Memory Usage Question

I just added a second stick of ram (256mb) to this computer not too long ago (I have 512mb now). Before I installed it, I only used 180-200/256. Now, it's like everything is trying to use more memory; I'm usually using 260-290/512 now. I'm running Windows XP Home, and if I need to tell anything else, I shall.

Thanks in advance,
~ S

P.S. I wasn't sure if I should post this in the Software or Hardware forum, so I went with the first one on the list.

 

are u running more programs?
i think your comp might be taking advantage of this extra ram and expanding its process usage.
when u dont have enogh ram more page file is being used, so now that u have more physical ram it doesnt need to use as much page file.

correct me if im wrong

 

It's normal for Windows to use more RAM when more becomes available.

Now that you've got 512MB RAM, it would be a good idea to set your paging file size to 1.5 x 512 = 768MB. Set both minimum and maximum size to 768 to reduce paging file fragmentation.

You can also reduce memory usage by turning off unneeded services according to Black Viper's guide.

Also a program like Fast Defrag can help manage your RAM and paging file usage.

 

What he said.

XP drinks RAM, if its available.

This is a good thing, it lowers swapping to the disk as much.

 

also i would set windows to clear the page file at shutdown, so u wont have to defragment it. increases performace too.

 

This is how you do that


If you want to clear the page file on each shutdown, start Regedit. Go to HKEY--LOCAL--MACHINE\SYSTEM.

Now click on CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager. Then click on \Memory Management\ClearPageFileAtShutdown. Set the value to 1.

 

i was gonna post that, i forgot.oh well thanks for covering it.

 

How do I change my paging file size?

I changed the pagefile to clear at shutdown.

Thanks everyone who's helped me thus far.

 

See dperino's post in this thread for info on how to do that:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/vb/showthread.php?t=25411

 

start+control panel+system+advanced+performance settings+advanced

and where it says virtual memory click change

 

Now, the pagefile clears at shutdown and the size of it has been changed.

Thanks for the input, everyone.