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Why Use Virtual Memory In Modern Systems?

Cyberhwk writes "I have a system with Windows Vista Ultimate (64-bit) installed on it, and it has 4GB of RAM. However when I've been watching system performance, my system seems to divide the work between the physical RAM and the virtual memory, so I have 2GB of data in the virtual memory and another 2GB in the physical memory. Is there a reason why my system should even be using the virtual memory anymore? I would think the computer would run better if it based everything off of RAM instead of virtual memory. Any thoughts on this matter or could you explain why the system is acting this way?"

12 of 983 comments (clear)

  1. The real answer is by Ethanol-fueled · · Score: 5, Funny

    Virtual memory and pagefiles still exist so that there will be persistent, recoverable storage of your browsing and search history, illegally downloaded music, and furrie porn should anybody come a-knockin after you hit the power switch.

    [/tinfoil hat]

  2. Would it help if by Xerolooper · · Score: 5, Funny

    you could create a RAM Disk and set your page file to use that.
    Then all your virtual memory is in RAM.
    I'll leave it to someone else to explain why that isn't a good idea.

    --
    "The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget." -Thomas Szasz
  3. Re:You mean physical memory right :-) by brxndxn · · Score: 4, Funny

    So do I really only need 640k of physical memory if I have a modern system?

    --
    --- We need more Ron Paul!
  4. Re:You mean physical memory right :-) by alain94040 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Gentle answers is what 6 years in customer support teaches you.

    That, or hating everyone ;-)

  5. Re:You mean physical memory right :-) by houstonbofh · · Score: 5, Funny

    Gentle answers is what 6 years in customer support teaches you.

    That, or hating everyone ;-)

    That kind of attitude really pisses me off! ;-)

  6. Easy way to remember real vs. virtual . . . by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 4, Funny

    If it's there, and you can see it . . . it's real.

    If you can see it, but it's not there . . . it's virtual.

    If you can't see it, and it's not there . . . it's gone.

    --
    Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  7. Re:Only 4 GB? by sexconker · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Kessel Run is obviously a surviving salesman problem.

    The traveling salesman is selling zombie survival kits at the onset of the zombie apocalypse. He must sell $X worth of kits to afford his choppa ticket, and return to the evac zone. The evac choppa is waiting for him (or does continuous runs), so time is not an issue, and he can make long-winded sales pitches in safe houses.

    Distance traveled is an issue, because the horde is everywhere, and the best strategy is to minimize exposure and avoid detection.

    Quickness (acceleration, agility) is an issue because it helps you avoid detection, and when detected, you need to escape or hide quickly.

    Speed (top speed of your van) is an issue because you often need to make a beeline to the nearest safe house, or to the evac zone once you have met your quota.

    A surviving salesman is rated on his total distance traveled. A lower distance is indicative of a better salesman, and a better vehicle. Being able to zoom through the most dangerous areas will shorten your trip (path length) due to the increased demand and reduced supply of zombie survival kits in said areas.

    For the Millennium Falcon, the above applies with a few differences. Han Solo and Chewbaca are hiding from the Empire, not the zombie horde. Instead of selling survival kits, they're smuggling contraband. Instead of running to safe houses, they're running off to Mos Eisley or other fringe/pirate friendly planets the Empire doesn't have (complete) control over. The money gained isn't for a choppa ticket, but for the general livelihood of Han and Chewbaca.

  8. Re:You mean physical memory right :-) by weighn · · Score: 4, Funny

    That kind of attitude really pisses me off! ;-)

    yes, I detest being gently hated by patronising tech support heroes

    --
    Mongrel News all the news that fits and froths
  9. OT: by JazzLad · · Score: 4, Funny

    Perhaps set up a small ramdisk and pf to that?

    --
    "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear." - Every fascist, ever
  10. Re:You mean physical memory right :-) by Digital+Vomit · · Score: 4, Funny

    When I read this story my knee jerk reaction was "please be gentle." And thankfully the first +5 post on this story is informative and helpful and relatively kind.

    It's a Christmas miracle!

    --
    Modern copyright is theft of culture from everyone and it retards the progress of the useful arts and sciences.
  11. Re:Can't hibernate by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 4, Funny

    I have had good experience with Fast defrag freeware from http://www.amsn.ro/

    Ah, the joy of running closed-source system-level software of dubious necessity from a tiny shop in a Warsaw Pact country. Was it recommended by the new Nigerian friend that you're helping transfer money?

    --
    Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
  12. Re:You mean physical memory right :-) by mombodog · · Score: 5, Funny

    "two years in law enforcement.. You truly get to meet the scrapings of the gene pool that way "
    Hey, they gave you a gun and ammo to narrow the gene pool, what happened?