Increase your virtual memory!

[Widkidone]

Re: Increase your virtual memory!

Before tweaking your system and risking damaging your system read this:
XP Myths

[Grafisk]

Re: Increase your virtual memory!

no pagefile if you've got 2 gigs, it's like asking "should i drink this water to survive, or not?" :P the virtual memory is SO much slower than regular RAM. you'll just lose performance by having it turned on when you've got 2 GB RAM. perhaps it's good to have some virtual memory for heavy CAD/Photoshop-work.

[Refused|64270]

Re: Increase your virtual memory!

**** i was at 1792, changed it to 4090 well post any differences.

[ViolenT]

Re: Increase your virtual memory!

You have 2Gb of RAM? I would turn the paging file off altogether as per my post. Up to you.

[SergB]

Re: Increase your virtual memory!

Widkidone, Registry Cleaners dosen't improve performance? Thats bullsh*t, you don't clean your register, soner or later system will crash. Mine first XP made it for about 3 month, then I got seriously reg. problems, and some values been missing. Mine next system had some reg. cleaners like System Mechanic, and Win Doctor.... I haven't reinstalled that system for 5 YEARS.

[Beerman]

Re: Increase your virtual memory!

If you have 1.5 GB of RAM or more then turn of the paging file for sure. But theres no hurt in trying my ideas and any ideas posted here. Anything is worth it to reduce lag.
But turning off the page file wouldnt really help as quoted here

Myth - "Disabling the Pagefile improves performance."

Reality - "You gain no performance improvement by turning off the Pagefile. When certain applications start, they allocate a huge amount of memory (hundreds of megabytes typically set aside in virtual memory) even though they might not use it. If no Pagefile (i.e., virtual memory) is present, a memory-hogging application can quickly use a large chunk of RAM. Even worse, just a few such programs can bring a machine loaded with memory to a halt. Some applications (e.g., Adobe Photoshop) will display warnings on startup if no Pagefile is present." - Source

"In modern operating systems, including Windows, application programs and many system processes always reference memory using virtual memory addresses which are automatically translated to real (RAM) addresses by the hardware. Only core parts of the operating system kernel bypass this address translation and use real memory addresses directly. All processes (e.g. application executables) running under 32 bit Windows gets virtual memory addresses (a Virtual Address Space) going from 0 to 4,294,967,295 (2*32-1 = 4 GB), no matter how much RAM is actually installed on the computer. In the default Windows OS configuration, 2 GB of this virtual address space are designated for each process' private use and the other 2 GB are shared between all processes and the operating system. RAM is a limited resource, whereas virtual memory is, for most practical purposes, unlimited. There can be a large number of processes each with its own 2 GB of private virtual address space. When the memory in use by all the existing processes exceeds the amount of RAM available, the operating system will move pages (4 KB pieces) of one or more virtual address spaces to the computer's hard disk, thus freeing that RAM frame for other uses. In Windows systems, these "paged out" pages are stored in one or more files called pagefile.sys in the root of a partition. Virtual Memory is always in use, even when the memory required by all running processes does not exceed the amount of RAM installed on the system."

[baroque]

Re: Increase your virtual memory!

Disabling the Pagefile

Myth - "Disabling the Pagefile improves performance."

Reality - "You gain no performance improvement by turning off the Pagefile. When certain applications start, they allocate a huge amount of memory (hundreds of megabytes typically set aside in virtual memory) even though they might not use it. If no Pagefile (i.e., virtual memory) is present, a memory-hogging application can quickly use a large chunk of RAM. Even worse, just a few such programs can bring a machine loaded with memory to a halt. Some applications (e.g., Adobe Photoshop) will display warnings on startup if no Pagefile is present." - Source

"In modern operating systems, including Windows, application programs and many system processes always reference memory using virtual memory addresses which are automatically translated to real (RAM) addresses by the hardware. Only core parts of the operating system kernel bypass this address translation and use real memory addresses directly. All processes (e.g. application executables) running under 32 bit Windows gets virtual memory addresses (a Virtual Address Space) going from 0 to 4,294,967,295 (2*32-1 = 4 GB), no matter how much RAM is actually installed on the computer. In the default Windows OS configuration, 2 GB of this virtual address space are designated for each process' private use and the other 2 GB are shared between all processes and the operating system. RAM is a limited resource, whereas virtual memory is, for most practical purposes, unlimited. There can be a large number of processes each with its own 2 GB of private virtual address space. When the memory in use by all the existing processes exceeds the amount of RAM available, the operating system will move pages (4 KB pieces) of one or more virtual address spaces to the computer's hard disk, thus freeing that RAM frame for other uses. In Windows systems, these "paged out" pages are stored in one or more files called pagefile.sys in the root of a partition. Virtual Memory is always in use, even when the memory required by all running processes does not exceed the amount of RAM installed on the system." - Source

[Beerman]

Re: Increase your virtual memory!

bar I just posted that but you are correct. The way I have posted will increase performence noticably, when you disable the paging file it does not increase performence you more than likely got lucky and it seems a bit faster but overall my way works best, you try no paging file but beware it more than likely will not help anything.

