearly 5 y.o. iMac that will be obsoleted possibly by the year 2026 or so will be hard to justify with more expensive RAM.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

So are you disputing the two links I have supplied about changing the RAM through the cover?
I used to have a 2017 27" iMac and personally changed the RAM and my brother in law ha s done the same. All consistent with the two links.
He judged that $279 RAM upgrade cost was worth it for him at this time compared to the outlay for a new 27" monitor and Mini or Ultra.

 

[clee01l]

So are you disputing the two links I have supplied about changing the RAM through the cover?
I used to have a 2017 27" iMac and personally changed the RAM and my brother in law ha s done the same. All consistent with the two links.
He judged that $279 RAM upgrade cost was worth it for him at this time compared to the outlay for a new 27" monitor and Mini or Ultra.

I’m not disputing anything. If you have an old iMac with a removable cover for memory, you can upgrade the RAM. Newer Intel Macs did not have a removable cover and I replaced mine several years ago with a 2022 Silicon M1 24” iMac before upgrading to a M2 Ultra Mac Studion this January. FWIW, Silicon Macs integrate CPU, GPU and RAM all on the single Chip SO it makes sense to but the best package for you current AND future use.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[mikebore]

Newer Intel 27" iMacs do have a removable cover for replacing RAM, so not sure why you had to take the screen off your 2019.
Anyway to try and get back on topic we have an ancient 2020 27" iMac with 128GB of RAM running out of memory. (Googling shows that Lightroom on silicon macs can have the same problem.) Not everyone and not all the time, and yes restarting clears it. I am still surprised that it happened at all and am hoping this thread can throw some light.
It has not recurred for him and I have suggested he quits Lightroom or reboots the machine more often.
Thanks for any help.

 

[Replytoken]

Newer Intel 27" iMacs do have a removable cover for replacing RAM, so not sure why you had to take the screen off your 2019.
Anyway to try and get back on topic we have an ancient 2020 27" iMac with 128GB of RAM running out of memory. (Googling shows that Lightroom on silicon macs can have the same problem.) Not everyone and not all the time, and yes restarting clears it. I am still surprised that it happened at all and am hoping this thread can throw some light.
It has not recurred for him and I have suggested he quits Lightroom or reboots the machine more often.
Thanks for any help.

There have been a lot of posts about memory and performance issues with the latest releases of LRC. It is not impacting everyone, so you may have to hold on until Adobe releases an update. If you want to go on record with the issue, you can file a problem report with Adobe. Short of that you could do some troubleshooting and report back with questions and further observations if you are so inclined. In this kind of situation, it is hard to offer suggestions without more information.

--Ken