if I put more RAM in my PC will it require less virtual memory?

Question

My PC keeps telling me that it requires more virtual memory and is increasing the size of the file. If I increase the amount of RAM in the machine, will this reduce the amount of virtual memory required and therefore stop the file size increase?

Answer 1

Certainly having more physical RAM will not just reduce the amount of virtual memory required, it will improve the performance of your computer.

However, this is a pretty unusual message these days unless you've deliberately restricted VM (I don't remember seeing it for years). Are you running anything that might have a "memory leak" and be eating up more memory the longer you run it? If you have, increasing your RAM is a bit like adding a new lane to the M25 - it'll be full again before you know it.

Answer 2

The more physical RAM you have, the better off you are.
Having extra memory reduces the time it takes to write/read to the HDD for virtual memory.
RAM is about 100 times faster.
I use my backup/data drive as the drive for the swap file/virtual memory. I believe that reduces the seek time when using virtual memory because the HDD is not moving heads back and forth between the programs on the C drive and swap file when I am using virtual memory on the other, physically different, not just a different lettered, drive.
I allow XP to control the size of the swap file.
If you set artificial limits on it, large programs or files can really slow you down.

Answer 3

Any time that your system is on, many programs are running, not only the application that you chose to run. Each application is executed for a given length of the clock cycle. Too, the system only runs ONE application at a time.

Each time a different program starts to run, the current one and all register settings are stored, the new one is read in and ran the length of its allotted clock cycle, then it is thrown out and the next is read in and started.

This requires more space than you have in RAM! That is why, no matter how much RAM you have, the system still creates and use SWAP/PAGE files.

You can tell the system not to use this file, but then it must do a lot of repetitive addressing. Using translate tables for bit configuration, character assignment, program code translation and so on.

More RAM always help, too, you can go to the control Panel, systems, hardware manager and increase the swap file size.

For system maintenance, delete all *.TMP and Internet files,
set swap file size to zero or no swap file. Defrag your hard drive, then reestablish your swap file & size.

Defrag your RAM also, check the internet for RAM defrag software.

Answer 4

It depends on the ram size and the required virtual memory
but It's a try and error case
I prefer better to manually increase the virtual memory by follow Windows instruction in the error dialog that appears to told you that low virtual memory

Answer 5

Well... thats a knotty one, virtual memory is generally a predetermined figure set by your pc given its hard disk capacity.
All ram generally does is increase file loading speeds (dependant once again on the ram type and speed) like nims and dims (anyone remember sims?)
Ram simply put is a cheap easy way of increasing system performance, you can if you wish from installing additional ram manually change your virtual memory via the control panel, however as I said, the system generally makes the best decision for your system given what it is. I have 2gig of ram, but my virtual memory is still quite large.

Answer 6

it will help. but still you need enough virtual memory to make your pc run smooth. some software need more virtual memory, for example photo editing or computer aided design software. put at least 500mb minimum virtual memory, i personally recommend 1500mb minimum. yes, virtual memory function like ram but it can improve your system performance significantly. personally, ram alone cannot replace virtual memory. sometime you need as a scratch disk or temporary storage for your clipboard items. your system ram will become hotter when used and virtual memory can help it from becoming too hot. virtual memory and ram will compliment each other, so both are important and must have enough of both.

Answer 7

yes the virtual memory is only used when the amount of ram memory is not enough ......so it will stop the file size increasing

Answer 8

Buying a RAM would certainly solve your problem however I have a notion that some virus like activity could give you the same result hence I would suggest you to first format your hard disk completely and re install the operating system and see how it is functioning. If the problem still persists then go in for the additional RAM.

Answer 9

yes, random access memory is what is used when u have pages open mainly virtual memory, increasing the ram will help ;)

Answer 10

You will need to change the amount of VM to match the amount of RAM in your machine. Although the extra RAM will mean that you will not be using the swap so much.