how do i get more virtual memory?

Question

i was playing a game and the game crashed it said minimum virtual memory too low how do i make more? this is the first time a game crashed but my other games are laggy while i play and often take a long time to load. does that have anything to do with low virtual memory

is virtual memory ram? on the back of the game box it sais 512mb system ram is the recommended. if i was to make it a lot higher would my games stop lagging and being slow all the time?

i have windows xp and a dell dimension 5000

i know it sounds dumb minimum too low but thats what is sais and if ram isnt anything to do with virtual memory how do i get more ram

Answer 1

Your virtual Memory settings should be 1.5x the amount of your physical RAM. If you have 512 MB of RAM, then you should have 768MB of Virtual Memory.

You can buy more RAM from just about anyone, but I recommend Kingston or Crucial - they are quality products and offer tools on their web site to ensure you get the correct RAM for your computer.

Good articles on Virtual Memory and how to set it can be found here:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm
http://www.petri.co.il/pagefile_optimization.htm

Answer 2

Before messing with the virtual memory I'd suggest you clean your computer first. Many times that gives you the space you need.

Start > all programs > accessories > system tools > disk cleanup

Put a check mark by everything, run it, follow the prompts.

Next do a defrag. When you get to system tools click on defrag. If you've never done it before, it could take a few hours.

I'd also get as much RAM as you can afford. Just because the minimum is 512MB for a game, it will run a lot better if you double the RAM. Even better if you max it out.

Answer 3

Increasing RAM ould definately help you, before you go out and purchase more system RAM. Please go through the following suggestions.

1) Goto system properties in control panel.
2) Goto advanced and in the performance click on settings.
3) Click on advanced again,in virtual memory click change.
4) Select C drive, it would show you amount of virtual memory.
5) Select system managed page file option.
6) Click on Set.
Click on OK
You would see a message on the screen asking you to restart you system to save changes.

Reboot your system and try playing the game again.
I suggest you leave the virtual memory setting to System Managed as it would automatically calculate amount of Virtual Memory according to installed RAM in your system.

If still having same problems then see on the documentation which came along with you computer and check the specification on RAM already installed.

You would need to check for no of free slots for memory available.
As even if you have 512MB installed. Dell might have fitten 2 x 256 MB modules leaving you no free slots to upgrade.
In case you want to upgrade you might need to buy 2x 512 MB modules.
You would also need to check on maximum amount of RAM your system can support.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Virtual memory is when the computer can't hold any more information in regular memory and picks the least used chunk and places it back on the harddrive. Total virtual memory is the size of all real memory plus a file, called swap. Windows automaticaly picks sizes for the largest amout of information that it will keep track of before giving up depending on how much real memory is installed. Most likely there is some program running that is claiming to need much more memory that it realy need, hince filling up the harddrive file which is somewhat limited. Use taskmanager to find any programs using verry large amouts of memory(ctrl+atl+del, taskman) and right click 'my computer' for properties, should have a page for setting the size of the swap file. The harddrive is much much slower than real memory (1000x less or more), if you can afford it, always add more real memory insted of more swap space.

Answer 5

To get more memory you need to buy it. (you can ask your vendor)
Tip
you may want to try closing all other applications when you are running the game. Any other app running uses your memory
TIP2
you can tell how much you have by
click on START
click on SETTINGS
click on CONTROL Panel
click on Performance and maintenance
click on SYSTEM
Under the general tab you will see system at the bottom with the following info. e.g. 1.79 ghz 512 MB of RAM 512 is the memory
Hope this helps
Gerard

Answer 6

RAM and Virtual memory are different. RAM (Random Access Memory) is a physical chip connected to your motherboard and must be purchased to upgrade. RAM chip sizes vary greatly, and current quantities sold tend to range from possibly 64 MB up to 1024 MB (1 GB) with the exception of some of the newest systems that are made to accept even larger RAM chips.

Virtual Memory, however, is exactly as its name implies.....virtual. It is not a physical component of a computer. Every PC sets aside a certain portion of its Hard Disk Drive (HDD) to use for temporary file storage. As you run programs, have open files, etc. the system places thos items in immediate use into the RAM of your computer where it can access them extremely quickly. If the item is not needed immediately but still needed for use in an open application, etc. then it writes the information temporarily to the Virtual Memory of your machine, thus keeping it closely available, much quicker to access than retrieving it from its original location on your hard drive, but still causing a slight slow down from the speed of accessing information on your system's RAM.

As far as what will increase your gaming speed, your best bet is to try and upgrade your RAM. 512MB is good, but 1024 MB (1 GB) is going to give you a quicker reaction time and get rid of much of the lag.

As for increasing your Virtual Memory, follow these steps:
(NOTE: If you have a desktop icon for "My Computer" skip step 1)
1. Click on Start
2. Right Click the "My Computer" icon
3. From the pop-up menu, left click on "Properties"
4. Once the "System Properties" window opens, note on the bottom line of the "General" tab the quantity of RAM listed as being installed (256 MB, 512 MB, 1024 MB (1 GB), etc.) then click on the "Advanced" tab
5. Under the "Performance" section, click the "Settings" button
6. In the "Performance Options" window click on the "Advanced" tab
7. In the Virtual Memory section at the bottom, click the "Change" button
8. If not already selected, click on the radio button (circle) next to "Custom size:"
9. Depending on the "Space Available" you have listed, you will want to change the "Initial Size" and "Maximum Size" values.
10. Ideally, you will want to set the "Initial Size" toat least 1.5 to 2 times your current RAM size. Note that all Virtual Memory settings are done in MB (1 GB = 1024 MB). Then you will want to set the "Maximum" to approximately twice the "Initial" setting.
11. NOTE: It is not recommended that your Virtual Memory "Maximum" size be set to greater than 10-15% of your availabe HDD space (Listed right above "Custom size:" as "Space Available:")
12. Once the "Initial" and "Maximum" sizes have been set, click the "Set" button.
13. You may receive a message stating that you system needs to be rebooted before the changes you have made can take effect. Click "OK" to that and click "OK" until you get to the message "Your system must be rebooted...would you like to reboot now." For the changes to take effect immediately, close all open programs and save any files in use and click ok. The system will reboot and your Virtual Memory (Paging File) size will be increased to the new limits you set.

Answer 7

Right click on My Computer > Properties.
Select Advanced tab > Performance.
Select Advanced tab > Click on Change.
Set the initial size to 2 * RAM
max size to 4 * RAM.

Answer 8

Virtual memory is a swap file on your hard disk,

The settings are under control panel or My Computer,
If its set to LET WINDOWS HANDLE IT
you need more disk space, else up the values.

Answer 9

pcs have some actual reminiscence calld RAM and collectively can use component to confusing disk as if it become RAM (digital reminiscence). you could evaluate digital reminiscence as very very slow RAM. No at the moment 80 GB isn't sufficient. I easily do not have any information about macs yet i'd recommand a Intel center 2 Duo, with 2GB RAM, 250GB confusing disk,...

Answer 10

well.. you can enlarge your virtual memory.. but it should be fixed... 1.5 times of your Ram (512 Mb)... if you do 1.6 or others it may cause problems...

press windows Key+Pause break key > Advance > uner performance >settings>Advance > virtual memory > change it