page file/virtual memory size for 32GB ram system on SSD

towlie

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Nov 28, 2011
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I have 32gb of ram, and I have windows installed on a 128gb ssd, and have a second 128gb ssd and a third drive 10k rpm 1TB drive.

the pagefile is taking up 32gb of space on my primary ssd, I use this computer for gaming and would like to know if I can change the pagefile size to free up some space on that drive.

Should I set the c drive to a certain level and move the rest to my large drive? if so what values? I just don't want to negatively impact my performace in any way.
 
Solution
Set no pagefile for your SSDs. Put the pagefile on one of your mechanical drives "let the OS manage"

Probably the 10k drive.

You could just not have a pagefile. I have 16GB of RAM and that's what I do.

USAFRet

Titan
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I've got 16mb RAM as well, and have it set to 1024mb min/max, living on the C drive (128gb SSD). I've not noticed any performance difference over having it full size on another drive.

Windows sometimes complains if there is no pagefile.
 

amdfangirl

Expert
Ambassador
You misunderstand - I meant he can put the pagefile on his mechanical HDD, or just not have a pagefile at all.

You don't need a pagefile when you've got 16GB-32GB of RAM unless you regularly run out of RAM from running virtual machines or rendering videos etc.
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


Right. I get that. You can put it wherever. On the other drive, "Let Windows manage..." or make it really small (1024mb min/max) and leave it on the C drive.
Either way works.
 

jnewegger23

Distinguished
What's the logic behind having the min and max the same? I'm not clear on the concept. Isn't there a range for a reason? Wouldn't it be better to have it set to a low min like 0 or 16 (I think that's the actual min) with a max of 1024 as the data will usually not be exactly 1024? What's the theory behind having them the exact same? Why is it beneficial? Why not set it the same as 16/16 or off if the idea is to have it be rarely used at all? I don't get it.