Use More Memory

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I run XP on a Dual Xeon machine with 2GB of RAM but it never seems to utilse
more than 512MB of RAM on average.

I am wondering if I would see performance improvements if I could tweak XP
to utilise more of the RAM I have available (i.e. for the Kernel and reduce
paging)

Cheers
 
Bryce said:
I run XP on a Dual Xeon machine with 2GB of RAM but it never seems to utilse
more than 512MB of RAM on average.

I am wondering if I would see performance improvements if I could tweak XP
to utilise more of the RAM I have available (i.e. for the Kernel and reduce
paging)

Cheers
Click to expand...

You could try this (backup the registry first!):

Open the registry and go to:

HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session
Manager\Memory Management

DisablePagingExecutive - Double click it to open it. In the decimal
value field, put a 1. This lets XP keep data in memory instead of paging
to the hard drive.

LargeSystemCache - Double click it and change the decimal value to a 1.
This will allow the XP Kernel to Run in RAM.

Create a new DWORD value and name it IOPageLockLimit - Double click it
and set the value in hex to 40000 if you have more than 512MB of RAM.

If someone is reading this and doesn't have at least 512MB of RAM
installed, don't bother.


--
The reader should exercise normal caution and backup the Registry and
data files regularly, and especially before making any changes to their
PC, as well as performing regular virus and spyware scans. I am not
liable for problems or mishaps that occur from the reader using advice
posted here. No warranty, express or implied, is given with the posting
of this message.
 
"If someone is reading this and doesn't have at least 512MB of RAM
installed, don't bother."

I would say: If someone is reading this...don't bother.
 
Hi Mike

Office, mainly Word, Outlook and PPT. Visual Studio. SQL Server for some
applications (not always running). I also operate VMWARE for testing, and
that certainly uses some memory up. And of course I run a few games :)

The main application I would like to speed up is Windows File Explorer. It
still frustrates me the time it takes to open folders, especially folders
with large zip files in them (I assume its trying to cache the filenames). I
have done all the obvious things like defragmenting the drive (I run stripped
SATA drives).

Cheers
 
Ted said:
"If someone is reading this and doesn't have at least 512MB of RAM
installed, don't bother."

I would say: If someone is reading this...don't bother.
Click to expand...

Ok Ted, let's start the flame war - bring it on.

The tips I provided were from a reputable source known as WinXPNews.

Now, what quote(s) from what reputable source - other than your own
feeble mind - can you provide debunking my tip?

--
The reader should exercise normal caution and backup the Registry and
data files regularly, and especially before making any changes to their
PC, as well as performing regular virus and spyware scans. I am not
liable for problems or mishaps that occur from the reader using advice
posted here. No warranty, express or implied, is given with the posting
of this message.
 
Point #1.. WinXPNews is not the definitive source for anything..

Point #2.. Windows loves pagefiles/swapfiles.. they were written in to make
up for lack of physical memory and extending the capabilities of a machine..
why try to change anything to get an imperceptible increase in performance?

Point #3.. Unix/AIX also uses pagefiles.. pagefiles are cool

Point #4.. making one part of a system do all of the work is not sense
really.. why do you think that RISC systems like Macs and IBM RS's work so
well?. because unlike the X86 architecture, they spread the processing load
across the system.. of course, they are much more expensive too..
 
Like Mike said...hacking into an OS to make it work differently than it was
designed to work may be exciting, but it's ultimately counterproductive.

I don't bother with flame wars.
 
Ted said:
Like Mike said...hacking into an OS to make it work differently than it was
designed to work may be exciting, but it's ultimately counterproductive.

I don't bother with flame wars.
Click to expand...

If you have no evidence to refute my tip - other than the fact that
you're making the statement - then I ask for the same respect that you
would expect here, and:

1. Let my tips stand, and
2. If you don't bother with flame wars, then don't start them.

--
The reader should exercise normal caution and backup the Registry and
data files regularly, and especially before making any changes to their
PC, as well as performing regular virus and spyware scans. I am not
liable for problems or mishaps that occur from the reader using advice
posted here. No warranty, express or implied, is given with the posting
of this message.
 
Mike said:
Point #1.. WinXPNews is not the definitive source for anything..
Click to expand...

So, YOU are the definitive source for everything?
Point #2.. Windows loves pagefiles/swapfiles.. they were written in to make
up for lack of physical memory and extending the capabilities of a machine..
why try to change anything to get an imperceptible increase in performance?
Click to expand...

