swap file in a new created partition for XP

[JCROCCO]

I want to reload my computers, and I have had some experience with swap files. I am thinking of creating a partition, on the same disk in most cases, as a designated swap file location. The one main advantage I see is that it should not get fragmanted. Will this do anything for speed? Should it be the first partition? What is the size of the swap file in regards to memory. On systems with 2 disks, I usually make the swap file on the 2nd disk.

 

[lxskllr]

Putting your pagefile on a separate partition on the same disk will slow down operations. Putting it on a separate physical disk is ok though. I make my initial size 2gb, and let Windows handle the rest.

 

[Phynaz]

Actually MS recommends putting the swap file on two different partitions to help eliminate any possibility of fragmentation.

Knowledgebase article.

 

[gba]

AFAIK the ideal spot for a separate partition for the page file is the first partition on your second drive. This gives your OS the quickest access.

 

[Nothinman]

I am thinking of creating a partition, on the same disk in most cases, as a designated swap file location. The one main advantage I see is that it should not get fragmanted. Will this do anything for speed? Should it be the first partition? What is the size of the swap file in regards to memory. On systems with 2 disks, I usually make the swap file on the 2nd disk.

Pagefile fragmentation only happens when it grows so just make sure you make it big enough initially and that won't be an issue. But if you have so little memory that you're actually using the pagefile no amount of optimization of it is going to make an appreciable difference.

Actually MS recommends putting the swap file on two different partitions to help eliminate any possibility of fragmentation.

Knowledgebase article.

And awesomely enough even the very first two sentences in that KB article are incorrect.

"Pagefile optimization" is an oxymoron, just get enough memory for your workload and don't worry about it.

AFAIK the ideal spot for a separate partition for the page file is the first partition on your second drive. This gives your OS the quickest access.

That's the second worst thing you can probably do with your pagefile. The pagefile isn't accessed in large enough chunks to make sequential read speeds relevant and moving it to another partition will only cause more seeking as the drive will have to seek back and forth between partitions to get to it.

 

[JCROCCO]

Wow, Lots of different schools of thought. I have 2 gig memory, so maybe just let windows optimize it?