Hi CDogg,
This is beginning to sound like the "Great Swapfile Debate" all over again
I was not trying to say that swapfile usage is directly related to ram qty, only that more ram enables us to do away with the swapfile by relying more on the ram.
True, as DavidL said, 512MB should be an optimal amount and should allow for not having a swapfile. Regardless of the power curve (enjoyed the link-thx), the system will more quickly perform if not relying on the HDD caching.
RAM is cheap nowadays (cost effective?)including DDR (forget rambus!), wouldn't a P4 system with DDR relying on a swapfile be like spinning your tires on an icy road? It is worth it to invest in some better tires or chains to most effectively get where you are going.
Windows is forced to use the ram if swap is disabled and from what I have seen, if a system is properly configured, this should not have any negative effect on system stability provided there is sufficient ram.
However, above Win98, I do recommend Win2K.
WIN98 Source code:
------------------
/*
TOP SECRET Microsoft(c) Code
Project: Chicago(tm)
Projected release-date: Summer 1998
*/
#include "win31.h"
#include "win95.h"
#include "evenmore.h"
#include "oldstuff.h"
#include "billrulz.h"
#define INSTALL = HARD
char make_prog_look_big[1600000];
void main()
{
while(!CRASHED)
{
display_copyright_message();
display_bill_rules_message();
do_nothing_loop();
if (first_time_installation)
{
make_50_megabyte_swapfile();
do_nothing_loop();
totally_screw_up_HPFS_file_system();
search_and_destroy_the_rest_of_OS/2();
hang_system();
}
write_something(anything);
display_copyright_message();
do_nothing_loop();
do_some_stuff();
if (still_not_crashed)
{
display_copyright_message();
do_nothing_loop();
basically_run_windows_3.1();
do_nothing_loop();
do_nothing_loop();
}
}
if (detect_cache())
disable_cache();
if (fast_cpu())
{
set_wait_states(lots);
set_mouse(speed, very_slow);
set_mouse(action, jumpy);
set_mouse(reaction, sometimes);
}
/* printf("Welcome to Windows 3.11"

; */
/* printf("Welcome to Windows 95"

; */
printf("Welcome to Windows 98"

;
if (system_ok())
crash(to_dos_prompt);
else
system_memory = open("a:\swp0001.swp", O_CREATE);
while(something)
{
sleep(5);
get_user_input();
sleep(5);
act_on_user_input();
sleep(5);
}
create_general_protection_fault();
}