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Understanding Virtual RAM
Before you set up virtual RAM for your laptop to avoid RAM shortages, let's first understand what virtual RAM is.
Virtual RAM (Virtual Memory), also known as simulated RAM, mimics physical RAM. Windows allocates a portion of your computer's hard drive as virtual RAM, providing additional memory for software to operate more stably. Proper virtual RAM setup will make your computer run more smoothly and meet the high RAM requirements of games and demanding software.
Virtual RAM Setup Tips for Laptops
Step 1: Right-click on the My Computer icon => select Properties
Step 2: After choosing Properties, the System dialog box will appear => select Advanced system settings
Step 3: In the System Properties dialog box, select the Advanced tab and then click Settings in the Performance section.
Step 4: The Performance Options dialog box appears; continue by selecting the Advanced tab and clicking the Change button.
Step 5: After selecting, the Virtual Memory dialog box will appear. In this dialog box, uncheck the Automatically Manage paging file size for all drives. Now the previously blurred section below will light up. Check the Custom size box.
Here you can enter the virtual RAM capacity as you wish. In the Custom size section, there are two boxes: Initial size (MB) and Maximum size (MB), representing the minimum and maximum capacity, respectively. According to the formula, the value entered in the Initial size box should be equal to the physical RAM amount multiplied by 1.5; as for the Maximum size box, it should be equal to the physical RAM amount multiplied by 3.
For example, let's say your physical RAM is 2GB = 2048MB. You can enter the minimum RAM amount into the Initial Size box, which is 2048 x 1.5 = 3072. As for the Maximum Size box, it should be 2048 x 3 = 6144.
However, I suggest choosing the recommended capacity below the Total paging file size for all drives for the best selection. For the Initial Size (MB) row, follow the suggested number from Minimum allowed. For the Maximum Size (MB) row, use the recommended number. If you prefer to enter your own values, make sure they are smaller than your calculations to ensure the safety of the system and your hard drive.
Step 6: After saving the settings, the System Properties will notify that to increase the virtual memory, you need to restart the computer to apply the changes.
And finally, after restarting the laptop, we can experience the newly set virtual RAM.
So, through this tutorial, you have a better understanding of what laptop virtual RAM is and how to set virtual RAM to prevent your computer from running out of RAM when playing games or using high RAM-demanding software. However, too much of anything is not good, and setting virtual RAM is no exception. Since it essentially uses the hard drive's memory as RAM, choose the appropriate time to use virtual RAM to ensure the laptop's performance.
