Memory usage increases if more memory installed?

[Sin Jeong-hun]

I had been using 256MB memory. A few days ago, I replaced it with 512MB
memory. But I'm using the same Windows installation.

When I was using 256MB, the size of page file was about 300MB and the
PF usage in the TaskManager hardly exceeded 200MB. Now it has 512MB ram
but the size of page file has been increased to about 700MB Should I
keep this large page file? I check PF usage at the TaskManager often
but I've never seen that it exceeds 300MB. I guess my physical memory
size is large enough for my everyday computing without page file. Is
there any performance degradation if I set the page file size to 0 or
smaller size?

 

[David Candy]

Yes.

 

[Rock]

I had been using 256MB memory. A few days ago, I replaced it with 512MB
memory. But I'm using the same Windows installation.

When I was using 256MB, the size of page file was about 300MB and the
PF usage in the TaskManager hardly exceeded 200MB. Now it has 512MB ram
but the size of page file has been increased to about 700MB Should I
keep this large page file? I check PF usage at the TaskManager often
but I've never seen that it exceeds 300MB. I guess my physical memory
size is large enough for my everyday computing without page file. Is
there any performance degradation if I set the page file size to 0 or
smaller size?

A page file is needed. Don't set it to 0. See this link for an
understanding of virtual memory in XP and how to set the page file:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I had been using 256MB memory. A few days ago, I replaced it with
512MB memory. But I'm using the same Windows installation.

When I was using 256MB, the size of page file was about 300MB and the
PF usage in the TaskManager hardly exceeded 200MB. Now it has 512MB
ram but the size of page file has been increased to about 700MB

It's probably 768MB. By default Windows makes the minimum 1.5 times the
amount of RAM you have.

You don't need that much, and could decrease the minimum to 200MB or so;
leave the maximum high just in case you ever need more.

For more information, read this article by the late MVP Alex Nichol:
"Virtual Memory in Windows XP" at http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm

 

[Sin Jeong-hun]

Thanks for your advice! I set it to 256MB (initial) ~ 1024MB (maximum)
with 'custom size'.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thanks for your advice! I set it to 256MB (initial) ~ 1024MB (maximum)
with 'custom size'.

You're welcome. Glad to help.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I had been using 256MB memory. A few days ago, I replaced it with 512MB
memory. But I'm using the same Windows installation.

That's perfectly normal. By design, Windows uses as much physical
memory as it available to it. When memory is needed by an application,
Windows will release the necessary amount. Remember: Unused RAM is
wasted RAM.

When I was using 256MB, the size of page file was about 300MB and the
PF usage in the TaskManager hardly exceeded 200MB. Now it has 512MB ram
but the size of page file has been increased to about 700MB Should I
keep this large page file?

Yes. WinXP was designed and optimized to operate with a page file.
The simplest, and usually best, course of action is to allow Windows to
manage the page file.

I check PF usage at the TaskManager often
but I've never seen that it exceeds 300MB. I guess my physical memory
size is large enough for my everyday computing without page file. Is
there any performance degradation if I set the page file size to 0 or
smaller size?

Yes, there may well be, and some applications may not even work. For
your edification:

Virtual Memory in Windows XP
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm


--

Bruce Chambers

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