diff --git a/stepmania/src/BannerCache.cpp b/stepmania/src/BannerCache.cpp
index 4371c26b2f..b9963ec0d2 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/BannerCache.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/BannerCache.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include "RageUtil.h"
 #include "RageLog.h"
 #include "BannerCache.h"
+#include "PrefsManager.h"
 #include "SDL_utils.h"
 #include "SDL_dither.h"
 #include "SDL_image.h"
@@ -37,6 +38,10 @@ CString BannerCache::GetBannerCachePath( CString BannerPath )
 /* Load all banners that havn't been loaded already. */
 void BannerCache::LoadAllBanners()
 {
+	LOG->Trace("guh %i", PREFSMAN->m_bBannerCache);
+	if( !PREFSMAN->m_bBannerCache )
+		return;
+
 	/* Load all banners. */
 	IniFile::const_iterator it = BannerData.begin();
 	for( ; it != BannerData.end(); ++it )
@@ -58,6 +63,17 @@ void BannerCache::LoadAllBanners()
 
 		m_BannerPathToImage[BannerPath] = img;
 	}
+
+	
+	map<CString,SDL_Surface *>::iterator ban;
+	int total_size = 0;
+	for( ban = m_BannerPathToImage.begin(); ban != m_BannerPathToImage.end(); ++ban )
+	{
+		const SDL_Surface *&img = ban->second;
+		const int size = img->pitch * img->h;
+		total_size += size;
+	}
+	LOG->Info( "%i bytes of banners loaded", total_size );
 }
 
 void BannerCache::UnloadAllBanners()
@@ -228,6 +244,8 @@ static inline int closest( int num, int n1, int n2 )
 	return n1;
 }
 
+/* We write the cache even if we won't use it, so we don't have to recache everything
+ * if the memory or settings change. */
 void BannerCache::CacheSongBanner( CString BannerPath )
 {
 	SDL_Surface *img = IMG_Load( BannerPath );
@@ -325,7 +343,10 @@ void BannerCache::CacheSongBanner( CString BannerPath )
 
 	mySDL_SaveSurface( img, Path );
 
-	m_BannerPathToImage[BannerPath] = img;
+	if( PREFSMAN->m_bBannerCache )
+		m_BannerPathToImage[BannerPath] = img;
+	else
+		SDL_FreeSurface(img);
 
 	/* Remember the original size. */
 	BannerData.SetValue ( BannerPath, "Path", Path );
diff --git a/stepmania/src/PrefsManager.cpp b/stepmania/src/PrefsManager.cpp
index 7ad721f8c0..a565d7c85b 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/PrefsManager.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/PrefsManager.cpp
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ PrefsManager::PrefsManager()
 	m_bSoloSingle = false;
 	m_bDelayedTextureDelete = true;
 	m_bDelayedScreenLoad = false;
+	m_bBannerCache = false; // XXX
 	m_MusicWheelUsesSections = ALWAYS;
 	m_iMusicWheelSwitchSpeed = 10;
 	m_bEasterEggs = true;
@@ -181,6 +182,7 @@ void PrefsManager::ReadGlobalPrefsFromDisk( bool bSwitchToLastPlayedGame )
 	ini.GetValue ( "Options", "DWIPath",					m_DWIPath );
 	ini.GetValueB( "Options", "DelayedTextureDelete",		m_bDelayedTextureDelete );
 	ini.GetValueB( "Options", "DelayedScreenLoad",			m_bDelayedScreenLoad );
+	ini.GetValueB( "Options", "BannerCache",				m_bBannerCache );
 	ini.GetValueI( "Options", "MusicWheelUsesSections",		(int&)m_MusicWheelUsesSections );
 	ini.GetValueI( "Options", "MusicWheelSwitchSpeed",		m_iMusicWheelSwitchSpeed );
 	ini.GetValue ( "Options", "SoundDrivers",				m_sSoundDrivers );
@@ -277,6 +279,7 @@ void PrefsManager::SaveGlobalPrefsToDisk()
 	ini.SetValue ( "Options", "DWIPath",					m_DWIPath );
 	ini.SetValueB( "Options", "DelayedTextureDelete",		m_bDelayedTextureDelete );
 	ini.SetValueB( "Options", "DelayedScreenLoad",			m_bDelayedScreenLoad );
+	ini.SetValueB( "Options", "BannerCache",				m_bBannerCache );
 	ini.SetValueI( "Options", "MusicWheelUsesSections",		m_MusicWheelUsesSections );
 	ini.SetValueI( "Options", "MusicWheelSwitchSpeed",		m_iMusicWheelSwitchSpeed );
 	ini.SetValueB( "Options", "EasterEggs",					m_bEasterEggs );
diff --git a/stepmania/src/PrefsManager.h b/stepmania/src/PrefsManager.h
index be8d537480..74109d55a8 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/PrefsManager.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/PrefsManager.h
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ public:
 	bool			m_bVsync;
 	bool			m_bDelayedTextureDelete;
 	bool			m_bDelayedScreenLoad;
+	bool			m_bBannerCache;
 
 	bool			m_bIgnoreJoyAxes;	
 	bool			m_bOnlyDedicatedMenuButtons;
diff --git a/stepmania/src/StepMania.cpp b/stepmania/src/StepMania.cpp
index 9c622ecc09..75a255d538 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/StepMania.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/StepMania.cpp
@@ -237,16 +237,17 @@ static void CheckSettings()
 	 * Actually, Windows lops off a meg or two; cut off a little lower to treat
 	 * 192-meg systems as high-memory. */
 	const bool HighMemory = (Memory >= 190);
+	const bool LowMemory = (Memory < 100); /* 64 and 96-meg systems */
 
 	/* Two memory-consuming features that we can disable are texture caching and
 	 * preloaded banners.  Texture caching can use a lot of memory; disable it for
 	 * low-memory systems. */
 	PREFSMAN->m_bDelayedTextureDelete = HighMemory;
 
-	/* Preloaded banners takes about 9k per song. That adds up with a lot of songs,
-	 * though it's smaller than the actual song data that we preload anyway.  Maybe
-	 * we should disable it for 64-meg systems? */
-	// PREFSMAN->m_bPreloadBanners = !LowMemory;
+	/* Preloaded banners takes about 9k per song. Although it's smaller than the
+	 * actual song data, it still adds up with a lot of songs. Disable it for 64-meg
+	 * systems. */
+	PREFSMAN->m_bBannerCache = !LowMemory;
 
 	PREFSMAN->SaveGlobalPrefsToDisk();
 #endif
@@ -460,6 +461,8 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 	//
 	GAMESTATE	= new GameState;
 	PREFSMAN	= new PrefsManager;
+	CheckSettings();
+
 	GAMEMAN		= new GameManager;
 	THEME		= new ThemeManager;
 	NOTESKIN	= new NoteSkinManager;
@@ -483,8 +486,6 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 	PREFSMAN->ReadGlobalPrefsFromDisk( true );
 	PREFSMAN->ReadGamePrefsFromDisk();
 
-	CheckSettings();
-
 	DISPLAY = CreateDisplay();
 	TEXTUREMAN	= new RageTextureManager();
 	TEXTUREMAN->SetPrefs(