Optimize pagefile

[rj]

I have 3GB memory and just one hard drive. Why is it not okay to put the
pagefile on a separate partition on the same hard drive? Is there a
noticeable difference in performance, speed or stability if I put the
pagefile on the same drive as the OS? Also, what is the optimal size? Should
minimum and maximum be same size?

 

[Tim Slattery]

I have 3GB memory and just one hard drive. Why is it not okay to put the
pagefile on a separate partition on the same hard drive? Is there a
noticeable difference in performance, speed or stability if I put the
pagefile on the same drive as the OS? Also, what is the optimal size? Should
minimum and maximum be same size?

IMHO, putting the paging file on a separate partition is not
necessary. And definitely let the OS manage its size.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have 3GB memory and just one hard drive. Why is it not okay to put the
pagefile on a separate partition on the same hard drive?

Because putting the Page File on a second partition is not a good
idea, and can hurt your performance. What it does is move the page
file to a location on the hard drive distant from the other
frequently-used data on the drive. The result is that every time
Windows needs to use the page file, the time to get to it and back
from it is increased.

How much it hurts your performance depends on how much you use your
page file; with 3GB of RAM, you probably don't use it a lot, so the
penalty for doing this would be small. But doing it can never improve
your performance.

Also, the other problem with a separate partition like this is that
you run the risk of making the partition too small, in which case
programs will fail for lack of virtual memory, or too large, which is
wasteful of disk space. If you leave it on C:, it can expand or
contract as needed.

Is there a
noticeable difference in performance, speed or stability if I put the
pagefile on the same drive as the OS?

If you have a single physical drive, you should always have it on the
same partition as \windows. If you have more than one physical drive,
then having it on a second drive can help, because that decreases head
movement to and from it. A good rule of thumb is to put it on the
most-used partition of the least-used physical drive. For almost
everyone with a single drive, that's C:.

Also, what is the optimal size?

Let Windows take care of it

Should minimum and maximum be same size?

No. Again, it's best to let Windows take of it itself. But if you want
to set its size, make the minimum small and the maximum as large as
possible.

 

[mikeyhsd]

there is only an advantage if you put the page file on the first partition of a 2nd hard drive.
leave it as system managed.

mikeyshd



I have 3GB memory and just one hard drive. Why is it not okay to put the
pagefile on a separate partition on the same hard drive? Is there a
noticeable difference in performance, speed or stability if I put the
pagefile on the same drive as the OS? Also, what is the optimal size? Should
minimum and maximum be same size?

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have 3GB memory and just one hard drive. Why is it not okay to put the
pagefile on a separate partition on the same hard drive? Is there a
noticeable difference in performance, speed....

There is a performance hit, caused by the increased travel times of the
hard drive's read heads. Whether it's noticeable or not depends largely
upon what you're doing at any given time, and how observant you are.


..... or stability ....


No, no problems here for the OS, can't speak for the affects upon any
specialized applications that might be "hard-coded" to make extensive
use of the page file.

....if I put the
pagefile on the same drive as the OS?

Optimally, the page file *should* be on the same hard drive as the OS,
and in the same partition.

Also, what is the optimal size?

Let Windows manage it.

Should
minimum and maximum be same size?

No.



--

Bruce Chambers

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[Bill Leary]

If you have more than one physical drive, then having it on a second
drive can help, because that decreases head movement to and from it.

I'd never considered moving the page file before, but I've recently made
some changes and I now have two HDs, but one is used only for backups so
most of the time it's not being used at all. What kind of improvement might
I expect moving the page file to that drive? I know that "it depends," but
is there some way to make a guess at it?

I've got 2G of RAM.

- Bill

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I'd never considered moving the page file before, but I've recently made
some changes and I now have two HDs, but one is used only for backups so
most of the time it's not being used at all. What kind of improvement might
I expect moving the page file to that drive? I know that "it depends," but
is there some way to make a guess at it?

I've got 2G of RAM.

Two points regarding your question:

1. I would *not* put the page file on a backup drive.

2. Go to http://billsway.com/notes_public/winxp_tweaks/ and
download WinXP-2K_Pagefile.zip and monitor your page file usage. If
page file use is small, moving it won't help you.

One additional point: if you are backing up to a second internal
drive, you are playing with fire. I don't recommend backup to a second
non-removable hard drive because it leaves you susceptible to
simultaneous loss of the original and backup to many of the most
common dangers: severe power glitches, nearby lightning strikes, virus
attacks, even theft of the computer.

In my view, secure backup needs to be on removable media, and not kept
in the computer. For really secure backup (needed, for example, if the
life of your business depends on your data) you should have multiple
generations of backup, and at least one of those generations should be
stored off-site.

You might want to read this article on backup I've written: "Back Up
Your Computer Regularly and Reliably" at
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=314