How do I get the most out of my 4GB RAM?

[Frugal1ty]

i went ahead and did the 64-bit thing, yes it can be a pain, but i was wondering what can i do to tweak the system so that it utilizes the 4GB as best it can. I'm running
Opteron 1214
4 x 1GB Crucial Ballistix 6400
and two 7900GS
i do some gaming, well i guess i should with those two cards, but i would also like to know if there's anything that should be done when gaming as opposed to just regular system tasks.

 

[themisfit610]

Nope - if the games need the extra 4 GB of RAM (which they wont, currently), they will allocate it.

You are running a 64 bit OS (Vista or XP?), so it's all available.

If anything, make sure your swap file is on a separate physical drive than your OS, and make sure you've got the latest drivers. Everything else should be automagical

~MiSfit

 

[Tarrant64]

Originally posted by: themisfit610
Nope - if the games need the extra 4 GB of RAM (which they wont, currently), they will allocate it.

You are running a 64 bit OS (Vista or XP?), so it's all available.

If anything, make sure your swap file is on a separate physical drive than your OS, and make sure you've got the latest drivers. Everything else should be automagical

~MiSfit

Just make sure that the separate drive matches the performance of the OS drive or is better. Stepping down to a slower hard disk for a swap file isn't pratical.

 

[balane]

How big of a swap file does one need with 4GB of RAM and will it be used much? I was under the impression swap files were used mostly for RAM starved systems. The only reason I ask is because I have just the one drive in my computer.

 

[themisfit610]

Swap files are always used. Windows is simply designed around the concept. In fact, it's best IMO to just let Windows manage the size of the swap file - just make sure as I said it's on a different physical drive. Everything these days is a 7200 rpm, assuming you're not recycling some old 5400rpm nightmare

If you don't have a second drive, get one It's a great idea to have a second drive to keep data (music, pictures, backup cd images of your applications etc) on. Since it's not being accessed as much as your system drive, it can also double as a swap drive very nicely.

You can turn the swap file off, but I STRONGLY advise against it unless you have something like 8 gigs of RAM. Things get swapped out all the time, when you need all that physical RAM.

~MiSfit

 

[balane]

I have one of these drives in the closet;

http://www.nextag.com/Western-...B-57123663/prices-html

Would it be worth it to install it in the computer below and use it for my swap drive? I do not believe it's as fast as the drive I have in my computer right now.

For back ups, data and media files I use a USB external hard drive. I plug my laptop into that as well so I like it as an external drive.

 

[themisfit610]

Absolutely - the difference (if any) will be VERY minimal.

 

[Frugal1ty]

so what happens if you do turn of the swap file? with 4GB of RAM?

 

[kallen]

Originally posted by: Frugal1ty
so what happens if you do turn of the swap file? with 4GB of RAM?

as long as windows doesn't run out of ram, nothing really. But if you push the limit, strange things can happen

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: kallen

Originally posted by: Frugal1ty
so what happens if you do turn of the swap file? with 4GB of RAM?

as long as windows doesn't run out of ram, nothing really. But if you push the limit, strange things can happen

Read up on the programs you use first before you disable the swap fire entirely. Some applications, particularly older programs, actually require a swap file in order to run correctly. If you turn off the swap file with those programs, at best they'll act quirky and at worst they'll crash.

 

[kallen]

Originally posted by: BateluerRead up on the programs you use first before you disable the swap fire entirely. Some applications, particularly older programs, actually require a swap file in order to run correctly. If you turn off the swap file with those programs, at best they'll act quirky and at worst they'll crash.

can you give an example of such a program? programs normally have no control over the pagefile, this is internal to the memory manager