swap file

**MIG-31** · May 13, 2003, 01:58 PM

which would be recomended for a swap file windows xp home ed. system or custem.

if custem how much to use with 1024mb 266 ddr.

Junk · May 13, 2003, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by johnybravo
which would be recomended for a swap file windows xp home ed. system or custem.

if custem how much to use with 1024mb 266 ddr.

i've never noticed any difference with the size of my swap file. just leave it at system managed..

Chaos · May 13, 2003, 02:16 PM

If you go with a System managed pagefile Windows will reserve roughly 1.5 G for swapfile usage. I have 1024 Megs of DDR 333 and I can run without a swapfile even while playing graphic intense games. Try both and see how it works for you..... 1.5 Gigs of space can come in handy in a pinch.....

Also if you have multiple hard drives installed I would try putting the swapfile on a different drive..... preferabaly a master drive on a seperate controller

dipstick · May 13, 2003, 02:33 PM

I only run a 256mb swap and have never had any issues. It's also faster (for me) than running a 1024mb swap like I used to. ALso a small tip is to specify how much windows is allowed to use. If you leave it at 'System Managed' you will notice slowdowns as windows is always resizing the swap file.

Alexander · May 15, 2003, 07:17 AM

As a general rule when possible I try to set my pagefile to 1.5 times the total system ram at minumum.

Personally I run 512/1500 on my main rig and 448/700 on my server Ram/Page.

Another trick once you have set things the way you need is to set the Min/Max pagefile sizes to the same size. This will stop Windows from changing things around.

mike2h · May 15, 2003, 07:32 AM

managing swap file was more of an issue with pre xp. xp manages it much more effeciently. basically everybody is right though i would never run a computer without some sort of swap file no matter how much ram i had. basically if you have another hd that is on a seperate ide channel & by itself then put the swap file there. otherwise leave it were it is & set min & max to 1.5 times your memory & forget it. better yet just buy more memory & do not worry about it at all. one thing you should be aware of, if you are not already. any ide channel will only fun as fast as the slowesr device on it. another thing to remeber is that most 'tweaks'/performance changes are incremental in the gain you get. it is the combination of several adjustments that gives you any perceivable difference. everything being equal of course.

XBoy · May 15, 2003, 05:50 PM

By rule of thumb, the swap file should be roughly 2.5 times the total amount of ram. Try that..

**MIG-31** · May 15, 2003, 05:53 PM

i have now set it to 3077 for both

mike2h · May 15, 2003, 06:19 PM

yes, but that rule of thumb was from the days when most people had 64-128 megs. with the average being 256 & edging towards 512 this really is not applicable. i have 384 meg on both machines and my swap set at 550, never have a problem. 3077 is way to much. i mean if you have got massive hd space it will not hurt anyhting. just ineficent. how much ram do you have?

**MIG-31** · May 15, 2003, 06:38 PM

firstly i have 1024mb ram as stated in first post

secondly i have 2 hdd's

1st hdd 40 gig maxtor 7200rpm which i use for system files only

2nd hdd 60 gig seagate 5600rpm which i store game files on

mike2h · May 15, 2003, 07:04 PM

firstly i have 1024mb ram as stated in first post
[COLOR=crimson]old age is alive & well[/COLOR]
secondly i have 2 hdd's

1st hdd 40 gig maxtor 7200rpm which i use for system files only

2nd hdd 60 gig seagate 5600rpm which i store game files on
[COLOR=sienna]with that setup just use xp default. you swap file will rarely get hit & as i have said before, xp does a MUCH better job of managing it. as long as you do not have a bunch of crap using up memory resources(cntrl-alt-del will tell you) you should be a happy camper.[/COLOR]

Ryoko · May 15, 2003, 07:28 PM

windows xp will always throw something into the pagefile, no matter how much available ram you have.

the size you should set your pagefile to is determined by 3 things:

1. how much physical ram you have
since you have 1024mb, windows and any other programs will rarely if ever use that much ram (at least currently) so your pagefile doesn't have to be large at all.

