Pagefile constantly going crazy - please help

[tgfyhre]

My pagefile is always busy when I try doing things. Sometimes it's going for minutes at a time, bringing my system to a crawl. When my hard drive starts going nuts, I always check my resource monitor from task manager, and it's always the pagefile that's accessing the hard drive.

What should my pagefile settings be? I'm running Windows 7 32bit with three 1Gb rams sticks and a 1Gb video card. Currently, it's set to Custom Size - 4608, maximum size - 6144. Are my settings off? Should I set it to "system managed size"?

The pagefile is on the same drive as my main OS. I was thinking about putting it on a memory stick but I understand that would kill off the stick quickly and I'm afraid of corruption also.

 

[Berton]

It's probably Windows or a program accessing the paging file/Virtual Memory, it can't do anything by itself. You can set the max. and min. to the same number, I do. The general recommendation in Help and Support is for 1.5 times the physical RAM, for 3GB it would be 4.5GB or about 4500MB. It can be set higher if programs complain about being out of memory. Also possible is the need to defrag the HDD but I seldom do it. \

An idea, turn the Virtual Memory off, reboot and turn it back on using the same numbers for both. I find it puts the clusters on the HDD together and doesn't get fragmented when set otherwise.

I don't think it works on removable media.

I try to put in a second HDD and put 2GB Virtual Memory on the OS drive and the rest on the second drive before adding any data to the second. Will be doing it to my Win8 machine next time I clean it, don't have room for another HDD in my Win10TP SFF computer.

 

[tgfyhre]

I think that's where I got my 4608 number from when I set it. I'll try resetting the pagefile and setting both numbers to 4608 and see what happens. I know certain programs seem to trigger the pagefile, but that's the problem. The pagefile seems to get used a lot, especially during certain operations. I was hoping to dial back the pagefile usage, as it's always grinding away every time I do anything it seems.

It's safe then to turn off the pagefile and restart my pc with it off before going in and setting it back again?

 

[SaNdMaN82]

It seems the issue is that you are running a low ram machine...
Page file is used when real memory is needed, thus paging out 'old' data that's on ram to disk... Whenever that information is needed again, it's paged in into the ram for usage...

If you are noticing a lot of paging activity, it means 2 or more programs are just battling for RAM...

Not much you can do, except:
- limiting the amount of programs you have open
- adding more ram to the system.

BTW, when I bought my actual computer, it had 4gb of ram... It also had windows 7 ultimate 64x... I noticed 4gb where not enough, so I bought an extra 4gb... Runs OK, almost no paging during normal usage...
It only use paging when I load heavy and demanding games...

 

[tgfyhre]

I tried running Prime95 last night to test out the new cpu cooler I installed to replace a dying cooler, and it was set to Blend (test some of everything, lots of RAM tested), and instantly my system came to a crawl as the pagefile went nuts. That never used to happen when I ran the blend test.

It was okay when I set it to a different option focusing on the cpu and not RAM.

 

[SaNdMaN82]

Do the following: reboot your PC, log to your account, and leave windows fully initialize...
Once it's, check the ram usage, and which programs are using it... Run that test that produces paging, then check again for the programs that are using ram...

Then, reboot your computer into safe mode, and re run the tests you did before... Take notes or screens.

 

[Berton]

It's safe then to turn off the pagefile and restart my pc with it off before going in and setting it back again?

Yes, I've never had a problem doing it but I never run a program until I get it reset. Most programs seem to want the paging file available.
Some helpful information:
https://www.google.com/search?site=...edr...0...1c.1.62.hp..2.16.1934.0.RpPNZ2kR4Kk

 

[whs]

1. For a 32bit system you have enough RAM. I ran Windows 7 in 3GBs for years and now I have a little laptop where I run in 1.5GB (32bit Win 8.1) and that runs fine too. The remaining 0.5GBs are used by a virtual Linux machine.

2. Don't set your own numbers, let the system manage it.

3. Supervise RAM usage in the Resource Monitor > Memory tab. The task manager nums are not complete.

 

[Layback Bear]

In my opinion Wolfgang has the proper answer. Windows 7 is very capable of taking care of ram usage as long as it has ram to work with.

2. Don't set your own numbers, let the system manage it.

If you still have a problem their are 3 things to do.
1. Use less programs at one time.
2. Add more ram
3. Do both 1 and 2.

 

[tgfyhre]

Except I'm running 32bit and I already have 3Gb installed so I can't add any more RAM.

I've set my pagefile to auto and I'll see how that does. When I reboot my pc later today I'll boot into safe mode and run Prime95 and see what happens. All I know is I used to be able to run Prime95 in blend mode without issue for hours on this pc, and now I can't due to the pagefile.

 

[SaNdMaN82]

Except I'm running 32bit and I already have 3Gb installed so I can't add any more RAM.

I've set my pagefile to auto and I'll see how that does. When I reboot my pc later today I'll boot into safe mode and run Prime95 and see what happens. All I know is I used to be able to run Prime95 in blend mode without issue for hours on this pc, and now I can't due to the pagefile.

Isn't the limit for 32 bits arch 4gb and not 3gb?

 

[whs]

Yes the limit is 4GB. But since other components such as graphics also need address space, you usually end up with only 3.2GB or so useable. So 3GB of RAM is the best option for a 32bit system - and that is plenty anyhow. A 32bit OS runs in less than 2GB - I have one running in 1.5GB and it runs fine.

 

[lehnerus2000]

RAM Test

Maybe some of your RAM has become faulty.

Have you tested your RAM?

