I´m talking about run without page file... I have endless problems with disk activity that makes my PC near unusable whem running heavy applications... It is not a time to finish issue, but a "how to use the computer while a high intensive disk usage application runs" problem. I ever think about it this way: may I need more virtual memory or more RAM to make my not hang whem runing a filter on big images in Gimp or mapinfo... And whem I see the task manager, only a third or less of the phisical memory is in use... How Microsoft memory management can be so stupit to make your computer so loaded that you will be incapable to even stop the application without killing it? Now the solution... You can force the WinXp to use only the RAM! Now, I think that virtual memory is not completely trash... You said we lost the way to recover information on unfinished work during failure, right? Is it? It is the only use of virtual memory? Or to specific applications it will be bad if you do not use it? All of us have too much to learn, but with some luck we can even help someone.

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Running with NO page file is most secure if you have 1 gig of memory ore more... It can be done with 512, but it is not recommended, you can try and see what happens!!!! As for loss of data this will only happen if you havent saved your work, because when a crash happens the OS will not write the data back to the hard drive. Running with no page file is very handy for hard drive instensive programs where the OS is constantly paging to and from the hard drive. It slows things down, etc.... But without it, everything which is needed is obtaind from the hard drive stored in the main memory and kept there untill you tell it to save. Which decreases the usage of the hard d rive imensly. For xp to run at its best you need 512 which you already have. Of this approx 230 meg would be taken up by the operating system itself on boot up, dpending on how many programs you have as auto start. That leaves you approx 280 or so to use for applications etc, which is not all that much. Some large apps such as photoshop can use this up very quickly. IF IT AINT BROKE, DONT FIX IT A8N-SLI Deluxe AMD X64 3500+ Wnchst Corsair 2x512 DDR400 Dual Channel GV-NX6600128D PCIX Graphics Card Ggbyte GT Pro CPU Cooler Zalman VF700-CU VGA Cool

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As for specific aplications !!! I ahve never come across any apications that can not be used whithiout a page file. I have used photoshop 7 editing functions, side by side with Dreamwiver mx, while running nero, it gave the cpu a hell of a work out, but never had a problem. But as I said before 1 gig of ram is highly recomended if you wish to run with no page file and use big aps. IF IT AINT BROKE, DONT FIX IT A8N-SLI Deluxe AMD X64 3500+ Wnchst Corsair 2x512 DDR400 Dual Channel GV-NX6600128D PCIX Graphics Card Ggbyte GT Pro CPU Cooler Zalman VF700-CU VGA Cool

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I noticed this... And with 512Mb it is very easy to go without memory. It was I think... Whem you´re using virtual memory and reachs the memory limit, windows will ask for more memory and advise you: I´m running out of memory, so I will try to get more. I saw this situation several times. Now, I see think that runing without virtual memory, whem you reachs the total memory capacity one off the following will occur: Blue screen of death (access of undesired memory adresses used by other programs) or simply freeze the WinXp because of insufuciency of memory... But I think that for normal day to day use with video playback, mp3, internet and word it is difficult to go to a situation you will run without memory, no? I may be wrong, and I agreed with you. In a 1024Mb environment it is more secure. I willmake some tests tomorrow to see if using this setting is secure for my personal and usual applications. anything more important, I can re-active virtual memory ;) Thanks by the info, because it was very funny to see my computer act like it done today! All of us have too much to learn, but with some luck we can even help someone.

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I agree that is the best way !!! Do your own tests in line with you every day usage, and form there you can determine the best for you. When you switch of the page file and reboot, have a look at the task manager and see how much memory is being used at the time, than open your web browser and than have another look at it, etc. let me know the results I would be most interested in what you achieve... regards IF IT AINT BROKE, DONT FIX IT A8N-SLI Deluxe AMD X64 3500+ Wnchst Corsair 2x512 DDR400 Dual Channel GV-NX6600128D PCIX Graphics Card Ggbyte GT Pro CPU Cooler Zalman VF700-CU VGA Cool

