Question about Pagefile.

**JPCAREY** · 01-27-11, 04:35 PM

I am running XP32 with 4 gigs (3.25 recognized).
What should my pagefile be set at?
I've read some say the same amount as my ram
Others have said only the bare minimum. like 4 megs for dump.
Others have said twice the amount of ram you have.
Ideally I want it set to an optimal speed for gaming.
I only have one 250gig HD with 3 partitions.50/100/100 operating system is on the 50
Thanks

**WileECyte** · 01-27-11, 06:33 PM

In most cases, letting Windows manage the swap file on its own is the best answer. The most common answer though is if your memory is > 1gig is 1.5x your RAM size, so for you you'd want ~6 gigs.

**JPCAREY** · 01-27-11, 11:15 PM

OK thanks.

**HeavyG** · 01-28-11, 02:48 AM

I typically set my page file size at 2x my physical memory, but no more than that. I read it in a Computer Gaming World (I think) article like 10 years ago that 2x is the best for gaming... although I am not sure I have ever seen any performance gains.

**Mcstrange** · 01-28-11, 10:31 AM

ya, all that 2x physical memory was back from the days when it was heavily relied on by applications, back prior to everyone having multiple gigs of memory. A Page file is really only used when you run out of physical memory in RAM, the system uses the Hard Drive like Virtual Ram - this is extremely slow compared to actual ram. Generally you want to use the paging file as little as possible.

I agree with something much closer to the bare minimum people. 6gb is to much.

You cannot eliminate it as some applications specifically use it, and windows dump files are pushed through it, but there is no reason to lock off 6gb of your hard drive when there is little chance you would use anywhere near that.

I have a similar setup with windows xp and 3.25 gb of memory and have locked my page file at 2gb max.
I would set it to 0 since I really dont want anything ever written to it, but for reasons i mentioned above you cant get away with 0... When I get to a 64bit OS and add more than 4 gb of available ram I will likely reduce that to 1 or 1/2 a gb, and will happily wait for the day the page file is no longer needed.

**HeavyG** · 01-28-11, 02:09 PM

You can also use a jump drive for Windows Ready Boost ad allocate your virtual memory to that drive. It actually DOES make a difference. Some applications share memory usage between your physical memory and your virtual memory. Using a jump drive may give you some noticeable performance increases as you don't need to wait for your platters to spin... it is all flash based memory, like your RAM.

Ready Boost only works in Vista or 7.... sorry.

**Kanati** · 01-28-11, 03:00 PM

I'm firmly in the 1.5x physical memory camp. That's what windows defaults it to. And along with Heavy, I recommend getting a FAST 4gig or higher USB stick. BUT instead of using ready boost, I would move my pagefile from C drive to the memory stick. Any normal amount of pagefile fragmentation that might happen won't cause much slowdown, and accessing it will be far faster than on your C drive.

**Kanati** · 01-28-11, 03:02 PM

note of caution though... don't unplug the memory stick while windows is on... I've never tried it, but I can envision bluescreens of death and destruction if it tries to write to the pagefile and it's no longer there.

**Bunni** · 01-28-11, 03:18 PM

Depends on you're rig, watch ram usage and page % usage,keep extending if page is getting maxed. Though for a game that would be surprising if you have a decent rig.

There is no rule of thumb.

**JPCAREY** · 01-29-11, 12:50 AM

Hmm yea mixed opinions here as well. Pagefile on the usb seems too risky as I would definitely forget and pull it out. So I guess what I don't understand is if my pc only needs 1.2 gigs PF for programs, if I have it set to 4 gigs pagefile will I see a significant performance loss or just that its wasting extra HD space or both?