Page file size?

[skipper84]

Hi. In windows 10 in performance option under virtual memory the Total paging file size is set to 3200MB. Is this fine?. I have 2 drives. 1 SSD and 1 HDD for games. My memory is 1300mhz at 8GB.
I looked and 3200MB in GB is 3.2GB of ram. Could this be using too much and that why I get a lot of stuttering in games?.
I also clicked change and recommended is 1913 MB but currently located is set to 3200 MB. Is it safe to change to recommended?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

This is a Win 7 forum; I don't know if Win 10 is necessarily different on the page file topic.

In Win 7, you could certainly set it to a lower setting and get along fine.

I use 1024 mb minimum and 2048 mb maximum. Some people go lower than that.

You'd have to experiment to see if it makes any difference at all in the stuttering. 8 GB of RAM is typically plenty for a gaming machine.

 

[GSystems]

On The Contrary

On my machine, I have 16GB of RAM. I've set my Virtual Memory (Pagefile) to 48GB. I use a 3x scheme based off of Mark Russinovich's article on these matters (Virtual Memory, specifically) with all of my machines...and the machines of people whom I infrequently assist with menial computer issues.

In my experience, this has netted the best, longest lasting effects of performance stability. Unless you have some issue with disk space, I would recommend the same for your system. Of course, I am running Windows 7, and realize that the kernel has had some memory improvements between 7 and 10, but I find it safe (like Mark) to have more than you need than less.

As an example, my laptop--which is a single-core, <2GHz proc, 2GB Ram system--has 6000MB reserved for this along...with only a 96GB SATAII SSD. I don't care.

What's more important to you? Hoarding more things...or having the things you've hoarded perform at their best?

It is a decision you have to make regarding your User Experience... Simply, if Windows believes it has more room to dump what's not needed in RAM, the more likely it'll load more of what you want to run in memory...or at least that has been my experience...

I've attached my System Properties and Virtual Memory settings to show what I mean...

 

[LMiller7]

There is no one correct size for the pagefile you must use or you will have problems. The pagefile can vary over a wide range with no problems whatsoever. The more RAM you have the less pagefile size matters.

There is nothing special about the size Windows uses with a system managed pagefile. It is just a size that will almost always be large enough, based on the principle that your workload will be proportional to RAM size.

The only really important thing about pagefile size is that it must provide for a commit limit that is higher than the commit peak. The commit limit will be RAM size, plus pagefile size, minus a small overhead. Unfortunately Task Manager has not shown the commit peak since XP. Other utilities such as Process Explorer do.

With 8 GB and larger RAM pagefile size matters little to nothing. It would require a very heavy workload to reach a commit charge which could be supported with no pagefile at all. I do understand that some applications may complain if there is no pagefile at all.

As for 48 GB pagefile with 16 GB RAM. I find this a rather extravagant waste of disk space but other than that there should be no issues.

If you are having stuttering in games you are looking in the wrong place. It is highly unlikely that changing the pagefile in any way will help. I am not gamer so cannot help with this.