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Available Virtual Memory is controlled by a setting you can adjust. If you're constantly running low, you should look at what you're running.
My PC tells me I don't have enough virtual memory. What do I need to do to get more?
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The amount of virtual memory your computer has available is controlled by a simple setting.
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You didn't indicate what operating system you are running. On Windows XP, look in Control Panel: System, Advanced, Performance, Settings, Advanced, Virtual Memory. I believe it's in a similar location in other versions of Windows.
IMPORTANT: usually running out of virtual memory means that you are running too many programs at the same time for your system or one of them is attempting to use too much memory. You might also want to check out what's running when this happens and how much memory each program is using.
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Please suggest the calculation of virtual memory increasing with example. My computer has 500GB HDD and 1GB RAM and 2.21 GHz Processor.
Posted by: Ramdulal Pattanayak at September 9, 2010 7:09 PMI would just like to add that because the computer often adds and removes info from the page files in virtual memory, they are constantly growing and shrinking. Such process can cause files to become fragmented hence, slowing down the machine. By managing virtual memory settings, we can optimize performance of the computer and be able to use the RAM and virtual memory in the most efficient way.
Posted by: Amanda at October 21, 2010 12:03 PMsir what's the best for my computer in Virtual Memory settings.. I'm windows xp sp3 ,120gd HDD,1.6GHz, 512MB RAM.. tnx happy new year..
28-Dec-2010
Posted by: ian at December 27, 2010 8:12 PM
I was always told to do initial size as 1.5 times your total ram. So if you have 1gig of ram, times that by 1.5. (1.5gig)
Max supposedly is 3 times your total ram. So if you got 1 gig of ram, x that by 3 (3gigs)
so INITIAL - 1024 x 1.5 = 1536megs
And Max - 1024 x 3 = 3072 (most use 3070)
This is a generic default people typically use. Each users computer and demands may require you to change to suit or find that sweet spot.
Hope this helps!
Posted by: mtr at March 19, 2011 7:02 AMShorter answer is described in zdnet article, alsot the tools how to measure the usage of virtual memory:
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/windows-7-memory-usage-whats-the-best-way-to-measure/1786
For understanding what is virtual memory and how it works, for me is the best description given by Mrk Russonivich (it's also mentioned in Zdnet's article):
http://blogs.technet.com/b/markrussinovich/archive/2008/11/17/3155406.aspx
Both of these also kick the butt of the urban myth of virtual memory = 1,5*amount of RAM or 1,2* or 1,25* etc
Posted by: Uuve at March 24, 2011 5:19 AM