Virtual Memory recommendation?

[Scott_in_RI]

My current virtual memory settings are:

Initial Size 1536 Maximum Size 3072

I have 104899 [Space Available] and would like some input as to what I should set it for or leave it as is. All I use my computer for is a flight simulator game and the internet of course. Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks, Scott :D

[shanemail]

What OS are you running ?
How much RAM do you have ?

To check your Virtual memory usage in windows
Ctrl-Alt-Del to open task manager
select the performance tab
and look at the pf usage bars and graph (page file usage)
compare this to your 1536 to 3072 range
chances are you have more than enough

[Sailor]

I think the rule on how to set your V-memory is to set it 1.5 times of your physical memory. This means that if you have 1GB of RAM installed you should configure the virtual memory to 1.5GB.

[Fleabus]

Hi:
In XP, unless you have some specific, oddball reason for doing so, it is better to let XP handle this.

Read:

Virtual Memory Primer
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm

Happy trailz,

[Scott_in_RI]

Thanks for the replies guys

[bigbazza]

PS:Let us bury the myth of 1.5 times RAM size, for Virtual Memory, once and for all time.

In ye olden days when 256megs of RAM was a big machine, then 1.5x probably applied.

Nowadays, with 1 gig or more of RAM, you certainly DO NOT NEED the 1.5x multiplier.

For example, I have 2 gigs of RAM, and a Virtual Memory set to 200 megs. not 3.5 gigs of hard drive space (using 1.5x). Even with 200 meg size, all is not used.

Download and install System Information for Windows (latest version 1.66)

http://www.majorgeeks.com/SIW_System_Info_d4387.html

then, when running, click on Hardware, then on System Info.

Look for Swap File (in right hand column), Max used and In use.

Swap File will show you what size your Virtual memory (swap file) size is currently set to.

Max Used and In use are self explanatory.

Run your PC, with SIW running, all day and then check your settings again, at the end of the day.

If your Swap File size is wildly in excess of Max Used, then you can safely reduce the size of your Swap File.

I'd recommend setting it to at least 2x the size of Max used, as a safeguard, in case the day you check it out is not a typical user day for you.

If you are a power user (and I'm not), maybe increase the Swap File size, but if you have 768megs-->1 gig, or more, of RAM, you certainly do not need the 1.5x multiplier "myth".

Let us know the result of your experiments, before and after settings, and how much hard drive space you saved.

I saved 3.3 gigs of hard drive space, for example. Bazza

PS: with SIW running, maximise it occasionally and press Function Key F5 to see updated figures each time you press F5. Baz

[bigbazza]

Bump.

I would have thought my previous post would have bought the naysayers out in force.:D

No comments, for or against, from anyone?

Has anyone tried S.I.W. as per previous post? Bazza

[Wavetar]

I've been running my older P-700 w/512 RAM with NO page file whatsoever for a couple of years...never a problem. I also run my slightly newer AthalonXP w/1GB of RAM with no page file and also no issues, even playing fairly intense games like Dungeon Siege II. With the amount of RAM in todays computers, a swap file is hardly necessary at all unless you're into severely resource hogging multimedia applications.

[shanemail]

768MB RDRAM

My pf usage (just browsing on the web)
is normally about 350mb
but I have seen it up to 650mb (once)

my page file is set at 1150mb (initial and max) (windows default setting)
on C:\ - os,drivers,applications
and at 1150mb (initial and max) on D:\
D:\ is just a partition, containing data and installed games, desktop and favorites

Im not sure if D:\ even requires a paging file ?

[bigbazza]

Wavetar, urban legends state that you "MUST" have a pagefile (even if only a little one).
Thanks. Your experience proves otherwise.
Different strokes for different folks PC's, I guess.:D

@shanemail@

Thanks for your feedback and experiences. Bazza

===

Originally Posted by Wavetar

I've been running my older P-700 w/512 RAM with NO page file whatsoever for a couple of years...never a problem. I also run my slightly newer AthalonXP w/1GB of RAM with no page file and also no issues, even playing fairly intense games like Dungeon Siege II. With the amount of RAM in todays computers, a swap file is hardly necessary at all unless you're into severely resource hogging multimedia applications.