i ran sisoft sandra and it recommended that i use a fixed swap file. anyone recommend a size for a fixed swap file? i'm running win 98se with 512 mb of sdram. i usually have a bunch of apps open at once and i hate rebooting and would prefer to trade performance for stability.

also, why is this not the default in windows?

thx

Here's a good way to determine the size of the swap file. It is individual for each machine, depending on the demands of your programs, and how you use your system.

1.) Load the System Monitor. This can be found in Add/Remove Programs,/Windows Setup/System Tools. Select a graph of "Allocated memory" under Edit/Add Item/Memory Manager. Afterwards, this will located under Accessories/System Tools. How you prefer to "View" the graph is your choice.

Note: Windows Setup may require the used of the Windows CD to load the program components. Or you can browse to a folder that contains your CAB files.

Load all the programs that you normally use, concurrently. Make a note of the maxiumum values shown in the graph. Next, running the system for several days, again taking note of the maximum values listed in the graph during normal use.

The largest number displayed in the graph should be used to determine the minimum setting of the swap file. I normally suggest adding 50 to that number, so that the user will never run out of memory.

2.) Next ... place the swap file on the fastest hard drive or partition. If you have two hard drives, similiar in speed, the best placement is normally the first partition on the slaved drive. Moving the swap file file will speed up system performance when page misses occur, that is, when the physical RAM is insufficient.

3.) To reduce paging, it's best for the swap file values to be the same for the minimum and maximum numbers.

<font color=green>"also, why is this not the default in windows?"</font color=green>

Systems can have different amounts of RAM installed, and of course, the program installation can vary greatly. Windows <i>does</i> have a default setting for the swap file, which is to allocate the virtual memory as needed. However, most users have found that performance <i>and</i> stability increase by manually setting the values, not to mention reducing paging, which can be irritating at best. This is basically because older versions of Windows have poor memory management.

I'd also suggest that you read over this <A HREF="http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=31205#31205" target="_new">post</A>, especially since you have 512MB of RAM installed. If you have any other questions on the subject, don't hesitate to ask!

Toejam31

<font color=red>My Rig:</font color=red> <A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=6847" target="_new"><font color=green>Toejam31's Tantalizing Tantric Toy</font color=green></A>
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<font color=purple>"Procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part."</font color=purple>

If you have 512MB of memory, are you sure you ever really access your swapfile. I find I have to be using many apps over many hours.

Here's another for you. You can create a partition of 1024MB and move the swapfile into it. Right click My computer/properties/performance/virtual memory. Select the "specify my own memory" bit and change the partition. apply changes and re-start.

Now you have a Windows managed swapfile which won't mess with your C: drive.

(from toey's link). Add this too, and it ensures you use all RAM before swapfile. If you're still regularly dipping in to the swapfile, then change it to a fixed size.

I don't trust sandra too much. Sometimes you follow their advice and next time it tells you to change it back for another reason. Go figure.

<b><font color=blue>~scribble~</font color=blue></b> <A HREF="http://www.ud.com/home.htm" target="_new">Help cure cancer.</A>

BTW toey. Sorry, but could you PM me, or up your post count here by posting a link (your favourite thing) about the Vcache theories and techie stuff which distinguishes vache from swapfile and aperture stuff etc.

Someone asked and my answer for now is "Just believe me, its different!" LoL can't remember the chapter and verse.

Cheers!

<b><font color=blue>~scribble~</font color=blue></b> <A HREF="http://www.ud.com/home.htm" target="_new">Help cure cancer.</A>

Sorry to hear about the mobo. That's a real bummer. But I'm glad that you had a good, solid backup board.

As for those links, here goes:

<i>AGP</i>

<A HREF="http://www.intel.com/technology/agp/tutorial/index.htm" target="_new">AGP Technology Tutorial</A>

<A HREF="http://howstuffworks.lycos.com/agp.htm" target="_new">How AGP Works</A>

<A HREF="http://support.intel.com/support/technologies/graphics/agp/aperture2.htm" target="_new">Default Aperture Size For AGP</A>

<A HREF="http://www.planetquake.com/rocketland/haqsau/agp6.shtml" target="_new">AGP Tweakage</A>

<A HREF="http://www.geforcefaq.com/faq.html#hw:gef:agpapset" target="_new">What Should My AGP Aperture Size Be?</A>

<i>VCache</i>

<A HREF="http://tweakhomepc.virtualave.net/memory/vcache.html" target="_new">VCache Settings</A>

<A HREF="http://www.pcforrest.freeserve.co.uk/vcache.htm" target="_new">Windows Memory & VCache</A>

<A HREF="http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q253912" target="_new">Out Of Memory Messages</A>

<A HREF="http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q304943" target="_new">MaxPhysPage Workaround</A>

<A HREF="http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=31205#31205" target="_new"> Maximum Amount Of Memory in Windows</A>

<A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.html?i=27" target="_new">AnandTech ... Max RAM in Windows</A>

<i>Swap File</i> (Virtual Memory)

<A HREF="http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/v/virtual_memory.html" target="_new">What Is Virtual Memory?</A>

<A HREF="http://www.howstuffworks.com/virtual-memory.htm" target="_new">How Virtual Memory Works</A>

<A HREF="http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/pctech/content/solutions/oe1814c.htm" target="_new">The Windows Swap File</A>

<A HREF="http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/620" target="_new">Swap File Performance Tweak</A>

<A HREF="http://www.siliconguide.com/hardware/optimize/5.shtml" target="_new">Creating a Custom, Fixed Swap File</A>

<A HREF="http://www.bootdisk.com/swapfile.htm" target="_new">Manually Setting the Swap File</A>

<A HREF="http://www.pureperformance.com/js/showtip.asp?id=22" target="_new">Win2K Virtual Memory</A>

<A HREF="http://web.ukonline.co.uk/cook/dualshare.htm" target="_new">Dual-Boot Sharing</A>

<A HREF="http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q197379" target="_new">Configuring WinNT and Win2K Page Files For Optimization and Recovery</A>

<A HREF="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/using/productdoc/en/default.asp?url=/WINDOWSXP/home/using/productdoc/en/SAG_MPmonperf_15.asp" target="_new">WindowsXP Page File</A>

That should be enough to keep someone busy for a hour or so. LOL!

If I missed linking to a site with some specific information you were looking for ... let me know. It's late, and I'm doing this with one eye open.

Toejam31

<font color=red>My Rig:</font color=red> <A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=6847" target="_new"><font color=green>Toejam31's Tantalizing Tantric Toy</font color=green></A>
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<font color=purple>"Procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part."</font color=purple>

Wow, that's allot of good stuff there.

Any way to put a gleaming neon sign on this thread for future reference?

And if I ask for a dollar? w00t! I'll be rich!

Great stuff!

<b><font color=blue>~scribble~</font color=blue></b> <A HREF="http://www.ud.com/home.htm" target="_new">Help cure cancer.</A>