Page file(windows task manager)?

Question

I have a question regarding page file. I know that page file is virtual memory saved in your HD that the computer uses which acts as extra RAM if your current RAM is already used up.

I have 512mb ram and my page file says 301mb(it says in the windows task manager), does it mean that my ram is using up 301mb or does it mean that I already used up 512mb RAM and my computer is using 301mb more as pf? Please try to answer in simple terms. 8D

Oh and another question is what is physical memory. Can someone explain what Physical memory (k):
Total:523808 <-- does this indicate my total ram?
Available:134712
System cache:304124 <-- what is this and why is it so high

Answer 1

The actual statistics will vary depending on what version of Windows we're talking about.

Physical Memory refers to the actual chips inside the computer.

System Cache is usually "at odds" with your Page File (also called a Swap File)... because it does the opposite. It retains recently and frequently used data from the hard drive in memory, to reduce hard drive access and hopefully speed things up.

One of the things I find annoying about Windows is how the page file shrinks and grows, and basically makes things difficult for the hard drive defragmenting software.

What I like to do is emulate the way Linux handles page files.

(1) Set aside a separate partition on the hard drive that is twice the size of the memory in the system. If you don't feel like reformatting and re-installing Windows, you'll need something like Partition Magic or Paragon Partition Manager.

(2) Set the minimum and maximum page file size to be the same number, the size of the partition created in number 1 above, to keep it from trying to "grow" and "shrink".

Answer 2

First, "Physical Memory" is the memory that you have installed in your machine, IE, "RAM". In your case that would be 512 megs.

The number that you are seeing in Virtual Memory is the amount of hard drive that Windows has allocated to "Virtual" memory. This number can be changed. You can make it larger, but there is a stated limit. The proper fix would be to install more Physical memory, or RAM.

Answer 3

ya, 301MB is used up RAM.
physical memory is RAM (523808 bytes = 512 MB).
availabe physical memory (given in bytes) is availabe RAM.
system cache is the used RAM in bytes.

Answer 4

http://www.theeldergeek.com/paging_file.htm

This page will tell you everything you need to know about the windows XP page file.