Need XP to utilize more RAM and less Page File

dremkast · 04-29-2009, 12:15 AM

I have 8GB of RAM installed, which is all recognized just fine (64-bit XP Pro) but XP insists on using tons of PageFile(VirtualMemory w/e you want to call it) while leaving most of the RAM free at all times.

I have disable the PagingExecutive, limited the PageFile to 1GB (after setting it to 0 or 256MB accomplished nothing but giving me low memory messages).
Picture included to show how ridiculous it is.

To sum it up: How can I FORCE XP into using the excessive RAM at its disposal?

2048Megabytes · 04-29-2009, 04:12 AM

What software are you using with Windows XP 64-bit? When is the operating system giving you low virtual memory warnings?

dremkast · 04-29-2009, 04:27 PM

Well, with the page file set to 1024MB, I finally got another low virtual memory message when I was running: Steam, Counter-Strike: Source, iTunes, Hammer, FireFox and MSN.
The picture I posted shows when I had all of those open, with CSS minimized.
Only other times I've gotten a low virtual memory message was when I set the page file to 256MB, but Windows increased it on its own anyway, so I gave up and set it to 1024.

raoul_1101 · 04-29-2009, 04:33 PM

Me personally, if I had that much RAM, I'd just disable the PF.

2048Megabytes · 04-29-2009, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raoul_1101

Me personally, if I had that much RAM, I'd just disable the page file.

I would not do that. The only reason I wouldn't is some programs require virtual memory to operate properly. I have my virtual memory presently set at 576 megabytes.

raoul_1101 · 04-30-2009, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2048Megabytes

I would not do that. The only reason I wouldn't is some programs require virtual memory to operate properly. I have my virtual memory presently set at 576 megabytes.

Hmm. Didn't know that. I always thought the page file was used exclusively for programs that required blocks of RAM that were to big to be allocated. What kinds of programs do that?

tyttebøvs · 04-29-2009, 09:17 AM

PF usage is just a funny name, it doesn't indicate how much data windows has paged out.

**Cromewell** · 04-29-2009, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyttebøvs

PF usage is just a funny name, it doesn't indicate how much data windows has paged out.

Yeah, task manager is labelled kind of wrong.

Quote:

PF Usage as reported in task manager in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 is actually the system commit total. This number represents potential page file usage, not actual page file usage. It is how much page file space would be used if all the private committed virtual memory in the system had to be paged out all at once.

Full article: http://blogs.technet.com/perfguru/ar...k-manager.aspx

lawson_jl · 04-29-2009, 10:23 PM

dremkast what kind of "problems" are you having with the system that makes you think you need to change the way it works?
It's entirely likley that your system is using only a few MBs of the page file. Some programs require the page file to run properly. You have more then enough physical memory so your system doesn't need a page file. But do to the way some programs are written you will need one.
I have an XP system with 2 gigs of RAM and the fact is it never uses more then about 700MB of memory. It's also true that a system will never use more more then 1 gig of RAM in normal use. You'd have to be doing some pretty heavy duty video editing to get your system to use more then that.

tyttebøvs · 04-30-2009, 01:26 AM

If there is plenty of free ram, when will any application fail without a pagefile? Are you saying that an application can talk directly to the pagefile?

04-29-2009, 12:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
dremkast New Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 19 Posts: 5	Need XP to utilize more RAM and less Page File I have 8GB of RAM installed, which is all recognized just fine (64-bit XP Pro) but XP insists on using tons of PageFile(VirtualMemory w/e you want to call it) while leaving most of the RAM free at all times. I have disable the PagingExecutive, limited the PageFile to 1GB (after setting it to 0 or 256MB accomplished nothing but giving me low memory messages). Picture included to show how ridiculous it is. To sum it up: How can I FORCE XP into using the excessive RAM at its disposal?

04-29-2009, 04:12 AM	#2 (permalink)
2048Megabytes Diamond Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Mainland United States Posts: 2,295	What software are you using with Windows XP 64-bit? When is the operating system giving you low virtual memory warnings? __________________ "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." -- Benjamin Franklin Operating Systems: Linux Ubuntu 9.04 and Windows Vista Power Supply: OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS Video Card: MSI R3650-T2D512 OC Radeon HD 3650 Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-M78SM-S2H Memory: Super Talent PC2-6400 2 gigabytes Processor: Phenom 9550 Quad-Core (2.2 gigahertz)

04-29-2009, 04:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
raoul_1101 Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vermont Age: 18 Posts: 631	Me personally, if I had that much RAM, I'd just disable the PF. __________________ ~raoul

04-29-2009, 10:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
lawson_jl Platinum Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Illinois Age: 30 Posts: 591	dremkast what kind of "problems" are you having with the system that makes you think you need to change the way it works? It's entirely likley that your system is using only a few MBs of the page file. Some programs require the page file to run properly. You have more then enough physical memory so your system doesn't need a page file. But do to the way some programs are written you will need one. I have an XP system with 2 gigs of RAM and the fact is it never uses more then about 700MB of memory. It's also true that a system will never use more more then 1 gig of RAM in normal use. You'd have to be doing some pretty heavy duty video editing to get your system to use more then that. __________________ Any answears I give are free and without warrently. I answear questions from the point of view of a working computer tech because that what I am.

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04-29-2009, 04:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
dremkast New Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 19 Posts: 5	Well, with the page file set to 1024MB, I finally got another low virtual memory message when I was running: Steam, Counter-Strike: Source, iTunes, Hammer, FireFox and MSN. The picture I posted shows when I had all of those open, with CSS minimized. Only other times I've gotten a low virtual memory message was when I set the page file to 256MB, but Windows increased it on its own anyway, so I gave up and set it to 1024.

04-29-2009, 09:17 AM	#7 (permalink)
tyttebøvs Platinum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 520	PF usage is just a funny name, it doesn't indicate how much data windows has paged out.

04-30-2009, 01:26 AM	#10 (permalink)
tyttebøvs Platinum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 520	If there is plenty of free ram, when will any application fail without a pagefile? Are you saying that an application can talk directly to the pagefile?