Swap file location

[dOinK]

I learn that the swap file should be on a different partition - or better; a
different physical disk - than the system (I run Windows XP Pro). I have two
disks; a 36 GB SATA at 10000 rpm, where the OS and all programs are
installed, and a 120 GB IDE at 7200 rpm, where the bulk of my documents are
stored (both WD). I have 2x512 MB DDR (in dual config. on an A7N8X mother).

- Is it likely that I will get better performance after moving the 1.5 GB
(fixed size) swap file from the system drive (SATA) to my data drive (IDE)?
- Is my swap file size adequate (disregarding free space on the HDs)?

By "performance" I mean in games (e.g. UT), video editing (e.g. Sony Movie
Studio) and photo editing (e.g. Paintshop Pro).

Any advice is most welcome, thanks!
dOinK

 

[Geoffrey Cohen [MS-MVP]]

It shouldn't make much difference. Theoretically, your PC reads from the
SATA drive faster but I doubt you would notice any difference and 1.5 GB is
more than adequate. Other than moving the location, continue to allow
Windows to manage the file size itself.

 

[dOinK]

Thanks, so I'll put my virtual ram on my data disk (where my system is not).
But you've got me wrong; I'm not letting Windows manage the size. I do not
want my "swap" file to be fragmented, therefore I have set a fixed size
(initial = maximum). I was under the impression that that would be
beneficial, is it not?

dOinK