page file size

[Robbo]

If I have 1.5 GB Ram in my system is it OK to turn off paging file
completely? Or should I always stick to the rule : page file should be 1.5
times larger than RAM ?
Does it have that significant influence on system performance (Win XP Pro)?

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

If I have 1.5 GB Ram in my system is it OK to turn off paging file
completely?
No.

Or should I always stick to the rule : page file should be 1.5 times
larger than RAM ?

No. Why don't you let the system (Windows) manage the virtual memory.

Does it have that significant influence on system performance
(Win XP Pro)?

"To change the size of the virtual memory paging file"
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...vancd_perform_change_vmpagefile.mspx?mfr=true

"Virtual Memory in Windows XP"
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.php

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

If I have 1.5 GB Ram in my system is it OK to turn off paging file
completely? Or should I always stick to the rule : page file should
be 1.5 times larger than RAM ?

Neither.

Turning off the page file can never help you (if you don't need it, it won't
be used), and can often hurt you. Virtual memory allocations are often made
before any need for them arises, so they will be there if you need them.
Without a page file, those allocations have to be made in real memory, and
the result is that real memory gets tied up and is unavailable for use.

So the result of turning off the page file is that you won't be able to use
all the RAM you have.

The 1.5 times RAM "rule" is a terrible one, as is any factor of the amount
of RAM you have. In actuality, since page file substitutes for RAM, the more
RAM you have, the *less* page file you need.

Read this article by the late MVP, Alex Nichol: "Virtual Memory in Windows
XP" at http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm