Have you ever heard of virtual memory? If not, this is the article that can help you learn some useful knowledge about virtual memory. If you have heard that, you also can get helpful methods to deal with it.

So-called virtual memory means that the system applies certain hard disk space as memory when the physical one is insufficient. But since the transmitting speed of disk is much slower than that of memory, that is why you may feel it is not so fast to use virtual memory. You should set virtual memory according to the size of memory and usage of computer. If you set the value too large, it can produce many fragments and influence computer speed seriously; if too small, it is far from using and then system will remind you the virtual memory is too low.

In the default condition, you can let Windows allot virtual memory automatically. It can adjust memory dramatically based on actual usage.
Normally, the virtual memory is one and half to three times than that of physical memory. And the minimum value is one and half to two times and two to three times of maximized one.

And I advice you not to put the virtual memory that you set and the system set in the same partition. Memory is changing dramatically. So disk fragments are easily produced in the C disk and affect system running speed. Therefore, you had better set virtual memory in larger disk that you do not use frequently, such as D or E disks. By doing this, the hourly read-write operations to hard disk can hinder the system speed. As a result, it is a must for you to set such virtual memory. As for setting virtual memory, you can right-click “My Computer”—“Properties”—“Advanced”—“Performance” and click “Advanced”. In order to change virtual memory, you can change C disk to D disk and choose “Customize” to set perfect value for you computer.

What is more, I would like to share something more than virtual memory. There is a huge data swap file in the hard disk. Such file serves as temporary place for restoring virtual memory which is used frequently by running certain applications. In this way, the system has to read and write to the main storage. You see, this is the major cause that leads to slow computer speed. Generally, the system manages default virtual memory automatically. It can adjust it based on different applications. However, such changes may put extra pressure on the system and slow down running speed. In order to prevent such problem, you had better set maximized and minimum values of virtual memory manually. You should set virtual memory properly. If you do not set virtual memory in the Windows, it is easy for you to receive the notice of “Low Memory”. So, in this regard in order to keep away from those annoying notice, you should set proper value of the virtual memory. It is advisable for you to set it in the “Virtual Memory” tab of “System Properties” in the computer.

As I mentioned above, if you do not set virtual memory correctly, it is easier to create fragments which can hinder your computer speed obviously. That is why you need a disk defragmenting program to help you clear up those fragments.