What to set Page file/Virtual memory settings for 256mb?

[GoldenBear]

I just doubled my memory today, and was wondering how I should update my settings for optimal performace in Win2k and '98.

 

[johneetrash]

i think my friend told me to set virtual memory to 2.5x your RAM...

 

[SUOrangeman]

I use 320MB swap with 256MB RAM in WIn2K and WinME (ConservativeSwapFile=1) with no problems. You can try this and tweak for optimal performance.

-SUO

 

[Wuming]

hey where can we add that ConservativeSwapFile=1 line? to which file? using msconfig or...? and what exactly does it do?

 

[Fatdog]

Add that line to the system.ini file in the windows folder. Put it at the bottom of the '386Enh' area. It tells windows to use all your ram before using the swap file.

 

[Wuming]

<< It tells windows to use all your ram before using the swap file. >>



would using all ram first have any adverse effects? or would it just speed up applications since ram is used first? would the computer crash more easily?

 

[Fatdog]

Using all the ram first helps apps run smoother. That's why you notice an improvement when you go from say 64 to 128 or 256. Windows loads tha app into the ram and rarely has to hit the system disk for more info. It shouldn't cause any crashing that I know of. Btw, I think win2k handles ram far more efficiently than win9x so I'm not sure if you'll see much of an improvement when you add that line. Could be wrong though. You might want to check with the guru's on the os board.

 

[Wuming]

hmm okie. thanks!

 

[Fatdog]

One more thing, some people see an improvement some don't, I did. My flight sims load faster and no longer stutter.

 

[Vinny N]

Can't really say for 9x, but I would try the &quot;ConservativeSwapFile=1&quot; trick regardless of what swap file size you use.

AS for Windows 2000...well for any version of NT, I've stuck to Microsoft's recommendation of RAM+12(for overhead) for memory dumps. So in your case it'd be 267mb.