Have you any empirical data showing it's an 'imperceptible increase in
performance'? Or am I to believe your statement is true because YOU are
the definitive source for everything?
Point #3.. Unix/AIX also uses pagefiles.. pagefiles are cool
Click to expand...

Another definitive statement from YOU. If you have enough RAM, there's
no reason to page anything.
Point #4.. making one part of a system do all of the work is not sense
really.. why do you think that RISC systems like Macs and IBM RS's work so
well?. because unlike the X86 architecture, they spread the processing load
across the system.. of course, they are much more expensive too..
Click to expand...

Now, explain how making RAM do all the work - at least, the work it's
INTENDED TO DO (keeping data available for QUICK ACCESS TO IT) - isn't
better than putting data in temporary storage on a hard drive (which is
SLOWER ACCESSING THAN RAM). Throwing RISC systems into the equation is
simply a red herring.


--
The reader should exercise normal caution and backup the Registry and
data files regularly, and especially before making any changes to their
PC, as well as performing regular virus and spyware scans. I am not
liable for problems or mishaps that occur from the reader using advice
posted here. No warranty, express or implied, is given with the posting
of this message.
 
I will not bandy words ad infinitum with you as I consider you to be a troll
looking for somewhere to argue.. that said, I would suggest you read this..

http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.php

Re. the red herring, Unix/AIX systems run pagefiles despite the huge amount
of RAM that some RISC machines support.. and the reason that they are so
fast is exactly because the workload is spread effectively over the entire
system.. and how do I know that?.. because I was a service engineer for
years covering this kind of computer.. that is as much 'empirical' data as
you are going to receive from me..

Enjoy the reading..

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/user
 
Mike said:
I will not bandy words ad infinitum with you as I consider you to be a troll
looking for somewhere to argue.. that said, I would suggest you read this..

http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.php
Click to expand...

I've read that before, and other than the fact that some applications
request large amounts of virtual memory - basically, at a whim, and thus
are poorly written, wasteful apps - it makes no statements or
declarations refuting my contention that the OS kernel or application
data should be kept in RAM if enough RAM is available and unused.
Re. the red herring, Unix/AIX systems run pagefiles despite the huge amount
of RAM that some RISC machines support.. and the reason that they are so
fast is exactly because the workload is spread effectively over the entire
system.. and how do I know that?.. because I was a service engineer for
years covering this kind of computer.. that is as much 'empirical' data as
you are going to receive from me..
Click to expand...

Nothing in my post(s) say paging shouldn't be done WHEN NECESSARY. It is
just plain stupid to page anything IF YOU DON'T NEED THE RAM SPACE FOR
SOMETHING ELSE. If, as a service engineer, you care to explain to the
readers here WHY those systems page data even with large amounts of RAM,
you're sure to see WHY that may not apply in this situation.

And as to being a troll, your definition of a troll is obviously anyone
that disagrees with you and isn't afraid to point out the disagreement.
In that case, I'm a troll and I wear the badge with pride.

--
The reader should exercise normal caution and backup the Registry and
data files regularly, and especially before making any changes to their
PC, as well as performing regular virus and spyware scans. I am not
liable for problems or mishaps that occur from the reader using advice
posted here. No warranty, express or implied, is given with the posting
of this message.
 
Null = bull

PLONK
--
Ted Zieglar


null said:
I've read that before, and other than the fact that some applications
request large amounts of virtual memory - basically, at a whim, and thus
are poorly written, wasteful apps - it makes no statements or
declarations refuting my contention that the OS kernel or application
data should be kept in RAM if enough RAM is available and unused.


Nothing in my post(s) say paging shouldn't be done WHEN NECESSARY. It is
just plain stupid to page anything IF YOU DON'T NEED THE RAM SPACE FOR
SOMETHING ELSE. If, as a service engineer, you care to explain to the
readers here WHY those systems page data even with large amounts of RAM,
you're sure to see WHY that may not apply in this situation.

And as to being a troll, your definition of a troll is obviously anyone
that disagrees with you and isn't afraid to point out the disagreement.
In that case, I'm a troll and I wear the badge with pride.

--
The reader should exercise normal caution and backup the Registry and
data files regularly, and especially before making any changes to their
PC, as well as performing regular virus and spyware scans. I am not
liable for problems or mishaps that occur from the reader using advice
posted here. No warranty, express or implied, is given with the posting
of this message.
Click to expand...
 
Counterproductive in your mind. What makes you think all the developers of any
OS is infallible and doest make any errors? Can't any part of an OS be made
better?
 
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