diff --git a/pv_configs/sample_config.toml b/pv_configs/sample_config.toml
index 8521c255..5e0e243d 100644
--- a/pv_configs/sample_config.toml
+++ b/pv_configs/sample_config.toml
@@ -7,14 +7,14 @@ CONSUMER_MODE = 'continuous' # options: continuous or vectorized, describes how
 CACHING_MODE = 'alignment' # options: '', 'alignment', 'scan', or 'bin' describes whether the caching should be done the entire time, when a flag is seen, or if it should be put into bins based on number of frames
 
     [CACHE_OPTIONS.ALIGNMENT]
-    MAX_CACHE_SIZE = 1000
+    MAX_CACHE_SIZE = 1
 
     [CACHE_OPTIONS.SCAN]
     # FLAG PV MUST BE IN METADATA SECTION   
     START_SCAN = true
     STOP_SCAN = false 
     THRESHOLD = 0.05 # use if start and stop values are not binary/boolean
-    MAX_CACHE_SIZE = 1000
+    MAX_CACHE_SIZE = 1
 
     [CACHE_OPTIONS.BIN]
     COUNT = 10
diff --git a/src/dashpva/scripts/seed_profile_defaults_sql.py b/src/dashpva/scripts/seed_profile_defaults_sql.py
index fb996995..7684bd47 100644
--- a/src/dashpva/scripts/seed_profile_defaults_sql.py
+++ b/src/dashpva/scripts/seed_profile_defaults_sql.py
@@ -129,12 +129,14 @@
     "CONSUMER_MODE": "continuous",
     "CACHE_OPTIONS": {
         "CACHING_MODE": "alignment",
-        "ALIGNMENT": {"MAX_CACHE_SIZE": 1000},
+        # Frames kept in viewer RAM for Save HDF5 / Post-scan. One large-detector
+        # frame with Q is ~0.4 GB, so raise this only where it is needed.
+        "ALIGNMENT": {"MAX_CACHE_SIZE": 1},
         "SCAN": {
             "START_SCAN": True,
             "STOP_SCAN": False,
             "THRESHOLD": 0.05,
-            "MAX_CACHE_SIZE": 1000,
+            "MAX_CACHE_SIZE": 1,
         },
         "BIN": {"COUNT": 10, "SIZE": 16},
     },
diff --git a/src/dashpva/utils/pva_reader.py b/src/dashpva/utils/pva_reader.py
index 9fbeb3c9..fc6c2057 100644
--- a/src/dashpva/utils/pva_reader.py
+++ b/src/dashpva/utils/pva_reader.py
@@ -249,12 +249,12 @@ def set_cache_options(self) -> None:
         if self.CACHING_MODE:
             self.caches_needed = True
             if self.CACHING_MODE == 'alignment':
-                self.MAX_CACHE_SIZE = app_settings.ALIGNMENT_MAX_CACHE_SIZE or 100
+                self.MAX_CACHE_SIZE = app_settings.ALIGNMENT_MAX_CACHE_SIZE or 1
             elif self.CACHING_MODE == 'scan':
                 self.FLAG_PV = app_settings.SCAN_FLAG_PV or ''
                 self.START_SCAN = app_settings.SCAN_START_SCAN if app_settings.SCAN_START_SCAN is not None else True
                 self.STOP_SCAN = app_settings.SCAN_STOP_SCAN if app_settings.SCAN_STOP_SCAN is not None else False
-                self.MAX_CACHE_SIZE = app_settings.SCAN_MAX_CACHE_SIZE or 100
+                self.MAX_CACHE_SIZE = app_settings.SCAN_MAX_CACHE_SIZE or 1
             elif self.CACHING_MODE == 'bin':
                 self.BIN_COUNT = app_settings.BIN_COUNT or 10
                 self.BIN_SIZE = app_settings.BIN_SIZE or 16