Make Windows prioritize using more physical memory over virtual memory.
Make Windows prioritize using more physical memory over virtual memory.
I own a total of 32GB of RAM (16x2). The memory consumption from Task Manager stays around 40-60%, which is surprising given I have over 200 open Edge tabs. I looked into the Virtual Memory settings and found it was using about 80GB+ for virtual storage. I changed the size to a custom limit of 8000MB and restarted, but the usage stayed the same. After that, my system freezes more often, and sometimes it shuts down during loading or when launching Counter-Strike 2, even though Task Manager shows over 16GB free. On the screenshot, the custom size was active but not visible. Initially, I thought Windows prioritizes virtual memory over physical RAM, which makes sense with these issues. I’m wondering if there’s a way to make it use more physical RAM instead. I don’t mind increasing virtual memory, but I want to utilize the full 32GB. Disabling Virtual Memory entirely might not be ideal since my tabs would likely need some of it. My processor is a Ryzen 9 7900 (non-x) with an Asus ROG Strix X670E-A at 6000MHz.
The pagefile size remains unchanged, so during automatic expansion it only consumes a single time slot to use memory, then it stays active for future occurrences even when not needed. The key factor for actual RAM allocation is "Commit" in the line below in Task Manager that you removed. It consumes real physical RAM for caching, which may be more critical than things like tabs that haven't been opened recently.
Thank you for the details. The pagefile isn't reducing as expected, which seems a bit odd... It wasn't intended to limit the task manager, but it's currently around 32/39.4GB. This raises questions about how much free memory remains. I'm planning to switch it back to automatic. I assume the pagefile size will reset when the system restarts, so I might do that more often. Usually I just keep the computer running or put it to sleep, which could have led to the pagefile growing larger.
Expanding files requires extra time and could cause fragmentation. Depending on your view, preventing frequent increases and decreases is more effective. You can also define a constant size for the file to control its maximum growth.
Generally, you only need to adjust the page file settings if you choose "automatic." If you're experiencing problems, it's unlikely related to pagefile. Edit: my usual setup is automatic, cycling through around 180 Chrome tabs, about 150 Firefox tabs, playing games for hours, editing videos, etc. Perhaps avoid using Edge since they collect a lot of ads and data. (I haven't used it in years, so don't judge me)
I was worried about how much space the pagefile took up on my disk. My problems only appeared when I tried restricting its size. It seems I might need to look deeper into what these terms mean. Here’s my HWInfo status (custom pagefile limit remains active). I’m unsure why my VMem Committed is so high, even though Edge was closed—it’s still around 20,000 MB. I used Chrome a long time ago but found Edge faster and more efficient back then. I don’t understand why switching to another browser felt like a hassle; it seems like a hassle not to switch now.
I typically turn off or lock the pagefile size to 1GB or 2GB. Create a Task Scheduler task to empty the standby memory list every half hour or once per hour. Think about turning off Fast Startup since it often leads to slow memory performance if you haven’t restarted recently.
Oh man I forgot most people have fast startup enabled... Yikes. So you programmed your own ISLC ? Nice! Hmm if it works, that's about what mine typically uses too, but I don't see the necessity, except saving storage space... As long standby memory clears all is fine imo, and mine clears regularly (automatically, without my intervention)
Nvmd appears to allocate 8GB of RAM, leaving only half available. It seems acceptable since the memory isn't actively being used but remains reserved. @xSen's point is relevant—more RAM results in a larger file size, not necessarily an issue. If problems arise, it's likely related to the pagefile, not the pagefile itself. It's best to keep the pagefile set to automatic and use ISLC if needed. You don't need to change it unless you notice issues. Essentially, treat the pagefile as free memory and avoid deleting syswow. Tldr: enjoy using the pagefile, unless you have concerns.
Before ISLC there was a small tool named EmptyStandbyList. You have to schedule it with Task Scheduler to run regularly. This can help with PC problems like slow performance, memory leaks, Wi-Fi issues, Chrome tabs, and more. Disabling it and rebooting often resolves these issues.