Virtual memory settings in XP.

[RavenStandsAlone]

The rule of thumb used to be RAM x 2.5 = Virtual Memory.
Under Windoze95 and 98 virtual memory would be set manually to optimize the use of RAM and make sure that windoze was limited in how much it could grab. Does the same hold true with WndozeXP Professional. Currently running 640Megs of PC133 with the Virtual set at 1600 for my 40 GB HDD-0 where windoze resides.

I also have a 60GB and an 80GB drive. Should I set a swap file for these additional drives? They are only used for storage of music and images. All apps and progs are on the Primary.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Raven

[win2kuser]

Well the first thing I would do is transfer the swap file to the fastest of the two other drives.

Windows XP will write to the swap file on the fly which means that it can become fragmented. The easiest way to stop this is to fix the minimum and maximum to the same.

You will need to set the swap file to zero, reboot, do a complete defrag and then set the swap file.

I personally think that 1600 is a bit overkill, I would only really set it as 500MB for both minimum and maximum.

Well, that just MO.

Hope that helps.

[RavenStandsAlone]

All three of the drives are 7200RPM drives.

Raven

I have a 700 MB Page in the front of secondary Master which is a 7200. The partition size is exactly equal to the page to minimize fragmentation. Putting it on a physically separate drive at the beginning is, in my opinion, the best way to go.

[win2kuser]

^^What he said^^Put it on the secondary master.

This way, if windoze is loading program files from your master drive, it isn't fighting for drive rights to the swap file.

HTH

[Siliconjunkie]

Everything I have ever read reccomended 1.5x physical memory for page file. Also, put it on whichever drive is not your system drive. I always set mine to 1.5x for both min and max, this keeps it from trying to grow/shrink it. Since I am not pressed for space, having a 1 gig file isnt that big of a deal.

How to Configure Paging Files for Optimization and Recovery in Windows XP

The default, or recommended, paging file size is equal to 1.5 times the total amount of RAM. This article discusses how you can configure the paging file for system optimization and recovery.

The optimal solution is to create one paging file that is, by default, stored on the boot partition, and then create one paging file on another, less frequently accessed partition. Additionally, it is optimal to create the second paging file so that it exists on its own partition, with no data or operating-system-specific files. By design, Windows uses the paging file on the less frequently accessed partition over the paging file on the more heavily accessed boot partition. An internal algorithm is used to determine which paging file to use for virtual memory management.

Managing your computer's performance

When your computer is running low on RAM and more is needed immediately, Windows uses hard drive space to simulate system RAM. This is known as virtual memory, and is often called the paging file This is similar to the UNIX swapfile. The default size of the virtual memory pagefile (named pagefile.sys) created during installation is 1.5 times the amount of RAM on your computer.

Try to avoid having a pagefile on the same drive as the system files. Avoid putting a pagefile on a fault-tolerant drive, such as a mirrored volume or a RAID-5 volume Pagefiles don't need fault-tolerance, and some fault-tolerant systems suffer from slow data writes because they write data to multiple locations. Don't place multiple pagefiles on different partitions on the same physical disk drive.

[Gait_Keeper]

Yeah I've heard 2.6x on it's own partition, fastest drive too

I'm running win98se, with 512Mb, my second drive is a maxtor 80g 7200, 8Mb cache, 1gig of swap is good I have 120 gigs total

[RavenStandsAlone]

That's kind of a side note but, my understanding of memory usage is that win98se can only see and use 256Megs to begin with. 512 is unused overage by about 256.

On the other, I am going to see what it feels like with the swap on the 80Gig Secondary Master.

Raven

[beppodmime]

I'm running a gig of RAM, and I have my swap-file disabled in Windows XP Pro. I have not suffered an out of memory error since I got this system running (about 5 months ago), and performance is good.

[Gait_Keeper]

hmm....... 98se seeing only 256mb has been disputed many times.
although I feel good with it, many apps benifit from the 512, and I get no errors, this machine has been up and running 15 months

98se
512mb pc2100 ddr ( 2x256 )
40gig 7200 wd 2mb cache
80gig maxtor 7200 8mb cache
AMD 1800+
GeForce2 64mb mx/mx 400
sb live 5.1 128pci
burner
dvd rom

aida, fresh dianose, mbm, all show that my ram is being used