What's the safest number I can up my Virtual Memory to?

Question

I have Windows XP Pro running on a 50GB partition by itself. My Virtual Memory is set at INITIAL SIZE - 1519MB and MAX. SIZE - 3048MB. I still have 42GB of space emtpy on that partition. Is there ANY way to up the Virtual Memory to get the maximum speed off the Virtual Memory?

Answer 1

The most effective for performance and the most stibility can be calculated by this (2x(m)+4x(m)). This is the most effective method of allocating virtual memory. For instance is you have 512mb of system memory you would allocate 1024mb min and 2048mb max. You always want to allocate twice as much for minumum and four times for max. Or if you have 1024 mb of memory you allocate 2048min and 4096 max. This is most stable method. Although if you want a little more performance you can also get away with (2x(m)+2x(m)). 2048min and 2048max but this tends to be less stable.

Answer 2

Setting a high virtual memory does not have any benefit because virtual memory uses your hard drive which is much slower than real memory. Generally, you sould set both the min and max to the same value which should be 2 times the amount of system memory.

The reaosn you want the min and max to be the same size is to keep your hard drive from getting fragmented, and worste, to keep you page file from getting fragmented.

Best case scenario. Set pagefile to zero; defrag; set your ideal pagefile size then defrag again.

Also, there are ome registry tweaks out their to keep core files in real memory rather than using virtual memory, but you would want more the 512 of RAM to use them.

Answer 3

Well, in the first place, Having a lot of swap file is not necessarily a good thing. When too many programs are swapped to VM, they get fragmented. VM is also very slow compared to RAM. All you get for your buck with a large swap file is the ability to open a lot of programs and keep them on the taskbar. What you sacrifice in speed is not worth it.

Answer 4

It's normally 1.5 times your RAM. Just go to your Control Panel, then go to System, click advance tab, then click Performance tab, then click advance tab. Change your iniatial size to 1.5 times your RAM size.

Answer 5

Yes - but have you tried and been denied by a preset pagefile limit? If not, I don't believe that you should have a safety problem.

Answer 6

virtual memory is done automatically by windows xp.