[Berrern]

Re: Increase your virtual memory!

I don't know why you're posting that quote, both of you... I really don't agree with it, especially this part is complete bollox: "You gain no performance improvement by turning off the Pagefile".

Everyone who is playing/working without a pagefile, knows that the above is not true. It COULD be true in certain circumstances (for example if you've got a low amount of RAM), but if you've got atleast 2GB of high quality RAM it's a blatant lie.

I have 2 gigs of ram... which is it, more virtual memory or no page file? That's such conflicting advice, that I can't see why both would work... seems like one or the other.

The answer is simple: Trial and error.

If you have 2GB of RAM (minimum PC3200 [200MHz] with decent timings), try to turn it off. Like I mentioned before, without a pagefile Windows MIGHT not start up, but lock up while displaying the Windows logo. I've only had this happen once though, on a PC with 512MB RAM. And IF Windows wont boot, simply hit your F8 key after the BIOS is done, choose Safe Mode, and re-enable your pagefile.
If Windows boots (like I'm sure it will), try your different programs/software and see how they work without a pagefile. Photoshop does give you a warning that it might not work correctly without a pagefile, but I always click YES and never had a problem with it (I'm using Photoshop a lot at work, as I'm administering 4 websites).

I've only experienced once that my computer crashed because it ran out of memory. That's once - in like 3 months (it happened after a marathon BF-session - about 14 hours straight), and I use a lot of memory-hungry applications while designing/maintaining websites.

If your PC runs horribly without a paging file, you can try running with a huge pagefile, as the topic is all about. Or the other way around; if your PC doesn't run as good as you'd like, try removing your pagefile.

Again: DO NOT disable your pagefile if you have a small amount of memory (I'd say less than 2GB)

[mafia_boy]

Re: Increase your virtual memory!

I would not recommend disabling the paging file, just let windows manage it according to the ram you have, also i never use the windows defrag! i use diskeeper 10, does it in twce the speed.

If your getting game lagg it usually means that you need more ram!

[Beerman]

Re: Increase your virtual memory!

Well not every1 has 2 gig of ram thats why i posted it i didnt want to hurt anyones computer.

[Berrern]

Re: Increase your virtual memory!

i never use the windows defrag! i use diskeeper 10, does it in twce the speed.

Agreed 100%!!
Diskeeper owns Windows Defrag hands down - not only is it a lot faster, but it also gives other options on how to improve performance, like optimizing the MFT (harddisk Master File Table).

Well not every1 has 2 gig of ram thats why i posted it i didnt want to hurt anyones computer.

Exactly - this is why I also posted the bold disclaimers. For low-RAM users, your tip is excellent :)

[[UKNG]Tartan_Tar]

Re: Increase your virtual memory!

it gets more and more confusing the more i read, yes do it, no its bollocks dont, and on on,

Facts would help here, i have increased my VM to 4000 from a 1020 , i havnt yet tried it but i am hoping to play on a 32 man server without having too much of a lag issue. my pc is as follows


Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional


CPU Type : AMD Athlon XP, 2000 MHz (12 x 167) 2400+

Motherboard Name : Asus A7V400-MX (3 PCI, 1 AGP, 2 DDR DIMM, Audio, Video, LAN)

System Memory 1024 MB (DDR SDRAM)

Video Adapter NVIDIA GeForce 6200 (256 MB)

Monitor CTX EX950F Series [19" CRT]

Audio Adapter Creative SB0410 SB Live! 24-bit Sound Card

now my cpu is 2800 not 2400.
my video card is not mentioned in the BF2 requirements but nor was my last card which was a 5500 and played better than my 6200.

i have lowered all my settings . but as soon as i go into a 32 man server, its lag city but anything lower than that not to bad but playable.

my hardrive is only 40 gig and i am thinking of getting a larger one and a new motherboard and power supply.

But any hints on how i can at least go on larger servers please tell me whats wrong.

I have updated my pc bit by bit and i dont know if thats anything to do with it and i have twice formatted my pc .

[Painl3ss.NL]

Re: Increase your virtual memory!

You may want to read up on:

How to set performance options in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308417

That's if you want to play safe

[mafia_boy]

Re: Increase your virtual memory!

Agreed 100%!!
Diskeeper owns Windows Defrag hands down - not only is it a lot faster, but it also gives other options on how to improve performance, like optimizing the MFT (harddisk Master File Table).


Exactly - this is why I also posted the bold disclaimers. For low-RAM users, your tip is excellent :)

Yes forgot about the MFT abillities, i think it gives you a lot more info on your file system than the windows defrag does to, ie: job reports/graphs, i recommend it to anyone!