Page/swap file question

[DannyNYC]

Okay, about to build my new system, but have a question about where to put my page/swap file. My hard drive configuration is as follows:

1- WD Raptor 36GB
1- Hitachi 160GB SATA

I will be using the rpator for OS/Program files and the Hitachi for music, video..etc...

I understand that having a swap file on a separate hard drive can speed things up, but will it make sense in my configuration? Seeing how the Raptor is the faster drive? Or should I just create a separate partition within the Raptor as a swap file?

Thanks for any input...

 

[Polishwonder74]

If I were you, and was so worried about swap files, I'd load her right up to the gills with RAM (like 1GB) and just leave the swap file to default. With enough RAM she'll hardly use the hard drive for swap that much anyway. She'll do fine with the swap on the Raptor, that'll be a pretty screamin' system.

 

[Zepper]

I like to move the swap file and all possible TEMP/TMP folders, print buffers, etc. off the C: partition to limit writes to it as much as possible - may require editing the registry for best results. And while I'm at it, why not move all that stuff to another physical drive if possible.
.bh.

:moon:

 

[SUOrangeman]

I would only separate the page file from the OS if you were running more than one instance of Windows (thus, allowing you to use the same page file for all OSes). If you do anything else, you're more than likely just asking for trouble.

I run 6 OSes (4 are Windows). I've set the pagefile to 100MB min and haven't modified a thing in 3+ years (512MB RAM).

The moment you put your page file on another drive is the same moment when that other drive dies and renders your main OS inoperable because it cannot find the page file. Sad, but true ... and happened to a machine here at work recently.

-SUO

 

[howdyduty]

Yep, put the swap on the Hitachi away from the OS drive.

 

[araczynski]

i agree with howdyduty, put the swap on whatever drive the OS isn't on. whatever speed/performance difference there is between the 2 hd's won't matter in terms of the swap file residing on it.

 

[splice]

I always have the swap on the same drive as the OS. I usually create a 2GB partition on the OS drive and use that as the swap space.

 

[araczynski]

my understanding of the theory is that a partition on the same drive (as the os) will at best alleviate fragmentation of the swap file, when the system has to shuffle stuff from swap to memory and memory to swap, the drive's reading arm can still be in only one place doing one thing, doesn't matter which partition its going to do it to, the point of putting it on another drive is that it allows for a second drive to handle the extra work without interrupting the first drive's work (as much).

as for how much of an impact this has one way or the other, i don't think i've seen a good read about that in a long time...

i put my swap on a 1.6gig partition on my second drive.

 

[Metron]

Here's my spin on this question.... REMOVE the paging/swap file totally, as long as you have sufficient RAM.

Why use paging/swap at all in this scenario?

What is the purpose of a paging/swap file? Paging/Swap schemes are a compromise which gives users access to more "memory" at a cost of slower access times. Electrons move faster than disk drive head ever will, and the relative prices of memory are much lower than when these schemes were concocted.

If you're on a tight budget and running a machine with 128 or even 256 Mb of RAM, I can understand the need. However, I would bet that the majority of enthusiasts here are running 1 Gb or more of memory and have no need for a paging/swap file.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Metron
Here's my spin on this question.... REMOVE the paging/swap file totally, as long as you have sufficient RAM.

Why use paging/swap at all in this scenario?

What is the purpose of a paging/swap file? Paging/Swap schemes are a compromise which gives users access to more "memory" at a cost of slower access times. Electrons move faster than disk drive head ever will, and the relative prices of memory are much lower than when these schemes were concocted.

If you're on a tight budget and running a machine with 128 or even 256 Mb of RAM, I can understand the need. However, I would bet that the majority of enthusiasts here are running 1 Gb or more of memory and have no need for a paging/swap file.

Just my 2 cents...

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