2. how much memory you use at maximum
it's always good to have an extra 128mb of ram available past the maximum amount you use. if there is any way possible that you could use all of your physical memory, set your swapfile to 128mb.

3. how much hard drive space you have available on your pagefile drive
as a general rule, it's good to have at least a third of your pagefile drive free. you can have more data on it, but data on the last 1/3 of your drive is accessed at about half speed. try to set your swapfile so it doesn't use any of the last 1/3 of your pagefile drive's data area.

on my setup, i have 512mb of physical memory. i have used as much as 1.5gb of physical and swap memory, and i know i could use more if i tried. my pagefile drive is a 160gb raid0 array, with 75% of the data area free. my swapfile is set at no more/less than 1536mb (1.5 gb)

**MIG-31** · May 15, 2003, 07:46 PM

i'm amazed by the differtent replys i had for this one

mike2h · May 15, 2003, 07:54 PM

true. but really, most are basically saying the same thing. just in a different way.

**MIG-31** · May 15, 2003, 07:56 PM

i realized that thank's anyway

mike2h · May 15, 2003, 08:08 PM

with that type of swap file usage looks like you use photoshop. if you want the ultimate drive for swap file & game of the day, check this out http://www.cenatek.com/ wished i could afford one.

Ryoko · May 15, 2003, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mike2h
with that type of swap file usage looks like you use photoshop. if you want the ultimate drive for swap file & game of the day, check this out http://www.cenatek.com/ wished i could afford one.

thanks, but i'm already getting 70-80mb/s on my ide raid array, not counting the 16mb of cache.

mike2h · May 15, 2003, 08:30 PM

wished i could afford that too!

May 13, 2003, 01:58 PM	#1
MIG-31 HardwareHeaven News Mod Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Nottingham,UK Posts: 56,860 Rep Power: 471 System Specs	swap file which would be recomended for a swap file windows xp home ed. system or custem. if custem how much to use with 1024mb 266 ddr.

May 13, 2003, 02:16 PM	#3
Chaos Number Nine Join Date: May 2002 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 5,268 Rep Power: 167 System Specs	If you go with a System managed pagefile Windows will reserve roughly 1.5 G for swapfile usage. I have 1024 Megs of DDR 333 and I can run without a swapfile even while playing graphic intense games. Try both and see how it works for you..... 1.5 Gigs of space can come in handy in a pinch..... Also if you have multiple hard drives installed I would try putting the swapfile on a different drive..... preferabaly a master drive on a seperate controller __________________

May 15, 2003, 05:50 PM	#7
XBoy DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 18 Rep Power: 0	rule of thumb By rule of thumb, the swap file should be roughly 2.5 times the total amount of ram. Try that..

May 15, 2003, 06:19 PM	#9
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	yes, but that rule of thumb was from the days when most people had 64-128 megs. with the average being 256 & edging towards 512 this really is not applicable. i have 384 meg on both machines and my swap set at 550, never have a problem. 3077 is way to much. i mean if you have got massive hd space it will not hurt anyhting. just ineficent. how much ram do you have? __________________

May 15, 2003, 07:46 PM	Thread Starter #13
MIG-31 HardwareHeaven News Mod Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Nottingham,UK Posts: 56,860 Rep Power: 471 System Specs	i'm amazed by the differtent replys i had for this one __________________ Please Post Your News Submissions Here

May 13, 2003, 02:33 PM	#4
dipstick HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: USA Posts: 3,609 Rep Power: 71 System Specs	I only run a 256mb swap and have never had any issues. It's also faster (for me) than running a 1024mb swap like I used to. ALso a small tip is to specify how much windows is allowed to use. If you leave it at 'System Managed' you will notice slowdowns as windows is always resizing the swap file.

