Virtual memory settings in XP Pro

  • Thread starter Thread starter Andrew Warren
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A

Andrew Warren

Hi all,

Just wondering if it is preferable to set paging file
size to "custom size", (Min 1.5 x RAM, Max 3 x RAM as a
guide), or to "system managed size". Neither option is
clearly marked as a default, and I only ever remember my
computer as having it set to custom. (I am assuming
system managed should be default).

Andrew Warren from downunder
 
Andrew said:
Hi all,

Just wondering if it is preferable to set paging file
size to "custom size", (Min 1.5 x RAM, Max 3 x RAM as a
guide), or to "system managed size". Neither option is
clearly marked as a default, and I only ever remember my
computer as having it set to custom. (I am assuming
system managed should be default).
Click to expand...

I think if you've got more disk space then you need, there are advantages to
setting a *fixed* custom size--that is, with the same value for "min" and
"max". That way the system can allocate a fixed-size paging file, then
defragment the file, and the file will stay defragmented (since its size
doesn't change). The downside is, all that disk space is being used whether
it's needed or not.
 
Andrew Warren said:
Hi all,

Just wondering if it is preferable to set paging file
size to "custom size", (Min 1.5 x RAM, Max 3 x RAM as a
guide), or to "system managed size". Neither option is
clearly marked as a default, and I only ever remember my
computer as having it set to custom. (I am assuming
system managed should be default).

Andrew Warren from downunder
Click to expand...

Those rules that relate paging file size to some multiple of RAM
amount are either a transplant from Unix/Linux or are deadwood left
over from the days when RAM quantities were much smaller than what it
normally used in today's systems.

The basic principle is that Windows XP uses the paging file to
compensate for the *lack* of sufficient RAM in the computer to meet
the total stated memory requirements of the loaded Windows components,
active application programs, and open user data files.

If all other factors are held constant then *more* RAM means *less*
paging file and *less* RAM means *more* paging file.

Using System Managed Size is always a good idea unless you have more
than one physical hard drive and want to configure multiple paging
files.

See MVP Alex Nichol's article on memory management in Windows XP at
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm


Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."
 
Thanks for your input, Andrew and Ron. I thought Alex
Nichols' article was interesting, and shed a bit more
light on the subject,

Best regards,

Andrew warren
 
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