Optimal Virtual Memory Settings?

**Froggie5** · October 13, 2006, 07:42 AM

Greetings,

I know this is a topic that typically produces many conflicting opinions, but I would be very interested to learn the consensus.

Like many, I have been tuning up my pc to play MTWII. I recently purchased another 512MB of RDRAM to bring my total to 1024MB. (other specs: Dell Dimension 8250, P4 2.53, ATI Radeon 9700). Previously I followed the old (and often discredited) notion that virtual memory should be set at 1.5X physical memory. This logic does not seem reasonable once you go beyond 512MB of physical memory. So, what is the best virtual memory setting for 1GB of RAM and above? Many thanks!

**Germanicus75** · October 13, 2006, 07:57 AM

I'd also like to know what ppl here think is best virtual mem settings for *2* GB RAM (2 x 1 GB dual-channel sticks) on XP SP2 :-)

**Spart** · October 13, 2006, 08:05 AM

1,5X-2X your RAM should do the trick.

**Germanicus75** · October 13, 2006, 08:45 AM

Thanks. Would you also recommend setting the min and max size to the same and putting the page file on a different HDD to the OS?

**Spart** · October 13, 2006, 09:04 AM

Set the min. size to 2X your RAM. max. size doesen't seem to matter, I tried.

**Germanicus75** · October 13, 2006, 09:32 AM

Thanks :-)

**shadyrome** · October 13, 2006, 09:37 AM

Why use dell? they are the worse pc ever

**SnArF|D** · October 13, 2006, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by shadyrome

Why use dell? they are the worse pc ever

I have no idea where you may have heard that. Millions of businesses & larger corporations use Dell everyday. There desktops and servers are the heart and soul of many major corporations. You must have a personal bias against them.

They have decent PC's for gaming. Sure there a bit pricy, but definately not "the worst".
I own a Dell laptop, that i'm very happy with. It's not for gaming, more so for school. I've never had a problem with it.

There has always been a "stigma" attached to retail vendors and PC's. There always thought of as being terrible for gaming. This has some truth to it, but there really no worse than a PC you can build yourself. The only real problem with buying a pre-built PC from a major retail company such as HP or dell, is the fact that there difficult to upgrade. One part of the system famous for being difficult to upgrade in retail PC's is the power supply.

But I really can't see how Dell are "the worst".

**westy159** · October 13, 2006, 02:56 PM

I own a Dell Dimension 4600i and im very happy with it. Upgrading has been easy as pie (although the case does lack in space a bit) including the PSU which I upgraded for the Geforce 6800 i bought. Infact perhaps buying a Dell made it easier for upgrading as I could ask the friendly guys on the Dell forums what type of PSU i would need and what i should look out for. Straight away i got a very useful reply.

**Otherdude** · October 16, 2006, 11:42 PM

Set the Mix-Max to the same size. It will minimize disk fragmentation. If you're using virtual memory for gaming you're going to start hurting anyway whether you set it too high or too low.