Page File Size

[Dennis]

Hi,

I have a question about the page file in Windows. As I
know, page file is used when the physical memory is not
enough to run the OS and applications. If I have more
RAM, the page file size should be reduced.

However, why it is suggested to be 1.5 times of the
amount of total RAM in the machine? And why when I run
some application (such as IE and Outlook Express), i can
see the PF Usage in Task Manager is increasing, instead
of the application using RAM. I have 512 MB RAM and in
above mentioned situation, I have about 300 MB RAM are
available.

Thank you.

- Dennis -

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

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

[Courtesy of Alex Nichol, MS-MVP]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Hi,
|
| I have a question about the page file in Windows. As I
| know, page file is used when the physical memory is not
| enough to run the OS and applications. If I have more
| RAM, the page file size should be reduced.
|
| However, why it is suggested to be 1.5 times of the
| amount of total RAM in the machine? And why when I run
| some application (such as IE and Outlook Express), i can
| see the PF Usage in Task Manager is increasing, instead
| of the application using RAM. I have 512 MB RAM and in
| above mentioned situation, I have about 300 MB RAM are
| available.
|
| Thank you.
|
| - Dennis -

 

[Ron Martell]

Hi,

I have a question about the page file in Windows. As I
know, page file is used when the physical memory is not
enough to run the OS and applications. If I have more
RAM, the page file size should be reduced.

However, why it is suggested to be 1.5 times of the
amount of total RAM in the machine?

A purely fictional piece of advice that appears to have its origins in
Unix/Linux based systems where the purpose and function of the "swap
file" is entirely different.

And why when I run
some application (such as IE and Outlook Express), i can
see the PF Usage in Task Manager is increasing, instead
of the application using RAM.

Because practically everything (Windows components, device drivers,
and application programs) issues memory allocation requests that are
larger than what is actually needed under normal circumstances.

Windows must, by definition, identify memory addresses space for all
of the requests that are issued. What Windows does is to allocate
RAM only to those portions of the requests that are actually used, and
to allocate addresses in the page file for the unused portions. Note
that this allocation to the page file does not require any actual
writing to the hard drive - just entries in the memory mapping tables
maintained by the CPU

I have 512 MB RAM and in
above mentioned situation, I have about 300 MB RAM are
available.

Download MVP Bill James' free Page File utility from
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_pagefilemon.htm or from
http://billsway.com/notes_public/WinXP_Tweaks/ and use it to check on
the status of your page file. The usage reported by this utility is
the actual amount of active memory content that has been moved from
RAM to the page file. The difference between this figure and the PF
Usage reported by Windows Task Manager is the sum total of the unused
portions of Memory Allocation Requests.


Hope this explains the situation.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

 

[Dennis]

Hi Carey & Ron,

Thank you for your explanation.

- Dennis -

 

[Dennis]

Hi Carey & Ron,

Thank you for your explanation.

- Dennis -