Maximum virtual memory size

[Colin]

I am aware that the optimal page file sizes are 1.5 to 3 times actual RAM but
I was under the impression that the maximum XP 32-bit could manage was 4Gb.

Has this upper limit been removed or increased?

I came across a Dell Latitude laptop with 3.5 Gb RAM accessible to Windows
XP Pro SP3, where Dell had set the pagefile to min 2Gb, max 4Gb, yet the
system recommended size was 5.25Gb or thereabouts in line with the 1.5x
factor.

Is there any point in increasing the max to beyond 4Gb unless Windows XP SP3
can manage it?

 

[Leonard Grey]

The optimal page file is the "system managed size."

You could set your page file to 100 GB if you like...Windows will only
use as much as it needs.

Finally: Paging is much slower than RAM. If you think that increasing
your page file will somehow improve your computer's performance, you are
incorrect.

 

[John John - MVP]

I am aware that the optimal page file sizes are 1.5 to 3 times actual RAM but
I was under the impression that the maximum XP 32-bit could manage was 4Gb.

Has this upper limit been removed or increased?

I came across a Dell Latitude laptop with 3.5 Gb RAM accessible to Windows
XP Pro SP3, where Dell had set the pagefile to min 2Gb, max 4Gb, yet the
system recommended size was 5.25Gb or thereabouts in line with the 1.5x
factor.

Is there any point in increasing the max to beyond 4Gb unless Windows XP SP3
can manage it?

With that much RAM the need for the pagefile won't be that great, you
may not need a pagefile for anything more than virtual addresses for the
applications, just set the pagefile to System Managed and forget about it.

As to the usable pagefile size, with PAE enabled 32-bit NT versions can
have a maximum of 16 pagefiles of 16 terabytes each!

John

 

[Guest]

I am aware that the optimal page file sizes are 1.5 to 3 times actual RAM but
I was under the impression that the maximum XP 32-bit could manage was 4Gb.

snip

If you want to read a really good article on page file management go
to this link and follow what they have to say. One of the best I have
ever read on the subject.

How can I optimize the Windows 2000/XP/2003 virtual memory (Pagefile)?
by Daniel Petri - January 8, 2009


http://www.petri.co.il/pagefile_optimization.htm
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