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Optimizing Vista pagefile

Forum Storage : Hard Disks - Optimizing Vista pagefile

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ss_blake   07-03-2007 at 07:42:00 AM

What is the best way to configure Windows Vista (32bit) pagefile for my system?

I will have 2GB DDR2-6400 memory, 2 x 500GB SATA hard drives, C2D E6600 processor.

1. I am NOT using RAID since.. I do not need a "no downtime" solution (mirror drives), and i do not want to double my chances of data failure with RAID0. I plan to regularly backup drive A to drive B using image-based backup software (Acronis True Image, or perhaps the software that comes with vista if its any good?)

2. I understand you should partition a second HD (i.e. not your windows c: drive) to hold the swap file. For my system specs, how big should the partition be on my second HD ?

3. What should I set the max and initial pagefile size (MB) to be?

4. Should I still leave a pagefile on drive c:?

thanks

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croc   07-03-2007 at 09:25:29 AM
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If you're keen to manage your page file, I'd put it on the non-os drive. If you are also keen to make a seperate partition, I think with a 500 GB drive the smallest partition you can make will be ~5 GB.

On XP, my rule of thumb was to use 1.5 times your memory as the pagefile size, min / max. I usually put it on my non-os drive, but not in a seperate partition. 'Seemed to improve performance' was all I could ever measure. I could never find tools to prove that it did.

I have yet to see a need (nor any proof of an improvement) for a pagefile under Vista other than that set up and managed by the system.

Do you have any reason to believe that this is going to benefit you?

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laitainion   07-03-2007 at 10:40:43 AM
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The 1.5 times thing is also the rule of thumb Windows itself uses. However, with 32bit versions of Windows that rule is problematic when you have 2gig of RAM, as that would give you 3gig of pagefile. That's 5gig altogether, which with 32bit windows causes bsods with IRQ_OUT_OF_RANGE errors (or something like that). 32bit Windows can't handle more than 4gig of RAM + pagefile total, I am speaking from experience on this as one. :wink:

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croc   07-03-2007 at 11:28:28 AM
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I've never seen this issue mentioned. I do still have a drive with XP pro, SP2 installed, and it has 2 pagefiles that it can access. One on the OS drive, one on the data drive, both set to 3.0GB min / max. (I boot into it once a month or so to keep the upgrades / virus defs current)

But I'll check the msdn forums tomorrow for any mention of this as an issue under XP.

Reply to croc
13thmonkey   07-03-2007 at 12:46:43 PM
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I've been using 2Gb + 4Gb PF for for the last 2 years, never had one BSOD, or anything significant. On both Intel and AMD systems, with DDR and DDR2. on WinXP home 32Bit.

You may have other problems...

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laitainion   07-03-2007 at 08:50:15 PM
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Well, they only happened playing UT2004 so it might have been that specifically. Either way, I don't think anyone really needs 4gig yet and the bsods went away as soon as I took the pagefile down to 2gig.

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nh484000   07-03-2007 at 09:17:18 PM
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Quote :

I don't think anyone really needs 4gig yet



Id beg to differ. If you are running Vista and use photoshop or gaming 4 gigs is a MUST. Im running 2 gigs and when i open i large photo My memory usage goes up to 95% If i open two photos i start pageswaping. They only downside is that you need VIsta 64 to use all 4 gigs.

Reply to nh484000
ss_blake   07-04-2007 at 09:47:10 PM
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So what is the concensus for Vista with 2GB RAM? Pagefile on the non-OS (2nd hard drive in my case). 1.5x ram = 3GB pagefile on 3GB partition?

Reply to ss_blake
nh484000   07-04-2007 at 10:30:34 PM
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I would go with that.

Reply to nh484000
The_Prophecy   07-07-2007 at 09:41:10 AM
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Quote :

So what is the concensus for Vista with 2GB RAM? Pagefile on the non-OS (2nd hard drive in my case). 1.5x ram = 3GB pagefile on 3GB partition?



Initial size: 3072
Maximum Size: 4096

Make the partition you put the paging on to about 4.5GB.

Reply to The_Prophecy
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