HDD swapping like mad? What's your virtual mem?

[zsc]

I've been noticing lately that a lot of people now report that their HDD are "swapping like mad". Just curious, what's your virtual memory setting?

Please post your current system memory (RAM) and your virtual memory.

To find out, right click My Computer -> Properties, the amount of RAM should be listed. Next, click the 'Advanced' tab -> Settings in the 'Performance' section, then click the 'Advanced' tab (different one than before). In the 'Virtual Memory' section, the amount should be listed.

Please note that virtual memory are harddrive space allocated to be used by the operating system to complement your 'Physical' memory (RAM). Normally, it should be about 1.5 times the amount of RAM, but that's just based on my Laptop and Desktop default settings. Please let me know if I'm wrong.

 

[auldian]

I have 1GB of RAM. I have a 4096MB fixed size pagefile on a partition I use for "temp" stuff. I rarely encounter any pagefile use during the game but don't monitor it (the drive it's on has noticeable "chatter" compared to my other "quiet" drive).
Microsofts "generic" recommendations is still 1.5xRAM
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;555223

 

[zsc]

Thanks for the link, I wasnt sure if 1.5xRAM is the right amount. Now I know.

 

[BulMaster]

A memory leak can also lead to abusive use of the pagefile.
As stated the recomended setting is 1.5x the amount of ram. 3/4 as minimum size to 3/2 max size
Setting the pagefile to be system managed is dangerous as in the even of a leak it can expand your page file until it consumes the free space on your drive. Also if you have a 2nd physical drive from the drive your windows is installed it's recomended to use the 2nd one of better performance.

 

[Bast]

A memory leak can also lead to abusive use of the pagefile.
As stated the recomended setting is 1.5x the amount of ram. 3/4 as minimum size to 3/2 max size
Setting the pagefile to be system managed is dangerous as in the even of a leak it can expand your page file until it consumes the free space on your drive. Also if you have a 2nd physical drive from the drive your windows is installed it's recomended to use the 2nd one of better performance.

How do you do that?

 

[Bast]

A memory leak can also lead to abusive use of the pagefile.
As stated the recomended setting is 1.5x the amount of ram. 3/4 as minimum size to 3/2 max size
Setting the pagefile to be system managed is dangerous as in the even of a leak it can expand your page file until it consumes the free space on your drive. Also if you have a 2nd physical drive from the drive your windows is installed it's recomended to use the 2nd one of better performance.

Ok I found it now. But do I leave any pagefile in C drive or just put everything in D drive?

 

[WoodenEye]

you can put page file in any drive you want, but put it in fastest drive.
but to my opinion, it wont help this game on huge maps, its still swapping like hel

 

[zsc]

I have mine set to be 'System Managed Size'. After playing/idling for about 3 hours, the page file size was around 1GB (used). It wasnt causing any problem so I just left it, but I restarted just in case (both the game and the computer). Gonne give it another go and see how much Civ4 takes up after a few hours, assuming I don't CTD.

I'm guessing it doesnt matter what it's set at. As long as it's above recommended, 1.5xRAM.

So yea, that's one more thing we can forget about doing to improve the game performance or keeps it the HDD from swapping like mad, setting your virtual memory. Unless someone sees it differently.

 

[lamaslany]

Typically I'd go with:

Physical___Virtual
256MB____779MB
384MB____651MB
512MB____523MB
768MB____779MB
1024MB___1035MB

Basically I'd set the virtual RAM (page file) so that the combined RAM is at least 1GB (I aim for 1024MB + 11MB) but never less than the physical RAM + 11MB.

In truth if you were not worried about getting a pagedump then at 2GB i'd disable the page file completely.

Also if you move the page file to another disk and remove the one on the C: then a page file will no longer be created so you may as well disable it (as long as you have 2GB or more - you can do it with less (1GB+) but personally I wouldn't want to risk it). This is also true if the page file on C: is less than the physical RAM + 11MB.


NOTE: Based on other people's comments about memory usage on the largest maps I'd aim to have at least 1.5GB of RAM (physical and virtual combined)

 

[1c0n]

Also if you move the page file to another disk and remove the one on the C: then a page file will no longer be created so you may as well disable it

im not sure if i read that right, but if what your sayin is if you do not have a pagefile on your root drive, no pagefile will be created on any drive you specify regardless to the size? that is not true, atleast not on anything beyond W2K. when optimizing a computer with multiple drives, that is the 1st thing i recommend, switching your pagefile off the most active drive, your root, to one less often seeking. ie, a storage drive. my pc has 3 drives a 10 gig for win only . 6.5 gigs free (c:\), on for program files and mp3's, 80 gigs (d:\) and a third (e;\) for anything in RAR format or an unused ISO/movie, 60 gigs, i put the pagefile on that one. if possible, tho this may seem excessive, put your pagefile on a drive with it own dedicated IDE channel, or atleast on a master.

if you have your PF on your root, or an overly active drive, your PF usage will be in conflict for seek time. normally this wouldnt matter TOO much, but seeing how Civ 4 seems to run your PF like crazy it may help gain you a couple FPS.

i run smooth on a p4 2.53 @ 3.06 (no HT) 1024 pc3200 and a 64 mb Geforce 440MX... thats right that old POS. runs civ 4 smooth on huge with 18 civs, i only get the occasional *hiccup* in performance.

HOPE THIS HELPS