Is Your Virtual Memory Low in Windows?

PC memory plays an important role in your PCs performance, and as such you always need to buy plenty of RAM(PC memory). This memory helps your PC or PCs process information faster. Memory is a form of storage for commands to sit in until your CPU is ready for them, but what happens when you run out of PC memory?

When your PC runs out of RAM, or PC memory, it has to use virtual memory. This memory is located on the hard drive and it's accessed considerably slower then physical memory or RAM. You may think that if your running out of memory you need to buy more memory,but this isn't really the case. If your PC is popping up with memory errors. Then you need to increase your virtual memory, buying more memory wouldn't hurt either though.

To increase your virtual memory right click on "My Computer" either in your start bar or on the desktop. Then click on properties in the small display window. Then click on the "Advanced" tab once here you want to click on the "settings" button under performance. This will open another new window. Inside this window click on the "advanced" tab again. At the bottom of the window you should now see "Virtual memory" click on "change" to enter the memory options pane. In order to change the amount of Virtual memory allotted click on custom size then enter the desired size in mega bytes.

So how much virtual memory do you need? To answer to this, as much as it takes to stop "out of memory errors". Some web sites and professionals will say, you need four times as much virtual memory as you have memory. This seems a bit excessive to me. Modern PCs are capable of containing eight gigs of RAM and four times eight gigs is thirty two gigs of virtual memory. That's a lot of space, if you only have a hundred and twenty gig hard drive. Rule of thumb less RAM or memory needs more virtual memory it's a simple rule and following it will alleviate many problems. You can also choose to select a system managed size to allow your PC to expand the virtual memory storage on it's own.

Memory is one of the most important components to your PC, and buying more RAM is one of the fastest ways to upgrade your PC. Without enough memory your PC can't do even the simplest tasks, and playing intricate games becomes impossible. PCs rely very heavily on this resource and as such, care should be taken when purchasing your RAM.