Windows paging file size

[Ray]

Since my recent PC upgrade my machine now has 4Gb of ram installed of which Windows is seeing 3.25GB, my paging file is set to run between 2046Mb and 4092Mb.

The question is can I safely reduce the size of the paging file and to what level, or even run without it, with this amount of installed memory? 

[Rik]

Don't try running it without, Ray as that affects the memory management system Windows uses. Unless you're short of disk space, I'd suggest a swap file size of 2048.

[somanyholes]

hey

Are you using xp or vista?
Do you use your box for ram intensive applicaitons? such as photoshop/cad?

[Ray]

Don't try running it without, Ray as that affects the memory management system Windows uses. Unless you're short of disk space, I'd suggest a swap file size of 2048.

Thanks, Rik, you've confirmed what I suspected, looks like I've got it set about right now, so I'll leave well alone.  

[Ray]

hey

Are you using xp or vista?
Do you use your box for ram intensive applicaitons? such as photoshop/cad?

I'm running XP Pro, So, yes I use Photoshop Elements, also Premier Elements for Video editing, quite frequently.

[somanyholes]

if video editing, would def leave alone then, otherwise would have said you have enough ram to ditch it if you wanted, and get a faster system just my thoughts anyway.

[Sebby]

I'm running XP Pro, So, yes I use Photoshop Elements, also Premier Elements for Video editing, quite frequently.

I wouldn't reduce it, giving the kind of tasks you're performing. What I would say is to make the minimum and maximum size the same; that way, the pagefile doesn't get so fragmented and should improve performance.