May 15, 2003, 07:17 AM	#5
Alexander . Join Date: May 2003 Location: Alberta Posts: 4,263 Rep Power: 0	As a general rule when possible I try to set my pagefile to 1.5 times the total system ram at minumum. Personally I run 512/1500 on my main rig and 448/700 on my server Ram/Page. Another trick once you have set things the way you need is to set the Min/Max pagefile sizes to the same size. This will stop Windows from changing things around.

May 15, 2003, 07:32 AM	#6
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	managing swap file was more of an issue with pre xp. xp manages it much more effeciently. basically everybody is right though i would never run a computer without some sort of swap file no matter how much ram i had. basically if you have another hd that is on a seperate ide channel & by itself then put the swap file there. otherwise leave it were it is & set min & max to 1.5 times your memory & forget it. better yet just buy more memory & do not worry about it at all. one thing you should be aware of, if you are not already. any ide channel will only fun as fast as the slowesr device on it. another thing to remeber is that most 'tweaks'/performance changes are incremental in the gain you get. it is the combination of several adjustments that gives you any perceivable difference. everything being equal of course.

May 15, 2003, 05:53 PM	Thread Starter #8
MIG-31 HardwareHeaven News Mod Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Nottingham,UK Posts: 56,860 Rep Power: 471 System Specs	i have now set it to 3077 for both

May 15, 2003, 06:38 PM	Thread Starter #10
MIG-31 HardwareHeaven News Mod Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Nottingham,UK Posts: 56,860 Rep Power: 471 System Specs	firstly i have 1024mb ram as stated in first post secondly i have 2 hdd's 1st hdd 40 gig maxtor 7200rpm which i use for system files only 2nd hdd 60 gig seagate 5600rpm which i store game files on

May 15, 2003, 07:04 PM	#11
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	firstly i have 1024mb ram as stated in first post [COLOR=crimson]old age is alive & well[/COLOR] secondly i have 2 hdd's 1st hdd 40 gig maxtor 7200rpm which i use for system files only 2nd hdd 60 gig seagate 5600rpm which i store game files on [COLOR=sienna]with that setup just use xp default. you swap file will rarely get hit & as i have said before, xp does a MUCH better job of managing it. as long as you do not have a bunch of crap using up memory resources(cntrl-alt-del will tell you) you should be a happy camper.[/COLOR]

May 15, 2003, 07:28 PM	#12
Ryoko American Soldier Join Date: May 2002 Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 1,725 Rep Power: 0	windows xp will always throw something into the pagefile, no matter how much available ram you have. the size you should set your pagefile to is determined by 3 things: 1. how much physical ram you have since you have 1024mb, windows and any other programs will rarely if ever use that much ram (at least currently) so your pagefile doesn't have to be large at all. 2. how much memory you use at maximum it's always good to have an extra 128mb of ram available past the maximum amount you use. if there is any way possible that you could use all of your physical memory, set your swapfile to 128mb. 3. how much hard drive space you have available on your pagefile drive as a general rule, it's good to have at least a third of your pagefile drive free. you can have more data on it, but data on the last 1/3 of your drive is accessed at about half speed. try to set your swapfile so it doesn't use any of the last 1/3 of your pagefile drive's data area. on my setup, i have 512mb of physical memory. i have used as much as 1.5gb of physical and swap memory, and i know i could use more if i tried. my pagefile drive is a 160gb raid0 array, with 75% of the data area free. my swapfile is set at no more/less than 1536mb (1.5 gb)

May 15, 2003, 07:54 PM	#14
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	true. but really, most are basically saying the same thing. just in a different way. __________________

May 15, 2003, 07:56 PM	Thread Starter #15
MIG-31 HardwareHeaven News Mod Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Nottingham,UK Posts: 56,860 Rep Power: 471 System Specs	i realized that thank's anyway

May 15, 2003, 08:08 PM	#16
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	ryoko with that type of swap file usage looks like you use photoshop. if you want the ultimate drive for swap file & game of the day, check this out http://www.cenatek.com/ wished i could afford one. __________________

May 15, 2003, 08:30 PM	#18
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	wished i could afford that too!