How to Interpret Memory Performance Measures in Task Manager?

  • Thread starter Thread starter LawrenceHG
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LawrenceHG

The Windows Task Manager (XP) lists all sorts of metrics on its Performance
tab (e.g., Handles, threads, paged kernel memory, peak commit charge, etc.).
I have really no idea what most of these mean, but I presume they are listed
because they give useful information about the performance of the computer.

Can anyone explain (or refer me to a longer article that explains) in
relatively simple terms exactly what each of these measures mean?

Are any of them helpful in diagnosing whether your computer would benefit
from more RAM? If so, how?

(Please...I'm trying to learn more about how the computer operates. I'm
looking for information beyond "RAM is cheap, go ahead and buy more anyway"
or "Ususally, XP runs well with 2GB." Thanks.)
 
LawrenceHG said:
The Windows Task Manager (XP) lists all sorts of metrics on its Performance
tab (e.g., Handles, threads, paged kernel memory, peak commit charge, etc.).
I have really no idea what most of these mean, but I presume they are listed
because they give useful information about the performance of the computer.

Can anyone explain (or refer me to a longer article that explains) in
relatively simple terms exactly what each of these measures mean?

Are any of them helpful in diagnosing whether your computer would benefit
from more RAM? If so, how?

(Please...I'm trying to learn more about how the computer operates. I'm
looking for information beyond "RAM is cheap, go ahead and buy more anyway"
or "Ususally, XP runs well with 2GB." Thanks.)
Click to expand...


Windows memory: A whirlwind tour
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/library/j-memusage/
Quick Guide to Monitoring Memory
http://windowsitpro.com/article/articleid/76098/jsi-tip-4792-evaluating-memory-and-cache-usage.html
HTH.
nass
 
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