I am running rainmeter and it shows my desktop has 48-49% ram usage and 49% swap file usage.
I currently have 4 gigs of ram, room to put 4 gigs more for a max of 8 gigs.
Isn't that too much swap file usage ? I have tried to find in the tutorials, and on my computer, where to change swap file size. Not there. So, where is it ? And should it be lowered ? Or do I buy more ram instead ?
Thanks !
It's not necessarily too much, haven't checked Win10 but Win7 had a written recommendation in Help and Support on Virtual Memory of 1.5 times the physical RAM, more if needed for things like video editing, large spreadsheets or large databases. Right-click the Start button, click System and then click on Advance System Settings. Many folks do say having large amounts of RAM doesn't need the paging file/Virtual Memory but I've found some programs look for its presense so I keep at least 2GB size but the amount will depend upon the space available on the HDD, SSDs are more limited so a larger portion of the paging file can be put on a second internal drive.
I suspect that Rainmeter isn't showing swapfile (pagefile) usage at all but the commit charge which is quite different. This misuse of terms is quite common, including XP Task Manager. Actual pagefile usage will be much less, in some cases zero. Few utilities will show this. You will gain nothing by making the pagefile smaller except some disk space. If usage was actually 50% you should not make it smaller.
Hi,
Just let Windows manage it and you'll be fine.
From experience I can say that regardless of the amount of RAM installed Windows is running smoother with a pagefile than without one.Many folks do say having large amounts of RAM doesn't need the paging file/Virtual Memory but I've found some programs look for its presense so I keep at least 2GB size but the amount will depend upon the space available on the HDD, SSDs are more limited so a larger portion of the paging file can be put on a second internal drive.
Cheers,
Says swapfile is 947 megs. I've changed it to 1000 megs initiasl and 1400 for max. It suggested 1397 megs for max.
I wouldn't change it to zero... bad things happen when that is done.
I agree.
The pagefile is one of the most misunderstood of all Windows components. Most explanations you will find on the Internet contain serious errors and the explanation on Windows pagefile configuration dialog is more than a little misleading.
The pagefile is often considered as some kind of necessary evil that should be done away with if at all possible. The reality is that the pagefile is used to optimize the use of RAM, whether you have a little or a lot. This is nothing new but was the case from the beginning of the NT platform. It does this by providing a place where rarely used data can be offloaded from RAM thus leaving more for more important purposes. This is all very complex.
I might get more ram. I did, as noted above, increase the amount of pagefile above what Windows had it as. Windows 10 had it less than its own suggested size.
Hi,
Looks as if we took the same MS course. LOL.The pagefile is often considered as some kind of necessary evil that should be done away with if at all possible. The reality is that the pagefile is used to optimize the use of RAM, whether you have a little or a lot. This is nothing new but was the case from the beginning of the NT platform. It does this by providing a place where rarely used data can be offloaded from RAM thus leaving more for more important purposes. This is all very complex.
Cheers,
SwapFile nowadays has not the meaning from XP / WinME times. SwapFile is almost used for Dump of System Crashes.
For example, I have 12GB RAM, Win 10 - 64bit and I choice the recommended settings of minimum 16MB and 2400MB as Maximum.
When reboot and look at System, the actual SwapFile is 16MB, what means it is not used at all.
Hi,
Swapfile and Pagefile are not one and the same.
Cheers,
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