Virtual Memory query

[rakesh14021983]

Hey all,

had a query about virtual memory settings...

I have a 120 GB Seagate HDD. (5 partitions)..

Windows recommends Total paging file size for all drives as 766 MB

However, I have set custom sizes for each partition. (For ALL partitions both Initial Size and Maximum Size is set to 1024 MB i.e. 1 GB)

I was just wondering if this is a good idea or not? Also, could someone pls explain these settings and what they actually mean n affect the computers performance?

Do I have to worry about fragmentation of the paging file owing to such a huge size allotted to it?

Any help would be appreciated...

Thanks in advance.

[alok4best]

Usually Windows sets the size of ur page file as 1.5 times of ur RAM.
I guess u have 512MBs of RAM installed..theres nothing wrong if u increase its size...I hv made it 1500MB on my system(512MB RAM).Theoritically it is said thats it boosts ur PC's performance.

[rakesh14021983]

The problem is that in my case it is "theoretical"!!!

I have not observed any significant performance improvements upon increasing the size.

[s_aerin]

a virtual swap comes in handy if u have less memory ie 256 MB or less.beyond that the boost in performance is negligible.
instead of having swap files in each partition,create a dedicated partition on which only the swap file is present.

[alok4best]

Originally Posted by rakesh14021983

The problem is that in my case it is "theoretical"!!!

I have not observed any significant performance improvements upon increasing the size.

thats true..even with 768MBs of page file,ur OS will never use that much..u can check out in task manager..usually it uses in 200-450MB range..so the rest is simple left untouched..and hence the performance is same under normal circumstance..however it helps if u r doing some tasks which requires heavy cpu used like Gaming.

Give reputation If someone helps u..Right now I m running low on reputation points...any new point will be highly appreciated.

[dOm1naTOr]

Yes gaming uses more than 1 GB swap on a machine with 1GB ram. So if u gonna play at higher resolutions-say more than 1280*960 then best u keep 2GB at initial and max in any of a well defragmented partition other than the one in which XP is installed.

[s18000rpm]

if you have ONLY ONE Hard Disk, then keep the Virtual Memeory/Page File in C: Drive (OS Drive).

1GB is OK, but keep it at 500/800MB.

Place the VM in separate (dedicated) partition ONLY when you have TWO or more HDD.

To enhance performance, it is good practice to put the paging file on a different partition and on a different physical hard disk drive. That way, Windows can handle multiple I/O requests more quickly. When the paging file is on the boot partition, Windows must perform disk reading and writing requests on both the system folder and the paging file. When the paging file is moved to a different partition, there is less competition between reading and writing requests.

NOTE::read this article, very important one

source:: Microsoft dudes

[anand.expert]

Only increasing Virtual Memory never enhances the computer speed.
It is only the technology of using a part of ur HDD as a RAM.

[piyush gupta]

@BMW very nice article

[aj27july]

I have 256 mb ram and i have set my virtual memory to 1500-2000 mb.
My pc works fine.
But it doesn't seem that pc speed has increased!
Instead of increasing your virtual memory, increase your RAM.