How can I make my current project the primary consideration for the use of memory.

[Steven Vollom]

For a while, I will still have an under-memoried computer.  Is there a 
way for the thing I am currently doing on the computer to take priority 
from memory resources while torrents are still being downloaded and 
Compiz is gobbling up its requirements.  Compiz seems to be the primary 
offender.  Since I installed it, I have to wait on anything that 
requires memory.  TIA

Steven