Virtual memory = more used than ram

[dpanda]

i wouldnt disable it too...i mean what's the harm in leaving it there...you never know when your computer might need it....

[dacris2000]

I find that the page file is redundant when you have 1 GB of RAM or more. I have 1 GB of RAM and I've disabled mine, and have never run into any problems other than Photoshop 7 b*tching at me every time it starts that there is no page file enabled. Furthermore, Windows (32-bit) can only use up to 2 GB of memory, whether that be virtual, physical, doesn't matter. So, if you have 1 GB RAM, the max page file you can set up is 1 GB. If you have 2 GB RAM, you simply CANNOT set up a page file! (Windows will not let you!) I have many other systems where the sum of their virtual memory and physical memory is still under 1 GB, so I'd venture to say that it's even safe to turn of page file for systems with 768 MB RAM, but I wouldn't try to disable it on systems with less RAM than that.

EDIT: And if you have Windows 9x or Me, don't even think about disabling page file, because it creates many problems (the OS is very unstable without a page file).

[Sierra]

Disable it completely. Reboot. Delete the 'pagefile.sys' (hidden system file). Defrag....

then create one where start and end value is the same...

:huh: wrong thread.... but still a good idea

[ToastGodSupreme]

A study by a respectable website (though I forget which now since it was done like, over a year ago) proved that windows will toss more to ram more when it has a larger page file.

So a system with a 512Mb pagefile may see 100Mb of PHYSICAL ram used, while a system with a 1Gb page file might see 150-250Mb of PHYSICAL ram used.

They tested it on multiple setups, AMD and Intel platforms, multiple Windows OS'es, etc.

So yeah. I have a 512Mb page file. With hard drives as big as they are today, I really don't see the problem with a 1Gb page file. Though, I'd split that up between two drives for a speed increase (make sure they're on diff channels).

[Sierra]

Damn... sorry for the double thread. Router crashed and sent it twice :blush: :whistle:

[mipra]

I have 512mb of mem...and I set it off...works like charm (windows xp prof)

[akaladis Veteran]

dunno, you could prolly go without a pagefile, however, i always use a big pagefile (around 2gb pagefile!) cause i use some very ram-intesive programs which need lotsa MBs and my physical mem runs down to 0. I have 512 MB RDRAM PC1066... But it only takes a bunch of audio channels in Cubase SX and some nice HALion effects to make the PC go like a real turttle ;-)

/Raptor

[ToastGodSupreme]

I've had virtual dub eat up about 700Mb of physical ram before, then again, i was doing HUGE batch jobs :)