One of the most controversial topics on Windows is the management of virtual memory ie the swap file or paging file.
This topic is part of the larger chapter of saving space on Windows and even more in the chapter "Optimizing Windows and having a fast and stable PC" that I recommend reading.
The paging file is used to integrate the RAM memory, therefore, theoretically, if applications run on the PC that use all the available RAM, Windows uses a space on the hard disk called pagefile.sys as if it were additional RAM.
The most frequently asked question is: How large should the paging file be ?
The answer, from many sources also authoritative, is to set the paging file to 1.5 times the RAM, that is, if you have 512 MB of RAM to set the paging file to about 768 MB (512 + 256).
This answer can be satisfactory if the RAM does not exceed 2GB of memory because in this case, putting the paging file at 3 GB can be counterproductive.
The problem with Windows is that this Swap file is always used, both if you are using all the RAM memory and if the PC is not doing anything and not even using 5% of RAM; then if the pagefile is set to 3 or 4 GB the consequence is to always see activity on the hard disk and ask yourself:
"But if I am not doing anything, why does my PC load and use the hard disk? What is it doing ??"
There is no absolute rule, the important thing is to set it low, never exceed about 4 GB, and take action to increase it only if the Windows warning "insufficient virtual memory" appears.
4 GB is the maximum of virtual memory for PCs with Windows 32 bit while Windows 7, 8.1 and 10 64 bit can also reach 16 GB.
To set up the paging file :
Right click on Control Panel -> System -> Advanced Settings -> Advanced -> Performance -> Settings -> Advanced -> Virtual Memory -> change -> write your custom size (identical initial and maximum) -> set -> apply -> close -> restart .
If you are using an SSD disk, you must either disable the paging file on the disk or keep it very small in order not to wear it out.
If possible, if you have a second hard disk, after deactivating the page file on the SSD, move it to this hard disk activating it and leaving it managed by the system.
In case of doubt, not to be mistaken, Microsoft has released an automatic Fix It that sets the paging file with initial sizes up to 1.5 and maximum sizes up to 3 times the RAM in use.
To check, in real time, the use of virtual memory and the ram, you can use the small free tool MemoryWatch which can also send notifications if you exceed a maximum level of use of the Page File.
On Windows 7 there is a different way to increase virtual memory by activating ReadyBoost with a USB stick
This topic is part of the larger chapter of saving space on Windows and even more in the chapter "Optimizing Windows and having a fast and stable PC" that I recommend reading.
The paging file is used to integrate the RAM memory, therefore, theoretically, if applications run on the PC that use all the available RAM, Windows uses a space on the hard disk called pagefile.sys as if it were additional RAM.
The most frequently asked question is: How large should the paging file be ?
The answer, from many sources also authoritative, is to set the paging file to 1.5 times the RAM, that is, if you have 512 MB of RAM to set the paging file to about 768 MB (512 + 256).
This answer can be satisfactory if the RAM does not exceed 2GB of memory because in this case, putting the paging file at 3 GB can be counterproductive.
The problem with Windows is that this Swap file is always used, both if you are using all the RAM memory and if the PC is not doing anything and not even using 5% of RAM; then if the pagefile is set to 3 or 4 GB the consequence is to always see activity on the hard disk and ask yourself:
"But if I am not doing anything, why does my PC load and use the hard disk? What is it doing ??"
There is no absolute rule, the important thing is to set it low, never exceed about 4 GB, and take action to increase it only if the Windows warning "insufficient virtual memory" appears.
4 GB is the maximum of virtual memory for PCs with Windows 32 bit while Windows 7, 8.1 and 10 64 bit can also reach 16 GB.
To set up the paging file :
Right click on Control Panel -> System -> Advanced Settings -> Advanced -> Performance -> Settings -> Advanced -> Virtual Memory -> change -> write your custom size (identical initial and maximum) -> set -> apply -> close -> restart .
If you are using an SSD disk, you must either disable the paging file on the disk or keep it very small in order not to wear it out.
If possible, if you have a second hard disk, after deactivating the page file on the SSD, move it to this hard disk activating it and leaving it managed by the system.
In case of doubt, not to be mistaken, Microsoft has released an automatic Fix It that sets the paging file with initial sizes up to 1.5 and maximum sizes up to 3 times the RAM in use.
To check, in real time, the use of virtual memory and the ram, you can use the small free tool MemoryWatch which can also send notifications if you exceed a maximum level of use of the Page File.
On Windows 7 there is a different way to increase virtual memory by activating ReadyBoost with a USB stick
