Paging files for 4 GB RAM and Readyboost

[rock1]

I have the following configuration of my PC
Intel Core i3 2100 CPU@ 3.10 GHz, Windows 7 - 64 bit, 4 GB DDR 3 RAM. Intel integrated graphics.
I have 500 GB Hard Disk [primary] having two partitions of 200gb [primary named C:], and 260 GB [named G:]; and one 80GB hard disk with a single full partition [named H:] . I have set my paging file in the following way.



Now I’m using Readyboost on an 8GB pendrive with 4096 of cache [the maximum size available].

I don’t notice any performance difference with or without Readyboost. Is there something wrong I’m doing? I also tried Automatically manage paging file option. My job on PC requires rendering still 3d graphics in Google SketchUp and Vray, working with heavy images and text on CorelDRAW.

[i MaRk i]

Hi-

You wont notice a performance increase just by making the a ridiculously huge pagefile (almost 40 GB). The only reason to make it bigger would be if you were getting crashes and errors due to not enough virtual memory. Because the paging file is on the hard drive, it is very very slow, and therefore would not be used for you current application. Readyboost would not help at all, it basically 'prefeches' programs that you use a lot before you actually use them, such as your internet browser, music player, and other apps.

If you are running out of physical ram (check task manager) while running a 3D editor, the best solution would be to buy more ram, seeing as it is quite cheap these days, and you can get anywhere from 8GB (under $50 USD) all the way up to 16GB (for under $110 USD.)

Regards,

Mark

[epshatto]

Yeah I think Readyboost is overrated. I've tried using it before myself and like you, didn't really notice any difference.

I think you should generally allow the system to manage your pagefile. Any benefits you would get from tweaking it yourself would be minimal at best.

My concern is that if you're doing graphics rendering you're relying on an integrated card. I would recommend investing in a PCIe card to install in the system. I don't really know much about any specific card so I'd leave the comments on what's a good one to get to somebody else.

[JackBauer_24]

One thing 40000MB of paging file is too much. Too big of a paging file will cause poor hard drive performance. Also the paging file can not be defraged.

I would leave it on "System Manage" or your amount of RAM X's 1.5. You do not need two paging files on two drive one which is on C: is sufficient.

There is not much performance difference with Ready Boost. As long as you have enough RAM and the right paging file configuration "System Manage" you will be fine.

[LMiller7]

How much you will benefit from ReadyBoost depends on many factors. These include the performance of your hard drives, the performance of the flash device, how much RAM you have, and the applications you use. ReadyBoost is used essentially as a disk cache. Flash devices are typically slower that hard drives for serial access but have a faster access time, which is a benefit for for small random reads. Windows will access either the flash device or the hard drive for disk reads depending on the type of access. I expect that your application requires large sequential reads and Windows is not using ReadyBoost much because it wouldn't be a benefit.

Your large pagefile on H: is probably more than you need but that will not be a problem. But considering that the drive is only 80 GB it is probably old and has poor performance compared to your Windows drive. That may be a problem. Having a pagefile on a separate drive can be a benefit because it reduces disk contention but only if it has adequate performance. Windows will use the pagefile on the drive that is the least busy. It does not do a performance analysis of the drives.

More RAM would probably be a benefit. But without more information this is all just guesswork. A screenshot of Task Manager - Performance tab, during application use would help a great deal.

Edit: If it turns out that a lack of RAM is the problem then only adding more will be a significant benefit. No fiddling with the pagefile or ReadyBoost will do much good.

[jenae]

Hi, before my cat decided to post my part completed thread, I was pretty much going to say what LMiller has posted. An old HDD will be slower especially if it is IDE. MY advice would be to look at a non integrated GPU and additional Ram, there are some exciting new developments in computer performance on the horizon, be prepared though the day's of cheap computers (uneconomically so at the moment) are coming to an end, if you want serious performance.

[rock1]

thanks everyone for your replies..i'll surely keep these points in mind