Page File

[AubreyJr]

Is there a difference between pagefile and virtual memeory. I assume pagefile is virtual memory remamed in Win2000. If not, how do you establish a pagefile in Win98. Win98 with DirectX8.0 installed, lists a 2M page file under System Information although 2GB of virtual memory is established using a second harddrive.

 

[igiveup]

Think of Virtual Memory vs. Paging Memory like a book. Virtual starts being used once physical memory (RAM) runs out. Then it takes chapters from the book and stores them to disk. Paging memory is like virtual memory but it takes "pages" at a time all throughout the use of your computer. When you need to clear a little room it takes more and more progressively. You don't get the giant "throw on the brakes" effect with paging memory use like you do with virtual memory. Yeah, it is a lot slower than RAM but it isn't virtual memory speed either. Unless I am mistaken win 2k is the only MS OS besides NT that uses a page file. Maybe 98 does on a small basis, but not more than that.