Vista Paging File

[PoiZoNouZ]

I'm running the following:

Vista 64 bit Ultimate
2x2GB DDR2-800 RAM
Core 2 Duo E7300

What should my paging file be set to when running 4GB ram, it is currently at 4096 fixed, should I go less, more, or none at all, for maximum performance.

 

[Random717]

Doesn't matter too much. If you ever use the paging file, having it 'un'fragmented on a separate drive to the one running your software will speed things up a little. Of course if you decide to open an 8 gig jpg file in photoshop, you'd probably want at least a five gig paging file... it really depends on what you use your box for.

 

[Conradl]

Never disable the page file, systems always page even if memory is free. Fixing the page file is probably the best thing you can do for performance. As far as the size is concerned 4096 should be fine, perhaps even too big. If your system was paging that much that a four gig page file was too small then you would probably need to buy more RAM since it would be crap slow....

 

[d0b33]

You should have a "recommended" size calculated on the performance panel, I usually set my page file to that size(min and max).

 

[Arthur]

Typically 30% more than installed physical memory.
But as previous posters have suggested, it all depends what apps you run and how much you overcommit memory.

 

[PoiZoNouZ]

Thanks 4 the help. Set it to 6144, which is what it recommended.

Mainly use the rig for downloads 24/7, and gaming, but not too much.

 

[killadoob]

I run vista with no paging file. 4 gig of memory is plenty and you don't have to run a paging file, however if you choose set it 5000 and 5000 on a seperate hdd to your vista install.

 

[Conradl]

I run vista with no paging file. 4 gig of memory is plenty and you don't have to run a paging file, however if you choose set it 5000 and 5000 on a seperate hdd to your vista install.

More proof that it is difficult to give good advice to these generic questions such as "should I disable my pagefile". The fact is that some applications will work faster, some slower, and some not at all....

If you look at your task manager, bottom left corner you will see Commit Charge. Total is the current amount of memory commited by applications, Limit is the total amount of memory that can be commited (RAM and pagefile) and peak is the highest for this session.

To test, run all your apps, with standard work loads and then view your Peak. You can then set your page file to (Peak-RAM+10%). If you have no pagefile and the Peak is lower than the Limit, then you should be OK, you just wont be able to create dump files and any apps that need a Pagefile will fail.

The reason that it may be slower to have no page file, depending on the workload, is that Committed memory is not necessarily written. So your file caching space, for example, could be reduced to make space for applications committed memory requirements; thus reducing performance.