Filling RAM before XP swapfile

OvenMaster · 01-31-2007, 05:01 PM

I searched for info on this and came up dry, so I thought I'd ask.

When I had a PC with Win95, I would launch Windows, and then apps, and only after my RAM was full did Windows start allocating data to the swapfile. Apps that stayed in RAM worked really fast and reliably.

I've noticed with XP that even with only Windows and startup programs launched, there's hundreds of megs of stuff already in my swapfile, and lots of empty RAM. Opening up lots of apps never seems to fill up my RAM like I thought it "should".

So. My question is, is there any way to force XP to fill up RAM first before adding anything to the swapfile? It's fixed at 2GB on my slave drive.

Tom

PC eye · 02-01-2007, 01:24 AM

XP is obviously a totally different OS from 95 just to start. XP also utilizes page files differently being based on the NT not dos type of OS core. The newer version uses page files more frequently to keep the physical memory available at all times. Do you like "fine print"? http://www.forensics-intl.com/def7.html goes into length about the differences between page and swap files seen with the 9X-ME lineup.

OvenMaster · 02-01-2007, 06:34 AM

Very cool. Thanks

Tom

01-31-2007, 05:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
OvenMaster VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Red Sox Nation Age: 50 Posts: 2,194	Filling RAM before XP swapfile I searched for info on this and came up dry, so I thought I'd ask. When I had a PC with Win95, I would launch Windows, and then apps, and only after my RAM was full did Windows start allocating data to the swapfile. Apps that stayed in RAM worked really fast and reliably. I've noticed with XP that even with only Windows and startup programs launched, there's hundreds of megs of stuff already in my swapfile, and lots of empty RAM. Opening up lots of apps never seems to fill up my RAM like I thought it "should". So. My question is, is there any way to force XP to fill up RAM first before adding anything to the swapfile? It's fixed at 2GB on my slave drive. Tom __________________ Frankenbox III: CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ * MOBO: Biostar K8M800 Micro AM2 * RAM: 2x1GB Kingston DDR2 667 HDD: 2x WD 160GB, Seagate 320GB (640GB total) * OPT: 2x Pioneer DVR-115DBK DVD burners PSU: Antec Basiq 500W * GPU: PNY GeForce FX5200 256MB AGP 8x * MON: ViewSonic LCD VA721 CASE: EvTek midtower * SND: Diamond Xtreme 5.1 * OS: XP Home SP3 * ROUTER: Linksys WRT54GS Last edited by OvenMaster; 01-31-2007 at 06:05 PM.

02-01-2007, 06:34 AM	#3 (permalink)
OvenMaster VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Red Sox Nation Age: 50 Posts: 2,194	Very cool. Thanks Tom __________________ Frankenbox III: CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ * MOBO: Biostar K8M800 Micro AM2 * RAM: 2x1GB Kingston DDR2 667 HDD: 2x WD 160GB, Seagate 320GB (640GB total) * OPT: 2x Pioneer DVR-115DBK DVD burners PSU: Antec Basiq 500W * GPU: PNY GeForce FX5200 256MB AGP 8x * MON: ViewSonic LCD VA721 CASE: EvTek midtower * SND: Diamond Xtreme 5.1 * OS: XP Home SP3 * ROUTER: Linksys WRT54GS

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02-01-2007, 01:24 AM	#2 (permalink)
PC eye banned Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 21,091	XP is obviously a totally different OS from 95 just to start. XP also utilizes page files differently being based on the NT not dos type of OS core. The newer version uses page files more frequently to keep the physical memory available at all times. Do you like "fine print"? http://www.forensics-intl.com/def7.html goes into length about the differences between page and swap files seen with the 9X-ME lineup.