Virtual memory settings

[Roy Dennis]

I have mine set to "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives" on my Windows 7 setup and have not experienced any problems.

But should you want to alter them this is printed in the manual:


This Windows setting determines how much hard drive space is fixed-allocated to swap RAM contents (i.e. running programs) when Windows needs to free up RAM for its own background tasks. If VM is set too low, you can see 5 to 20 second delays frequently in Hoster. Thus, you want to insure your VM is set correctly. The recommended amount is double your system RAM. More than this can actually slow WIndows performance.

1. Click the Start button.
2. Double-click Control Panel.
3. In the window that appears, double-click System.
4. Click the Advanced tab at the top.
5. Click the Performance Group - Settings button.
6. In the Performance Options dialog that appears, click the Advanced tab.
7. In the Virtual Memory group at the bottom, click the Change button.
8. In the Virtual Memory dialog that appears, click the Custom Size radio button.
9. Ignore the Minimum size: value. Enter the Recommended size: value.
10. Click into the Initial size: field and enter the value (3055 MB recommended if you have 2GB RAM).
11. Click into the Maximum size: field and enter 4096 or up to 2x your installed RAM (MB).
12. Click the Set button and then the OK button to close the Virtual Memory dialog.
13. Click the OK button to close the Performance Options dialog.
14. Click the OK button to close the System Properties dialog.
15. Restart your computer now or shortly.