Windows XP Page File

[AiponGkooja]

What are the pros/cons of completely disabling the page file for WinXP? Specifically for gaming. I have 2-3gb (2x1gb and possibly 2x512mb if needed) of ram, so I was wondering if it would actually benefit me to just turn it off.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: AiponGkooja
What are the pros/cons of completely disabling the page file for WinXP? Specifically for gaming. I have 2-3gb (2x1gb and possibly 2x512mb if needed) of ram, so I was wondering if it would actually benefit me to just turn it off.

Your probably not using it anyhow (even if you think you are), leave it at the defaults. And search for pagefile, this is discussed weekly around here

 

[w00t]

it will make it slow. I heard if you delete it once in awile it makes it faster but if you disable its slower.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: w00t
it will make it slow. I heard if you delete it once in awile it makes it faster but if you disable its slower.

Now sure where you 'heard this' but both points are basically false.

 

[kristersaurus]

Now sure where you 'heard this' but both points are basically false.

It does get fragmented sometimes, so defragmenting it, or in this case, recreating it, would speed it up.

 

[bsobel]

It does get fragmented sometimes, so defragmenting it, or in this case, recreating it, would speed it up.

The page file is read a page at a time, not sequentially, so other than time decoding the MFT extents fragmentation really doesn't matter.

 

[AiponGkooja]

If you have enough ram that it doesn't need a pagefile it would make it much faster I would think, as accessing ram is much faster than accessing the harddrive...

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: AiponGkooja
If you have enough ram that it doesn't need a pagefile it would make it much faster I would think, as accessing ram is much faster than accessing the harddrive...

Again, if you have enough ram, the system isn't using the page file.... You might think it is if your looking at things like pf reservations in taskman, but if you are, your looking at the wrong measurement.

Bill

 

[kristersaurus]

Originally posted by: bsobel

It does get fragmented sometimes, so defragmenting it, or in this case, recreating it, would speed it up.

The page file is read a page at a time, not sequentially, so other than time decoding the MFT extents fragmentation really doesn't matter.

Yeah, but did you consider the ramifications of the ct scan? You could fry your flux capacitor.

 

[AiponGkooja]

Originally posted by: bsobel

Originally posted by: AiponGkooja
If you have enough ram that it doesn't need a pagefile it would make it much faster I would think, as accessing ram is much faster than accessing the harddrive...

Again, if you have enough ram, the system isn't using the page file.... You might think it is if your looking at things like pf reservations in taskman, but if you are, your looking at the wrong measurement.

Bill

Yeah...I guess that makes sense...so I'll leave it on Sometimes I just need to obvious to be pointed out to me, thanks.

 

[bsobel]

Yeah, but did you consider the ramifications of the ct scan? You could fry your flux capacitor.

If you think you might enjoy posting here, stfu unless you have something to add to the conversation.

 

[AndyHui]

Would someone be kind enough to help me write a FAQ on this?

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: AndyHui
Would someone be kind enough to help me write a FAQ on this?

 

[The Linuxator]

even If you have 2Gb of ram, I know that there are some internal components of WinXp and some programs that depend on using a pagefile, so once it goes to use the pagefile it will find none, therefor crashing, I recommend setting it to being controlled by the OS that way it dynamically changes it to what it needs it to be.
And disabling it then defraging your Hdd then creating it again doesn't hurt anyone.
BTW I have TweakXp pro and in one of my hdd tweaks is a tweak that autimatically delete the whole content of the pagefile on shutdown, which increases my shutdown time by like 10 sec but thats ok with I am losing nothing because when I press that shutdown button I am not going to be using that PC for a good period of time.

 

[TGS]

Originally posted by: bsobel

It does get fragmented sometimes, so defragmenting it, or in this case, recreating it, would speed it up.

The page file is read a page at a time, not sequentially, so other than time decoding the MFT extents fragmentation really doesn't matter.

linky

A defragmented pagefile leads to faster virtual memory access and improves the chances of capturing a dump file without significant errors.

Return of the Link

Link 3: Judgement Link

 

[rbrandon]

Originally posted by: TGS

Originally posted by: bsobel

It does get fragmented sometimes, so defragmenting it, or in this case, recreating it, would speed it up.

The page file is read a page at a time, not sequentially, so other than time decoding the MFT extents fragmentation really doesn't matter.

linky

A defragmented pagefile leads to faster virtual memory access and improves the chances of capturing a dump file without significant errors.

Return of the Link

Link 3: Judgement Link

the Links have become self-aware.

 

[KoolDrew]

First you have to understand that the pagefile is far from the only file involved with paging. Any exe or dll are also involved. When you disable the pagefile all you are doing is forcing all private data to stay in RAM. This will cause more paging of code for a given amount of RAM and paging cannot be correctly balanced. This will be bad in the long run.

Regardless of how much RAM you have, you should never disable it.

Would someone be kind enough to help me write a FAQ on this?

That is a good idea. I can help even though there are a few people here that know a lot more then I do.