XP page file size

[spigidygak]

Running XP Pro and I have 1GB of ram. . . just wondering if there is any real reason to have a page file still. It was auto set at 768 so. . . would I have any problems if I turned this all the way down to the minimum 2MB level? I do some photoshop and premiere work so not sure if windows is actually using the page file too while using those programs.

[seqiro]

Here's what a Microsoft MVP has to say about it:

The existence of a page file is sometimes required for certain applications to function properly and is always advisable for safety and some possible performance related issues.

In order to appreciate the possible performance impacts of not having a page file you must understand a bit about how memory is managed and allocated.

All memory functions are controlled by the Memory Manager. When applications or Windows components are started they issue Memory Allocation Requests to the Memory Manager. The Memory Manager must, by definition, identify specific memory locations for this allocation either in physical RAM or in the page file. The memory manager creates a table, showing for each application the memory addresses that it is using (or at least it thinks it is using = virtual addresses) and the physical locations that these addresses have been mapped to, either in RAM or in the page file.

When the application actually tries to make use of some that memory space, the memory manager will ensure that these items are mapped to locations in physical RAM. But any portion of the memory space that is not actually used does not have to be mapped to physical RAM. So what will happen is that all of the active items will be in RAM and the portions of the Memory Allocation Requests that have not actually been used will be mapped to the page file.

Because applications (and Windows components) invariably request more memory than they will normally need the existence of the page file allows the RAM usage to be optimized and it is not being tied up to satisfy the address requirements for the unused portions of memory allocation requests.

Hope this helps clarify the situation.

[Tommy Boomfiger]

Originally posted by spigidygak
Running XP Pro and I have 1GB of ram. . . just wondering if there is any real reason to have a page file still. It was auto set at 768 so. . . would I have any problems if I turned this all the way down to the minimum 2MB level? I do some photoshop and premiere work so not sure if windows is actually using the page file too while using those programs. why did it automatically set the pagefile to 768? shouldnt it be 1.5 gigs? i thought the rule of thumb was 1.5x the amount of physical ram which is how windows set mine.

heres a solution, buy another gig of ram and make a 1gig ram disk and put the page file on there ;). err, nm

[Bires]

Originally posted by Tommy Boomfiger
buy another gig of ram and make a 1gig ram disk

:drool: ...1 GB ram disk... :drool:

It has been my experience that many progs (especially games) will write to the swap file regardless of how much memory you have. the C&C games are prime examples. I turned off my swap files once, and RA2 refused to run without it - even though my comp never got anywhere near using all the 768 available.

[PrObLy]

if you do any sharing over a network you'll want to disable that swap file (at leat until you get any problems) ... if you don't get any problems, then you should me set. I had been heavily sharing over my network with a swap file and my computer's performance dramatically suffered and I disabled the swap file (I have 512 megs of ram) and have had no problems since.

[bachviet]

With 1GB of RAM, you should disable the swap file!

[Tommy Boomfiger]

Originally posted by bachviet
With 1GB of RAM, you should disable the swap file! on what basis? read what seqiro posted

[bachviet]

Originally posted by Tommy Boomfiger
on what basis? read what seqiro posted
I have 512MB of RAM and I have a very small (128MB) of virtual memory. I haven't run into any problem yet but I don't play games though.

[LPMiller]

not running into problems is not the same thing as it being a good thing to do. XP's memory management is fairly well done, and most users will not want to screw around with the swap file. Many games, and some apps, require a swap file, whether they actually use it or not.

[Joshua]

Wanna know if you're page file is getting used?

Hit Ctrl+Shift+Esc and click on the performace tab. You should see the meter reading for your page file usage and you can then make up your own mind.

Right on I.p. miller :P

P.S. It's FRIDAY! but at midnight, it will be taken away from you!

[rajatQ2]

i read an article that said the best way to manage your page file is to set the size statically. Start with a small size, such as 128 meg , then set the max size to the size of your ram. Dont set the min size too small, because then the OS will have to perform disk IO in order to increase the size. you will almost certainly have some windows services or daemon type progs that will be sitting inactive in the page file.

Its best to just leave those be.

From all the reading i've done about page files for my OS classes i've realized that the programmers at M$ really know better than most people writing on this forum, and it is to your advantage not to make any major changes, such as disabling paging, unless you are having major issues with your system.

I have my min page set to 128 megs, and it only has around 22 megs of pages in it at any given time. My page fault ratio is SUPER low, with 640 megs of ram and all the unnescessary services turned off. hth