I mean, if you have alot of memory, it makes your machine run faster - which is what we all want. I'm suprised that this isn't being pushed by all the tech websites, magazines and the such...
ConservativeSwapfileusage=1 - I wonder why this doesn't get more attention?
- Thread starter KDOG
- Start date
I'm not using it.
I haven't heard much about it, but from what I have heard, it doesn't do much. Anyone else care to enlighten me?
I haven't heard much about it, but from what I have heard, it doesn't do much. Anyone else care to enlighten me?
Stefan:
Basically, if you have, say, 256mb of memory or more, your system will STILL use the swap file even if your physical memory has not been completely utilized. By using that setting in Win95/98 (I think you can do it in Win95...not sure though) you force Windows to use your physical memory FIRST before hitting the swap file.
Now we just have to find an equivalent switch for Win2k.
Basically, if you have, say, 256mb of memory or more, your system will STILL use the swap file even if your physical memory has not been completely utilized. By using that setting in Win95/98 (I think you can do it in Win95...not sure though) you force Windows to use your physical memory FIRST before hitting the swap file.
Now we just have to find an equivalent switch for Win2k.
I've never heard of this setting before, although I haven't had the need to look since I've just recently upgraded to 256MB. Where does one add this command? SYSTEM.INI? Registry?
how bout not so "conservative"? like I have 192 meg, that A LOT imo, can I set it to ConservativeSwapfileusage=2 instead?
and where? win.ini?
and where? win.ini?
pillage2001
Lifer
- Sep 18, 2000
- 14,038
- 1
- 81
There would not be a ConservativeSwapfileusage=2. Only 0 and 1.
It is a Boolean value, so only True/False, On/Off, Yes/No, 0/1
It is a Boolean value, so only True/False, On/Off, Yes/No, 0/1
Yes, you add it to your system.ini file under the 386enh heading....
I notice a difference myself, especially when flying Flight Simulator 2000.
I notice a difference myself, especially when flying Flight Simulator 2000.
So is it worth setting in on if i only have 128 meg of ram? or should i just take advantage or the RIDICULOUS memory prices right now and bite the pc100 bullet and then do it?
ATLien247: If you have 256MB of RAM that's when you do need it.
If you have 1 Gig of RAM in your Win9x/ME PC without this flag windows WILL STILL USE SWAP FILE (unless you have it completely off)
If you set this flag on (=1) it forces windows to use all the physical memory first, then if and only if it runs out of main RAM will it go on to use swap.
Win2000 doens't need this switch, AFAIK win2000 does this automatically.
If you have 384MB of RAM like some of us nutcases, then chances are good Win9x does not need any swap at all, so this will prevent it from using any. This is like disabling Vmem until it's absolutely needed, when you have no addressable blocks left in main memory then it will start swapping them out.
I'm not sure how Win98 SE handles Virtualmemory exactly...but I have 384MB of RAM and without this flag I'm still getting swap usage.
Stupid I know, but true.
Turn it on and unless I'm actually using over 384MB worth of RAM the swap file stays at 0 bytes.
If you have 1 Gig of RAM in your Win9x/ME PC without this flag windows WILL STILL USE SWAP FILE (unless you have it completely off)
If you set this flag on (=1) it forces windows to use all the physical memory first, then if and only if it runs out of main RAM will it go on to use swap.
Win2000 doens't need this switch, AFAIK win2000 does this automatically.
If you have 384MB of RAM like some of us nutcases, then chances are good Win9x does not need any swap at all, so this will prevent it from using any. This is like disabling Vmem until it's absolutely needed, when you have no addressable blocks left in main memory then it will start swapping them out.
I'm not sure how Win98 SE handles Virtualmemory exactly...but I have 384MB of RAM and without this flag I'm still getting swap usage.
Stupid I know, but true.
Turn it on and unless I'm actually using over 384MB worth of RAM the swap file stays at 0 bytes.
ConservativeSwapfileUsage=2 would be the same as 1. So would 77, 999, or 4215. Chances are if it was done in C/C++ and the programmer was fairly competent (sp?), it would be checking for either off (0) or on (anything other then 0). Someone should test it out and report back, since I'm not 100.00% sure.
As for when to use it, I'd say everyone and anyone should use it. All it does is tell windows to use your physical RAM (the memory you spent hundreds of $ on) before using the swap file (which is also physical if you think about it, considering as how it's stored on a physical hard drive).
As for when to use it, I'd say everyone and anyone should use it. All it does is tell windows to use your physical RAM (the memory you spent hundreds of $ on) before using the swap file (which is also physical if you think about it, considering as how it's stored on a physical hard drive).
I have a question about this. I have 384 meg of ram on my system. I do a lot of flight sims, so I have a permanent swap file of 250meg min/max setup on my d drive where the sims are installed. I scandisk, and defrag weekly. Would I benefit from adding that line to my system?
read my post above. Chances are you're not using all your physical ram and windows is using some swap file, so it'd probably help.
AFAIK, I think the conservativefileusage flag, when used underWin98/SE DOES NOT force the system to use all of the RAM but only a much greater amount. It will still jump to the swap file before RAM is completely full, it will just wait a bit longer than usual.
Under WinME though, it seems the flag does in fact force the system to completely fill RAM before accessing the swap file.
Under WinME though, it seems the flag does in fact force the system to completely fill RAM before accessing the swap file.
I'm running WinME and have 192MB RAM will ConservativeSwapfileusage=1 work? If so, how do I use it?
If you have a statically set swap file size, then the swap file will exists still at that size, but Windows won't actually put any data there for storage. So it's still good to have a nice large swap file available.
I've got zero swap file usage right now, but I haven't been running anything lately. And of course I have 640MB of memory, so it'll be a while until there's actually a need to use the swap file.
Some programs will still use the swap file even with this setting turned on, however that is dependent on the application sometimes. As far as Windows is concerned, unless it gets low on memory, it won't use the swapfile (that's LOW on memory, not completely out of it; at some point Windows decides that it's getting too close to running out of memory and will start swapping, however I don't know what percentage that might be).
This is a good setting to be turned on no matter how much real RAM you have. You've GOT the memory, you WANT that to be used when it can be, not portioned out a little bit at a time by Windows while it uses a swap file just to try and keep memory free 'just in case'.
I've got zero swap file usage right now, but I haven't been running anything lately. And of course I have 640MB of memory, so it'll be a while until there's actually a need to use the swap file.
Some programs will still use the swap file even with this setting turned on, however that is dependent on the application sometimes. As far as Windows is concerned, unless it gets low on memory, it won't use the swapfile (that's LOW on memory, not completely out of it; at some point Windows decides that it's getting too close to running out of memory and will start swapping, however I don't know what percentage that might be).
This is a good setting to be turned on no matter how much real RAM you have. You've GOT the memory, you WANT that to be used when it can be, not portioned out a little bit at a time by Windows while it uses a swap file just to try and keep memory free 'just in case'.
Well seeing that i have 384MB in my system i turned it on. I am Running WinME so i hope this doesnt screw anything up. Will see how it goes later on once i actyally reboot.
Viper22
Viper22
I enabled it on the crappy 64mb of RAM win95 computer I'm running and I couldn't believe the difference. In Hearts the cards flew across the screen virtually instantaneously. I can't wait to try it when I get back home.
I'd say definitely give it a go.
I'd say definitely give it a go.
Anybody want to report how much of an improvement they've had? I've stopped using Win9x a long time ago, but curious to how effective this is.
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