How can I make my computer use more of its RAM?

Question

This is a little hard to explain.

I got a computer with 2 GB of RAM, but when I run a big application, like a video game, the computer ends the game when 1.5 GB of RAM is used, saying that to much physical memory was being used.

Now I've experimented and right before the error message appears to close the game, and the game is still running, I open the task manager and under the performance tab, only 1.48GB of RAM is being used.


So my question is, how can I make my computer use more RAM, maybe like 1.75GB, before it shuts down the program?

If the rest of the RAM is used to keep the computer functioning, then why does the performance tab say that only 3/4 of my RAM is being used?
Is there any way to conserve RAM on Vista?

Answer 1

Like all the other answerers said, enable/increase your paging file(virtual memory) and also cancel some of the vista's memory hugging services. I used this guide on disabling the services and saved about 200~300 mbs of ram

http://www.blackviper.com/WinVista/servicecfg.htm

oh yes, and since it's vista, plug in some usb memory sticks while you're playing your game. Vista can use that free space on the usb drives as a cache, and might be able to use many of them simultaneously

Answer 2

RAM - Random Access Memory The change among your difficult force and your RAM is RAM is rapid and harmful even as the HDD is fairly gradual and everlasting. RAM is a reminiscence for the entire expertise you're presently utilizing, the sport you're gambling, the report you're utilizing , the running method. RAM is extremely speedy and has no relocating components. The drawback is that as quickly because the vigor is switched off the expertise disappears. The HDD shops the entire expertise for your laptop. When you wish to entry anything, (a recreation, report and so forth) the HDD quite a bit the expertise into the RAM so the processor can see and use it swiftly and efficently. The HDD doesnt depend on vigor despite the fact that and you probably have a powercut or unplug the laptop the expertise is risk-free. HDD can fail despite the fact that, precision relocating components relocating at top speeds constantly run the hazard of failure.

Answer 3

The game is not the only thing using ram. Windows is using it as well, and other programs too. To make your computer get a little more kick, go to Start>Right Click on My Computer>Click Properties>Click Advanced>Under Performance, click Settings>Click the Advanced Tab>under Virtual Memory, click Change>In the box that has numbers in, change the numbers from the default to 3000 in both boxes. Hope this helps!

Answer 4

Here's something you could try: go to the control panel...then find the "system" application (where it is depends on the type of windows you have) then in the "system" tool, select "performance" from the top bar and then click on "virtual memory" and experiment with those numbers until you find that it works best :)

EDIT: Snoopy's right though...at a certain point...the RAM is just used up by Idle processes, the Explorer application..and many other windows implemented OS related programs

Answer 5

There are a lot of other services and parts of the windows OS that will use some of the RAM. 2 GB is RAM should be plenty though for any game.

Answer 6

So what kind of vid card are you using? Not the built-in weak one on your motherboard I hope? Because if you are you're sharing your precious ram with the vid games. You need a dedicated video card, and probably about 512MB's on it.

Answer 7

The rest of the RAM is used by the system, VDU, disk cashe, etc.