Best size for page file

[tookawhile]

Server is pre-configured with 3 volumes and has 2GB of RAM;
50GB partition - c: O/S
300GB partition - d: data
20GB partition - e: page

c: is set to Initial 2046, Max 4096
d: not set
e: Set to 'System Managed'

I know I leave c: alone in case of major crashes - but what is a could setting for e:?

3000MB to 6000MB?

 

[tookawhile]

I've read some info online, and am I right in this:

Set the max and min to the same value for C: (my o/s) so that is 2048 for min and 2048 max.

Then use the pagefile partition (E: in my case) set the min on this to 50% of the RAM size, so set this to 1024, and the max set to the exact memory size, so set this to 2048 - is this right?

 

[ncotton]

the recommendation for page file size is 1.5x the amount of ram

RAM =2048
PFMin =3072
PFMax =4095

Recommended on paper....never had issues with it personally, so not from experience.

Hope this Helps.

Neil J Cotton
njc Information Systems
Systems Consultant

 

[tookawhile]

Seem to be differing opinions on this, one site recommends settting the min and max to the same to help prevent fragmentation.

So how do I use the pagefile partition that I have?

 

[58sniper]

The reasoning for setting the min and max doesn't make sense. Fragmentation happens because the paging file size can change dynamically - a DESIGN FEATURE. Not sure I'd recommend disabling that. Defragging with a good program like DisKeeper takes care of the fragmentation issue.
1.5 x physical RAM is the norm, I believe. And the default, IIRC.

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[tookawhile]

Ok.

I've set C: (the O/S partition)
RAM =2048
PFMin =3072
PFMax =4095

And I've set E; (pagefile partition) to 'System managed size' which I believe is the default - should I leave it like that?

 

[tookawhile]

I have to say, there are numerous 'experts' recommending you set the min and max to the same value, even a book I have, from MicroSoft press recommends it. So now I'm confused.

 

[Spirit]

You'll also find a lot of experts saying don't put the page file on the same drive as your OS..... just wait til you put 4GB of RAM in there and the fun and confusion REALLY starts

Iain

 

[tookawhile]

Yep - just read that!

I'm looking to keep it simple,

I'm now thinking of setting O/S page file to 2GB, min and max values set the same, and this is the amount of RAM the system has.

This allows space for a memory/debugging dump in case of a major crash. Having said should I make it a lot smaller? See TekTip advice below.

I'm still unsure what to set my pagefile partition (yes I acknowledge the fact that a partition is not ideal) to, help please!

I'm thinking this should be set to 1.5 x 2GB of RAM?

And also from TekTips very own forum

'IT IS ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT THE PAGEFILE BE SET TO A FIXED SIZE THE TOTAL OF WHICH ON ALL DRIVES IS EQUAL TO 3 TIMES THE SIZE OF INSTALLED RAM OR TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 4GB AND THE SIZE OF INSTALLED RAM WHICHEVER IS LESS. (RAM + pagefile = Total virtual memory. Many technically savvy people believe that Total virtual memory should not exceed 4GB which is the maximum addressable space of a 32bit CPU, despite the recommendations in the MS knowledge base which were evidently developed before XP systems exceeding 1GB RAM were commonplace.) FOR A SYSTEM WITH 1GB RAM, THIS WOULD BE 3072 MB. FOR A SYSTEM WITH 2 GB RAM, THIS WOULD BE 2048 MB. IF THE PAGEFILE IS ON A DEDICATED PARTITION, KEEP A SMALL PAGEFILE ON THE OS PARTITION AND PUT THE BALANCE ON THE DEDICATED PARTITION, say 72 MB on the OS partition and 3000 MB on the pagefile partition. (The size of the portion of the pagefile that should remain on the OS partition in any event depends on the kind of error reporting the OS is set to provide in the event of a memory dump. See the error reporting section of the Advanced tab of the System icon in the Control Panel for details.)'