Swap file

[3MCRW-156A]

Just a quick question. I have a gig of ram. What should my swap file be for max performance? Thanks in advance.

[Steve R Jones]

And your operating system is?

I'd just let windows manage it.

[schaef2k]

Once you go above a gig of ram you almost don't need a swap file. But just in case.....

I'd use 512 - 512 since you're PC may never use it. Also setting it to a fixed size will gain performence since windows won't have to keep adjusting the size of the file. Also move it to another disk (best) or partion (good). Having the swap file off the OS partition increases performence.

Also, don't worry when windows tells you that you won't be able to debug the OS if you move the swap file. Unless you can read memory dumps or like to spend $200 on a call to M$ it doen't matter.

[rock]

FYI, I have 3/4 GB of RAM and still get "your system is running low on virtual memory" warnings about once a week. Of course, this sytem is pretty well abused, running Outlook, Netbeans, Mozilla, Seti and who knows what else all at once.

The point: if you're going to push your system, you're still going to need a swap file. And if you're really pushing it, don't set a maximum size - just let Windows manage it.

[schaef2k]

Well, true If you're running 12 thing at once you'll want a to set the swap file higher. But every time windows needs to resize that file, you'll get a slight pause while it does it. Damn I hate that.

[russ_watters]

Originally posted by schaef2k
Well, true If you're running 12 thing at once you'll want a to set the swap file higher. But every time windows needs to resize that file, you'll get a slight pause while it does it. Damn I hate that.

So then set the minimum higher so you get that less often. The only thing you accomlplish by fixing the maximum is that instead of a slight pause and a resize you get an out of memory error and programs stop running.

[schaef2k]

The only thing you accomlplish by fixing the maximum is that instead of a slight pause and a resize you get an out of memory error and programs stop running.

correct, but you need to set it high enough that this doesn't happen. If you had 1 gig of ram and a 1024 - 1024 mb swap file, when would you ever run out of memory???

I run Terminal servers that wouldn't max that out.

[thebove]

i've got a gig of ram and a swap file set to 256-256.....never once have i had a low resource warning or slowdowns.

[rock]

Originally posted by thebove
i've got a gig of ram and a swap file set to 256-256.....never once have i had a low resource warning or slowdowns.

Sounds like you could have saved yourself some $$ on memory

[russ_watters]

Originally posted by schaef2k
correct, but you need to set it high enough that this doesn't happen. If you had 1 gig of ram and a 1024 - 1024 mb swap file, when would you ever run out of memory???

...And by the same token, when would your swap file ever need to resize? Still no difference in what I said. You don't gain anything by fixing the maximum size.