XP: Ram vs. Pagefile

eatingrich · May 25, 2009, 05:29 PM

Ok, the question is slightly more obvious than the title would suggest, but I'm using Windows XP, I have about 1.75GB RAM. My pagefile, which I run off my second drive, is set to the recommended amount - 2686MB.

The other day, I read someone saying on a forum they got 2GB of RAM and just disabled pagefiles, as they were slower than RAM.

I was basically just wondering what you lot thought? Would I be better off upgrading to 2GB RAM and turning off pagefiles, leaving as is, changing pagefile size?

any thoughts appreciated.

**kris23** · May 25, 2009, 05:53 PM

generally, people with 4Gb of RAM (3.75 or so actual) in XP can disable the pagefile with no performance issues...

actually can make the computer quieter.

i say, try disabling it and see if you like it.... if you dont then turn it on or get more RAM until you do

DDR is rather expensive though.....

eatingrich · May 25, 2009, 05:58 PM

cheers for the reply. Obviously dealing with 2GB of RAM might need the pagefile more?

I guess the best way to do it would be to run 3DMark on it with and without Pagefiles?

Yes, upgrading my RAM will be relatively expensive given I already have 1.75GB of RAM...

May 25, 2009, 05:29 PM	#1
eatingrich HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 156 Rep Power: 0	XP: Ram vs. Pagefile Ok, the question is slightly more obvious than the title would suggest, but I'm using Windows XP, I have about 1.75GB RAM. My pagefile, which I run off my second drive, is set to the recommended amount - 2686MB. The other day, I read someone saying on a forum they got 2GB of RAM and just disabled pagefiles, as they were slower than RAM. I was basically just wondering what you lot thought? Would I be better off upgrading to 2GB RAM and turning off pagefiles, leaving as is, changing pagefile size? any thoughts appreciated. __________________ Intel P4 3ghz CPU - 8kb primary cache - 512kb secondary cache Board: ASUSTeK Computer INC. P4S800 REV 1.xx Bus Clock: 200 megahertz BIOS: Revision 1009 06/08/2004 2GB RAM - PC3200 DDR 76GB HDD - IBM-DTLA-307075 (NTFS) NVIDIA 7300GT 256MB AGP 8x Graphics Card Audigy 2 ZS Sound Card

May 25, 2009, 05:53 PM	#2
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,990 Rep Power: 121 System Specs	Re: XP: Ram vs. Pagefile generally, people with 4Gb of RAM (3.75 or so actual) in XP can disable the pagefile with no performance issues... actually can make the computer quieter. i say, try disabling it and see if you like it.... if you dont then turn it on or get more RAM until you do DDR is rather expensive though..... __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

May 25, 2009, 05:58 PM	Thread Starter #3
eatingrich HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 156 Rep Power: 0	Re: XP: Ram vs. Pagefile cheers for the reply. Obviously dealing with 2GB of RAM might need the pagefile more? I guess the best way to do it would be to run 3DMark on it with and without Pagefiles? Yes, upgrading my RAM will be relatively expensive given I already have 1.75GB of RAM... __________________ Intel P4 3ghz CPU - 8kb primary cache - 512kb secondary cache Board: ASUSTeK Computer INC. P4S800 REV 1.xx Bus Clock: 200 megahertz BIOS: Revision 1009 06/08/2004 2GB RAM - PC3200 DDR 76GB HDD - IBM-DTLA-307075 (NTFS) NVIDIA 7300GT 256MB AGP 8x Graphics Card Audigy 2 ZS Sound Card