Maximize performance with a permanent swap file

Based on a  report in ZD Journals, Inside Microsoft Windows 98
February 2000
http://www.elementkjournals.com/w98/s_w98/0002/w980027.htm

What is the swap file or virtual memory?

Basically the swap file or virtual memory as it is sometimes called is a
tool that Windows uses to simulate more RAM than your system has. The
term swap file and virtual memory are used interchangeably. Microsoft
prefers to call it "virtual memory" however "swap file" is more accurate
for the action it takes. You can find this file on your hard drive in
the root directory named, Win386.swp or in the Windows folder.

When you boot your system or launch a program, Windows loads the
applications in RAM. The applications you open all have to share the
same RAM. As you know, the more you open the more RAM you need. The fact
is your system may not have enough to support all of the applications
you have opened. As you have guessed, your system comes to a screeching
halt and won't budge. Well, that's been my experience… All is running
well and all of a sudden…

In order to manage the situation, Windows monitors each application and
will remove inactive sections of a program to the swap file and recall
it back into RAM when the program needs it. This "swapping" process is
continuous when you use several programs or applications at the same
time.

The dynamic problem:
Windows uses a "dynamic management scheme" to keep up with the
ever-changing needs of applications or programs. This means that Windows
can enlarge or shrink the swap file according to changing needs of the
applications. This "dynamic system" has three main problems:

1.      It isn't really necessary any more.
2.      It carries a lot of extra overhead
3.      It causes the swap file to become fragmented.

Hard Drive space:
In the old days when Windows first came out and hard drives were limited
in size, Rather than set aside a large chunk of space specifically for
the swap file, Windows would set it according to the system needs and
the amount of space on the hard drive. This would allow you to open more
applications and store more data.

Today, this doesn't matter due to the fact hard drives are large and
space isn't as important as it used to be. Using the dynamic approach to
the swap file for all intents a purpose can be considered unnecessary
today.

Overhead:
As I indicated earlier, the swapping process is continuous when you have
several applications running at the same time. On the down side, Winds
is spending a lot of valuable time just tending to the duties of
expanding and contracting the swap file. What this means is, Windows as
I said earlier, puts unused sections in the swap file and retrieves them
when an application needs them. As more space is needed, Windows will
expand the swap file to hold more information.

With the dynamic swap file scheme, in addition to constantly moving
chunks of information, Windows spends a lot of time trying to figure out
the "ideal" size of the swap file and resizing it. All the time that
Windows spends on the swap file keeps the CPU busy and prevents it from
performing other necessary tasks. Resizing also keeps the hard drive
tied up, which can prevent efficient use of the disk cache.

Considering that the Dynamic scheme is actually unnecessary due to the
increased size of hard drives, the overhead produced by this method can
be eliminated and would contribute to better overall system performance.

To be continued:

Frank Suszka
netTek Computers
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