What Is Total Virtual Memory?
The term "total virtual memory" is the sum of all the virtual memory allocated to each partition of a hard disk. Total virtual memory, also known simply as "virtual memory," is totally different from physical memory or random access memory (RAM) installed on a computer. Virtual memory is the free space on a hard drive that an operating uses as an additional source of memory when the amount of physical memory available is insufficient to run an application. However, virtual memory is too slow to be function as a direct substitute for physical memory, so it should only be used when necessary.
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How It Works
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An operating system uses the space on a hard disk as virtual memory when it runs out of RAM. This increases the chances of running multiple applications quite comfortably without installing additional memory cards on a computer. When an operating system uses virtual memory, it saves it in a type of file known as “Pagefile” in the root of a hard drive’s partition. Virtual memory can be increased by thrice the amount of physical memory available, though Microsoft recommends 1.5 times as the ideal amount of virtual memory to be allocated to an operating system.
Applications
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Most applications, such as games, use up a lot of RAM to function efficiently. Sometimes the amount of memory required by an application can exceed the amount of RAM that is available on a computer. If the amount of virtual memory available is also insufficient, the application will crash. Therefore, a sufficient amount of hard disk space should be allocated to the operating system as virtual memory to avoid such crashes from happening.
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Performance
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Even though virtual memory provides the operating with additional memory, it is significantly slower than physical memory. The reason behind this is that the speed of a hard disk is slower when compared to the speed of a RAM, so it takes long delays when creating and reading pagefiles on the hard disk. This tends to cause applications to get slower or become totally unresponsive at times.
Adjusting Virtual Memory
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Virtual memory can be adjusted manually. Windows 2000 and Windows XP users can right-click “My Computer,” select “Properties,” and go to Advanced > Performance > Settings > Advanced, and Change. Windows Vista and Windows 7 users can go to Control Panel > System and Security > System > Advanced System Settings > Advanced > Performance > Settings > Advanced, and Change. The “Virtual Memory” dialog box allows users to change the virtual memory size by typing the required amounts into the “Initial size” and “Maximum size” boxes.
Expert Insight
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Virtual memory is the ideal solution if your computer doesn’t have too much RAM installed. However, virtual memory is significantly slower for users wanting a smoother experience with applications such as video games. Therefore, the only solution is to install more RAM, which can prove to be quite costly.
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