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I alread have something... See this: Virtual memory is off. I have no disk usage at all. Only task manager openned: 160Mb page file used (PF)(total (T) 523808; (D) disp 3414500; (C) cache 230928 - with 31 processes running) By default on my actual system I have: Hardware Sensors Monitor on, AVG anti-virus, Sound Blaster Audio HQ, Genius multimedia keyboard driver for Genius KB19e Nb keyboard and the nvidia settings ico on system tray. Te tests: I opened one app more at each test but it is cumulative PC working app1+app2+app3+app4... See I'm writtem down the info in real time, not capturing screens... since it number may not be correct but approximations (I have little variance to consider too). I start firefox with 10 open windows (8 of them with intensive graphics) PF 192; D 283360; C178804 no disk usage (only when firefox loaded the disks were used) During the test, AVG starts-up its full system check. The numbers: PF=228MB D=2384142 C=319796. I got disk usage fro the scanning test. I start-up Gimp with a 2049x1572 150ppp image loaded and apply cubism filter that makes CPU 100% loaded during several minutes with my used settings: PF 284; D 171688; C 247440. No noticeably increase in disk usage, only during load) I opened Windows Explorer with thumbnails view on web pictures directory: PF 356MB; D 96920; C 179580. I opened Word with standard doc file (53 pages of pure text): PF 374 ; D 96920; C 159192. I opened Core Media Player with mp3 playback - 10 files file list and 192kbp playback: PF 416Mb; D 33228; C 120004. I have SBLIVE to help. I opened mapinfo desktop mapping (DESKTOP GIS SOFTWARE with vector graphics) with a standard to small 41,7Mb workspace using several views at same time to show maps, and printing layouts, but no graphics processing was made): PF 443Mb; D 29424; C 87272. Finally I opened the last app. Adobe Acrobat 6 with a 2.8Mb pdf file. PF 461Mb. D 39544; C 74148. After all that, the disk usage seens to be only AVG test and mp3 playback. It is obvious since virtual memory is off. It seens strange that when I started Acrobat the disponoble memory raises a bit while PF is occuping more space and only cache get smaller. (maybe we have some room to accomodate more programs with performance loss at the time cache size is getting smaller). This time the system is a bit slower, but nothing compared to using virtual memory. All the applications continues easylly responsive and correctly working. My ADSL connection was active all this time! MP3 playback was clean and uninterrupt. I think this is very intensive desktop use considering the use of several applications at same time. A very very huge application can consume much more memory indeed. I think blender 3D moddeling software at video rendering time, or 3D studio Max with video rendering or Photoshop, Gimp and other application with specific filter or effect running with bigger image at much better res can consume more memory. Mapinfo running a 3d terrain model (making TIM grid) can consume much memory too. But for a normal day to day desktop use of your PC It seens to be secure to use no virtual memory at all, on a system like the mine with 512Mb RAM and everything off-board. It is also secure to make something more. See how much apps I have oppened at the same time. One of them working at full load. What do you think about this resul janos? I think day to day use may be secure with 512Mb RAM for most people... :)

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Oh, and janos... Please see the 35272 message posted at general hardware forum to me... "Curious about memory times" since appearently no one got curious about my title and I need help on the subject. Thanks!

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Hi, I don't want to break into someones' thread, but on the subject,what is "Commit Charge" in task manager? Thank You

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About response 13... I re-post the timings message and SkipCox helped-me! I think I got some idea about memory timins, so, no need to look at the other post! ;)

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Thankyou for posting your results. That is a good list of applications you had running. It is normal for the hard d rive to be used while opening and closing aplications, as it needs to get the data from the drive to load into memeory. But you know this !!! I would say that normal every day usage with 512 and no page file is good enough for most people. There are those who would disagree with that but it all dpends on the individuals requirements hardware, and OS configuration. But you dont sound like a general novice user.. you knowledge seems much higher than most people's who look for help in respect to virtual memory. I started experimenting with this way back with Millenium and 512 meg, and for my purposes found that no page file works much better than with it. I am glad that you had much success with this. As for the memory timings, I suspect Skip would have given a good guide about this. Regards IF IT AINT BROKE, DONT FIX IT A8N-SLI Deluxe AMD X64 3500+ Wnchst Corsair 2x512 DDR400 Dual Channel GV-NX6600128D PCIX Graphics Card Ggbyte GT Pro CPU Cooler Zalman VF700-CU VGA Cool

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