How to Increase a PC's Virtual Memory

Posted: December 01, 2014

Having enough memory on a computer is essential for efficient operation. Without enough memory, the computer may fail to run the programs it needs to work. All hope is not lost when the virtual memory of a computer becomes bogged down ~ there is a way to expand that memory.

If Windows virtual memory is too low, you can increase it, but there are trade-offs

Virtual memory, also known as the swap file, uses part of your hard drive to effectively expand your RAM, allowing you to run more programs than it could otherwise handle. But a hard drive is much slower than RAM, so it can really hurt performance. (I discuss SSDs below.) Some basics: Your PC has storage—a hard drive or SSD—and memory in the form of RAM chips. RAM is faster than storage, and you have much less of it. It’s also more volatile: Shut off the power, and everything in RAM disappears. You can think of RAM as the immediate workspace, and storage as the file cabinet. When you save a file, you’re copying it from RAM to storage. When there’s no room in RAM for that program or file you’re trying to load, virtual memory kicks in. Some of the code and data in RAM goes to the swap file, making room to load something else. Read the entire article If Windows Virtual Memory is Too Low, You Can Increase it, But There Are Trade-Offs on PC World.