Solved Using My Laptop Hard Drive as a Virtual Memory for Gaming

[fahadhum]

Is it safe to use my Hard Disk space as Virtual Memory to improve Games performance ..I have seen many users doing that and claiming a performance boost...This is how my Virtual Memory Settings looks like (Picture Shown Below)

Now,If it is safe to do so,how much Numeric values should i put in the box , avoiding any possible damage to my processor or system ..?

 

[Mellon Head]

I think what you are thinking of is a RAM disk, rather than virtual memory. The image that you've shown is for your paging file. I might be wrong, but I wouldn't try to use the paging file to improve your games speed.

A definite performance boost will come from using extra system RAM as a RAM disk. This involves using special software to create a virtual disk in RAM. You then copy the game files to this RAM disk, and execute the game from there. Since there is no disk access, only to memory, the game speed can be dramatically increased. I think this is what you are thinking of doing.

 

[LMiller7]

Leave the pagefile on system managed. You will gain nothing by changing it.

I am not a fan of using a RAMDisk with a modern OS. In most cases it is an inefficient use of memory. There are legitimate uses of a RAMDisk but not many.

 

[Mellon Head]

Leave the pagefile on system managed. You will gain nothing by changing it.

I am not a fan of using a RAMDisk with a modern OS. In most cases it is an inefficient use of memory. There are legitimate uses of a RAMDisk but not many.

I agree, a RAM disk is really only any good if you have more than 4 GB of RAM and you can devote 2 - 4 GB of RAM to it. The benefits of their use can be highly situational.

There can be a benefit to using one, though. I play Civilization IV and the turn times can be slow in the late game. Having the game files on RAM disk definitely speeds things up considerably. I don't know how some modern games would do with using one because of DRM and high levels of optimization, but a RAM disk for older games can be useful in certain situations.

 

[whs]

This is no viable plan. The pagefile should be left alone and if your games really need it, they will at best slowed down.

The RAMdisk idea is valid but only if you have acres of RAM - 16 or 32GBs.

 

[M1GU31]

I wouldn't suggest a ram disk unless you have 16 or more gbs of ram. My pc would have issues with freezing with a ram disk using 8gbs of ram which I thought would be fine but wasn't enough.

As for page file, leave it as it is or set to 1gb fixed page file if itching for hdd space which is how I have it by setting both to 1024. Though I would recommend leaving it alone if you're unsure of how it works or the possible issue of running out of ram and not having enough page file.

 

[fahadhum]

hmm @Mellon Head , @LMiller7 , @whs , @M1GU31 .I am getting a similar uncomfortable feeling before touching the Page File Option that it might be a bad idea to mess with it..I got this idea of increasing ram and somehow increasing gaming performance from some users on you tube. But i don't think it is a wise thing to do,considering i don't have knowledge of this specific subject..

I still have one more query in regards to the same graphics improvement matter.That is,setting any particular game TO HIGH PRIORITY via pressing (Ctrl+Alt+Delete>Start Task Manager>Processes>Any Game.exe>Set Priority>High) ,while game is still playing.Will it really boost the games performance or is it just a bad idea...?

 

[M1GU31]

hmm @Mellon Head , @LMiller7 , @whs , @M1GU31 .I am getting a similar uncomfortable feeling before touching the Page File Option that it might be a bad idea to mess with it..I got this idea of increasing ram and somehow increasing gaming performance from some users on you tube. But i don't think it is a wise thing to do,considering i don't have knowledge of this specific subject..

I still have one more query in regards to the same graphics improvement matter.That is,setting any particular game TO HIGH PRIORITY via pressing (Ctrl+Alt+Delete>Start Task Manager>Processes>Any Game.exe>Set Priority>High) ,while game is still playing.Will it really boost the games performance or is it just a bad idea...?

There's a chance it will, sometimes doing that does and sometimes it doesn't. You could try it but don't expect miracles. What you could do is say keep your laptop plugged to the charger and set the battery plan to high performance. That might help slightly as well.

 

[fahadhum]

@ M1GU31 Oh yes.I am doing that already.I keep my laptop plugged in and on high performance while playing games.I am using a fan , a simple home use fan that i keep on the right side of my laptop which doesn't let it get warm while gaming.The only thing i didn't tried since i bought this laptop is UPDATING Nvidia GRAPHICS Driver,which i ought to do.Problem is,i read online in many forums that updating Nvidia Graphics driver is causing system crash and similar major issues like , graphics card failing to respond and not detecting etc...So,i am scared to do an update..

 

[Mellon Head]

With a laptop, you should only use the drivers from the laptop manufacturer's website. If they don't have an updated graphics driver, then don't go anywhere else and get one. Laptop manufacturer's often fiddle with the hardware in certain ways, and the drivers can be different from stock Nvidia drivers. Installing the regular Nvidia drivers could cause problems for you. Maybe that's where you heard about the crashing problems...

 

[fahadhum]

@ Mellon Head Indeed,i read that in a similar forum where someone did suggested updating from the manufacturing website.But laptop Manufacturing website will only update my Intel HD card and not the dedicated graphics Nvidia card rite?

 

[LMiller7]

With all OEM computers it is usually best to stick with the drivers provided by the OEM, even if they are older than those by Nvidia. The problem is that OEMs often use customized hardware that may not be fully compatible with the generic drivers from Nvidia. Intel is in the same situation and they have published warnings about using their drivers on OEM products. Nvidia may also do this.

 

[fahadhum]

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions.I won't be trying this since i have got enough information now about it's hazards...