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ConservativeSwapFileUsage = 1 and now mem freeing progs don't work?

I

igowerf

Diamond Member
I read the thread about swapfile usage and I decided to try some of the tweaks on my system. I added the line ConservativeSwapFileUsage=1 to my system.ini and now I noticed that programs and vbscripts that are supposed to free up RAM actually cause more RAM to be used. It seems that when these programs and scripts free up memory, it uses up a lot of RAM first causing my swap file to be used. Mystring = Space(80000000) creates a string of 80MB right? Is that memory freed when the vb script terminates? Why does more of my RAM end up being used? Thanks.

EDIT: Fixed the messed up link. Got some of forum "symbols" mixed up with another forum's.
 
Fixed:

I read the thread about swapfile usage and I decided to try some of the tweaks on my system.
I added the line ConservativeSwapFileUsage=1 to my system.ini and now I noticed that programs and vbscripts that are supposed to free up RAM actually cause more RAM to be used. It seems that when these programs and scripts free up memory, it uses up a lot of RAM first causing my swap file to be used. Mystring = Space(80000000) creates a string of
80MB right? Is that memory freed when the vb script terminates? Why does more of my RAM end up being used? Thanks.
 
1) What OS are you using?
2) How much RAM do you actually have?
3) How big is your swap file?
4) Quote the contents of the VBS in question.
5) Give us solid numbers as to what you see for usage prior and post running the script.

Thorin
 
Oops. sorry about the first post. Thanks for fixing it Thorin. Should've checked my message after I posted. 🙂

1. I'm using Win98SE
2. 192 MB of RAm
3. My swapfile is fixed at around 8300 KB
4. Mystring = Space(80000000)
5. 128MB was used before the script was executed. After I executed the script, it went up to 155 used.
 
"My swapfile is fixed at around 8300 KB"

U have a 8.3 MB swap file? There's your first problem.

Thorin
 
I don't think you want to be using both techniques at the same time, they
seem counterproductive to me.

The ConservativeSwapFileUsage key makes Windows9x wait until most of
the memory has been allocated before trying to swap out program code
and data that isn't immediately needed.

The ram-freeing programs work by allocating a large chunk of memory,
and then freeing it back up. That forces Windows to swap out lower
priority code to make room in RAM, then when that memory is freed
the system can allow other programs to use it again (a little more
efficiently).

When you use both at the same time IMO, you are making them fight
it out on who has control of memory.

If I'm not mistaken, you're right that the vbs string is trying to
allocate 80MB and then will free it back up when the string exits.

Run sysmon and check your Disk Cache size, you might be better off
tweaking that to a smaller size to make more memory available at
startup.
 
Get rid of your fixed swapfile, get rid of mem reclaimers and let let Windpws manage your mem and keep the CSFU=1 setting, with a BLANK line below it and try that for a few days. You might be surprised. 😉
 
Ok. Looking over my settings, it's becoming very evident that I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing. I was using Cacheman to edit the settings. What's Disk Cache as opposed to the swapfile? I'm assuming that's not the same because Cacheman only lets you set up to around 99,000Kb (not KB) for your min and max disk cache. I think I'm gonna follow Taz4158's advice. What does the blank line below the CSFU = 1 line do? I already have one there.
 
I use the CSFU=1 with "Allow Windows to Manage Virtual Memory", and have yet to see a swapfile started on my drive after a long while. I use RAM Idle to monitor, and free up memory if I need to. It works very well. With 7 or 8 background programs running, I still have 220MB of RAM available out of 384MB at the moment.

EDIT: As far as Cacheman is concerned, I get the best overall performance with it set under Win98 "Power User"
 
technout : wow. i suppose you are using win98. i haven't had as much luck as you. with 256 mb of ram and
CSFU = 1 and windows managing my swap file, i still have constantly get swap files created, sometimes of sizes up to 100 mb! i have been wondering if i had done anything wrong, but i haven't! is it just plainly cos i have 256 mb and not 384 mb of ram?
 
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