Solved: 16GB Ram - Virtual Memory Initial & Maximum Sizes Calculation / Optimal Values? | Experts Exchange (2024)

FAQs

Solved: 16GB Ram - Virtual Memory Initial & Maximum Sizes Calculation / Optimal Values? | Experts Exchange? ›

The initial size would be 1.5 x 4,096 = 6,144 MB and the maximum size would be 3 x 6,144 = 18,432 MB.

However, with advancements in technology and more efficient operating systems, this rule is not as rigid as it once was. For a system with 16GB RAM, setting the virtual memory between 24GB to 32GB is a good starting point, but adjustments might be needed based on specific use cases.

The paging file is typically 1.25 GB on 8 GB systems, 2.5 GB on 16 GB systems and 5 GB on 32 GB systems. For systems with more RAM, you can make the paging file somewhat smaller.

Microsoft recommends that you set virtual memory to be no less than 1.5 times and no more than 3 times the amount of RAM on your computer. For power PC owners (like most UE/UC users), you likely have at least 2GB of RAM so your virtual memory can be set up to 6,144 MB (6 GB).

The Initial size is one and a half (1.5) x the amount of total system memory. The Maximum size is three (3) x the initial size. So let's say you have 4 GB (1 GB = 1,024 MB x 4 = 4,096 MB) of memory. The initial size would be 1.5 x 4,096 = 6,144 MB and the maximum size would be 3 x 6,144 = 18,432 MB."

We recommend that you either allow the system to manage the page file size or to set it at 150% of the size of the physical RAM.

Pagefile. RAM is a limited resource, whereas for most practical purposes, virtual memory is unlimited. There can be many processes, and each process has its own 2 GB of private virtual address space.

A system managed Page File will be adequate is most use cases, unless you are experiencing problems. The Page File should be approximately 1.5 - 2 times the size of your total system memory (RAM). A computer with 4GB of RAM will need a Page File a minimum of 6GB (6144 MB) and a maximum of 8GB (8192MB).

Is increasing virtual memory safe? ›

Allocating too little HDD space for virtual memory can result in a computer running out of RAM. If a system continually needs more virtual memory space, it may be wise to consider adding RAM. Common OSes may generally recommend users not increase virtual memory beyond 1 ½ times the amount of RAM.

Virtual memory and physical memory serve distinct roles in a computer system. Physical memory (RAM) is the actual hardware that provides temporary storage for active data, while virtual memory is a reserved space on the storage device (usually a hard drive or SSD) used when physical memory is exhausted.

Increasing Virtual Memory in Windows 10

Choose Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows. In the new window, go to the Advanced tab and under the Virtual memory section, click on Change. At the bottom of the new window, check what the Recommended value is and how it compares to Currently allocated.

A virtual memory is what its name indicates- it is an illusion of a memory that is larger than the real memory.

The more background processes that are running on your computer, the less VRAM will be available. To free up some of this memory, you can disable any unnecessary processes that are running in the background. To do this, press the Windows key + R to open the “Run” window, then type “msconfig” and press Enter.

If you think that the device doesn't need virtual memory only because you have a large amount of physical memory, you shouldn't disable the feature. The reason is that the system needs the paging file. Otherwise, you may experience problems running applications and using many Windows 11 features.

A good starting point is to allocate 2 GB for Windows 10 or later desktops. If you want to use one of the hardware accelerated graphics features for 3D workloads, VMware recommends two virtual CPUs and 4 GB of RAM.

Maximum memory size for virtual machines that use BIOS firmware is 24560 GB. You must use EFI firmware for virtual machines with memory size greater than 6128 GB. Maximum memory size for a virtual machine depends on the physical memory of the ESXi host and the virtual machine compatibility settings.

As a rule of thumb, the paging file should be a minimum of 1.5 times the size of your installed RAM, and a maximum of 3 times your RAM size. For example, if you have 8 GB RAM, your minumum would be 1024 x 8 x 1.5 = 12,288 MB, and your maximum would be 1024 x 8 x 3 = 24,576 MB.

To calculate the "general rule" recommended size of virtual memory in Windows 10 per the 8 GB your system has, here's the equation 1024 x 8 x 1.5 = 12288 MB.