diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py b/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
index 50e434bb49..fc1364c20e 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
@@ -113,10 +113,10 @@ defs['extra_row_spacing'] = 0
 defs['refresh_book_list_on_bulk_edit'] = True
 defs['cover_grid_width'] = 0
 defs['cover_grid_height'] = 0
-defs['cover_grid_color'] = (80, 80, 80)
-defs['cover_grid_cache_size'] = 200
-defs['cover_grid_disk_cache_size'] = 2000
 defs['cover_grid_spacing'] = 0
+defs['cover_grid_color'] = (80, 80, 80)
+defs['cover_grid_cache_size'] = 100
+defs['cover_grid_disk_cache_size'] = 2500
 defs['cover_grid_show_title'] = False
 del defs
 # }}}
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/library/alternate_views.py b/src/calibre/gui2/library/alternate_views.py
index fe5117916a..ea4ecc03e4 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/library/alternate_views.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/library/alternate_views.py
@@ -438,6 +438,7 @@ class GridView(QListView):
 
     update_item = pyqtSignal(object)
     files_dropped = pyqtSignal(object)
+    delay_render = False
 
     def __init__(self, parent):
         QListView.__init__(self, parent)
@@ -466,8 +467,9 @@ class GridView(QListView):
         self.setCursor(Qt.PointingHandCursor)
         self.gui = parent
         self.context_menu = None
-        self.verticalScrollBar().sliderPressed.connect(self.slider_pressed)
-        self.verticalScrollBar().sliderReleased.connect(self.slider_released)
+        if self.delay_render:
+            self.verticalScrollBar().sliderPressed.connect(self.slider_pressed)
+            self.verticalScrollBar().sliderReleased.connect(self.slider_released)
         self.update_timer = QTimer(self)
         self.update_timer.setInterval(200)
         self.update_timer.timeout.connect(self.update_viewport)
@@ -513,10 +515,11 @@ class GridView(QListView):
         else:
             self.ignore_render_requests.set()
 
-    def wheelEvent(self, e):
-        self.ignore_render_requests.set()
-        QListView.wheelEvent(self, e)
-        self.update_timer.start()
+    if delay_render:
+        def wheelEvent(self, e):
+            self.ignore_render_requests.set()
+            QListView.wheelEvent(self, e)
+            self.update_timer.start()
 
     def double_clicked(self, index):
         d = self.delegate
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/library/caches.py b/src/calibre/gui2/library/caches.py
index 2788bcfefe..b38448106e 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/library/caches.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/library/caches.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ class CoverCache(dict):
 
     ' This is a RAM cache to speed up rendering of covers by storing them as QPixmaps '
 
-    def __init__(self, limit=200):
+    def __init__(self, limit=100):
         self.items = OrderedDict()
         self.lock = Lock()
         self.limit = limit