Setting up Swap File (in98SE)

[Grinder]

I'm a newbie at VM settings and would appreciate any help!
The machine is used primarly for e-mail and internet surfing.

Q: What are the reccomended value for a swap file?

My system specs are: Win98SE, Intel Pen. III, 254 MB. There appears to be a permanent swap file in under the C:\ root directory, swap file size is 259,992Kb or 253MB.

In the System.ini file under [386ENH] I have ConservativeFileUsage=1]

Q: Should any settings be modified?

[John Prophet]

right click "my computer"..click "properties"...click "performance"....click "virtual memory"

It is probably set on "let windows manage my......."

What I would do in your situation is check the other box..where it says "let me specify my own etc"

set it to, ohh, maybe 500mb...set max and min to same thing.

If it ever gives you any problems you can set it higher, but I cant see it happening.

The benefit to setting it with a fixed size is that there is less "hard disk thrashing"....and the swap file doesnt keep growing etc.....it helps keep the disk a little more "defragged".

---

Also you can "defrag" the actual swap file....cuz normally it is not defragged during a defrag operation.

What you need to do is disable the virtual memory altogether....by choosing "let me specify....." and then check the disable box.

It will give you a warning...ignore it...then reboot....THEN run defrag...so that the entire drive is defragged.....THEN turn the virtual memory back on at which point it is defragged.

You could even set it to as low as 200mb or maybe even less..since you have 254m to work with...it probably will never need a LOT of swap file.


I like to use "cacheman" for handling virtual memory and swap file etc..it sets lots of parameters and has different "profiles" etc...although I am not using it on this particular W98se machine..I just havent thought about putting it on here yet (lazy)

JP

A good rule is 1.5x to 2.5x the amount of System RAM. I usually do . . .

< 64MB = 2.5x
64MB - 128MB = 2x
128MB or > = 1.5x
*After 512MB, I've never noticed a performance increase/decrease by creating the swap file the same size as the RAM.

Your setting for ConservativeSwapFileUsage=1 is a good setting with 256MB or >.

[Grinder]

John,
Thanks for your input! You mention a few things that got me thinking:

I do have Windows handing my..... Virtual Memormy|System Performance plus .....

EvilRick
Plus the ConservativeSwapFileUsage=1 is a setting

I also have "cacheman" handling my File system Properties|Hard Disk the settings are at Cacheman Optimization. Read-ahead optimization is set at FULL.

Q: Do I have too many setting here and there and ....

Cacheman Settings are:Unload DLL's and use Conservative Swap File Usage
With Recovery Settings every Enabled at 120 minutes /32MB