Try the method in this link:
Test your RAM with Windows Memory Diagnostic tool - CNET

Also try this SevenForums tutorial:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.html

 

[Layback Bear]

whs is correct: You can run a 32 bit system on very low ram.

The big but is; if you use many things that use ram, therefore using up the ram you have, you either have your system use less ram or add more ram.

If you want to install more ram than 4 gigs you will have to install Windows 7/64.

How much ram you need depends on the demand for ram you put on your system.

Example:
If you have 12 gigs of ram and you put a demand for 16 gig of ram on your system you will still be low on ram for what you are doing with your system.

I have run Windows 7/32 with 2 and 4 gigs of ram and the system run quite well until I put a demand on the system that required more ram. That is why I use Windows 7/64.

I do not believe doing test with Prime95 has anything to do with page filing.
I have no idea why one would watch Prime95 and page filling at the same time.
What is the purpose of doing such a thing.

As lehnerus2000 has posted; this is the best I know of to test ram.

RAM - Test with Memtest86+

 

[tgfyhre]

whs is correct: You can run a 32 bit system on very low ram.

The big but is; if you use many things that use ram, therefore using up the ram you have, you either have your system use less ram or add more ram.

If you want to install more ram than 4 gigs you will have to install Windows 7/64.

How much ram you need depends on the demand for ram you put on your system.

Example:
If you have 12 gigs of ram and you put a demand for 16 gig of ram on your system you will still be low on ram for what you are doing with your system.

I have run Windows 7/32 with 2 and 4 gigs of ram and the system run quite well until I put a demand on the system that required more ram. That is why I use Windows 7/64.

I do not believe doing test with Prime95 has anything to do with page filing.
I have no idea why one would watch Prime95 and page filling at the same time.
What is the purpose of doing such a thing.

I explained above why I checked pagefile while running Prime95. As soon as I ran Prime95 (which uses lots of memory during blend mode), my pagefile flips out - every time. I know this because my Resource manager lists pagefile as the primary service chewing up my hard drive whenever I run Prime95 in blend mode.

Anyways, it doesn't matter. I discovered that when I replaced my cpu cooler over the weekend I must have dislodged one of my memory sticks, so I was only running on 2GB instead of 3GB. When I reseated the memory stick so my system shows 3Gb I can run Prime95 in blend mode with no issues and still surf with no slowdown. So Prime95 in blend mode was certainly affecting my pagefile.

Can I put another stick of RAM in for 4GB of memory? I thought since I have a 1GB video card I could only put in 3GB of RAM due to the 32bit restriction. What happens if I put a 4th stick in? Will I have access to all 4GB of memory? Will I lose some of the video card RAM?

 

[tgfyhre]

Yes the limit is 4GB. But since other components such as graphics also need address space, you usually end up with only 3.2GB or so useable. So 3GB of RAM is the best option for a 32bit system - and that is plenty anyhow. A 32bit OS runs in less than 2GB - I have one running in 1.5GB and it runs fine.

Oh, that's what I thought. I never bothered putting in a 4th stick of memory because as I understood it I would only gain a small portion of that 4th GB anyways, since I have a 1GB video card installed, so it didn't seem worth it.

 

[Layback Bear]

Video ram and System ram are two completely two different things.
When you installed your system ram correctly you basically added back the lost ram.

I presume you completed the RAM - Test with Memtest86+ before you changed the cpu cooler.
Because Memtest+ should of indicated how much ram was installed and tested.

*Were you having a cpu temp problem when running Prime95 before the new cooler was installed?
*What temps are the cpu temps after installing the new cooler?

I'm trying to understand the sequence things were done so 2+2 adds up to 4.

To make sure Windows sees your ram correctly please post a picture like this of your system.

 

[tgfyhre]

Video ram and System ram are two completely two different things.
When you installed your system ram correctly you basically added back the lost ram.

I presume you completed the RAM - Test with Memtest86+ before you changed the cpu cooler.
Because Memtest+ should of indicated how much ram was installed and tested.

*Were you having a cpu temp problem when running Prime95 before the new cooler was installed?
*What temps are the cpu temps after installing the new cooler?

I'm trying to understand the sequence things were done so 2+2 adds up to 4.

To make sure Windows sees your ram correctly please post a picture like this of your system.



View attachment 350703

My RAM is fine - I tested it not too long ago with Memtest86+. I'm not having a temp problem. I only changed my cpu cooler because the fan was making a ridiculous racket and it's a PITA to change the fan for that cooler (Coolermaster V8). It's also the second V8 cooler fan to fail on me in 3 1/2 years. So I decided to pull it out and replace it with a new cooler and fresh paste. Currently my idle temps for the cpu is around 48-50, and it's a bit hot in my apartment with the heat on. With full load my cpu temp hovers around 82 - the same as with the Coolermaster V8.

The issue just seems to be that using certain applications triggers heavy pagefile usage, and I was hoping there was a way to keep the pagefile usage down a bit. I guess there isn't.

 

[Layback Bear]

From you post # 18

With full load my cpu temp hovers around 82 - the same as with the Coolermaster V8.

82C is to high for your cpu.

 

[tgfyhre]

From you post # 18

With full load my cpu temp hovers around 82 - the same as with the Coolermaster V8.

82C is to high for your cpu.

It's the same max temp my cpu has always been at for the past 3 1/2 years. And that's with Prime95. Not everyday stuff. 99% of the time my cpu doesn't even approach close to that temp. That's only with a full load. The majority of each day the temp is around 50 idle, 60-65 when running some applications. 82 is with Prime95, which I never run except when changing coolers.

It's a 1st gen Core I7 920. It's a hot-running chip. From what I've read on many forums, 82 is around what many people get for full load temps with that chip and a basic cooler.