Virtual Memory Windows 10 8GB RAM

Some computers that operate on Windows 10 seem to always run out of memory while they’re being used on some demanding stuff like AutoCAD, games and editing.

Computers have Virtual memory which Windows can use when it runs out of memory to use. This memory dives into is normally used to store its least used memory pages which are saved as pagefile.sys.

The minimum and maximum size of the Pagefile can be up to 1.5 times and 4 times the physical memory that your computer has respectively. For example, if your computer has 1 GB of RAM, the minimum Pagefile size can be 1.5 GB, and the maximum size of the file can be 4 GB.

Techniques to solve Low Meamory Error

Manual Method

To calculate the “general rule” recommended size of virtual memory in Windows 10 per the 8 GB your system has, here’s the equation 1024 x 8 x 1.5 = 12288 MB. So it sounds as if the 12 GB configured in your system currently is correct so when or if Windows needs to utilize the virtual memory, the 12 GB should suffice.

It’s generally accepted that the maximum size of the paging file must be x1.5 the amount of RAM installed. Thus for a PC running with 4GB of RAM, the maximum size of the swap file will be 1024 x 4 x 1.5 Mb.

Fine-Tuned Method (Critical Systems)

There are indeed different formulas for Windows 10 systems and they are well adjusted to find the most optimal configuration per system.

So the settings for each case depends on its unique factors that pertain to the computer the settings are being applied to.
Options abound to track system performance metrics to help benchmark and readjust this configuration if and when needed.

One may consider all these as mere trivialities, but trust me, it’ll add some complexity and time to get the most optimal configuration if this setting must be beneficial.

In almost all cases, using 1.5 times virtual memory for the amount of total RAM on Windows 10 systems will suffice and keep it simple or at least keep it at a good starting point. That is if simply allowing Windows 10 to manage it automatically will not work for you.

Always budget for max workloads in the future: If you expect to use up your RAM, then at the very least you should plan enough virtual memory to cover any eventuality. I.e. if you have 32GB of RAM but often work with 50GB data sets, then you’ll need a page file somewhere in the range of 32GB to cover what’s left and accommodate anything else that might be allocating memory.

Planning for crash dumps: For complete memory dumps, you need a page file the size of your RAM with an additional 1MB. Though complete memory dumps pose no issues since we have kernel dumps, which will trim the file down by omitting irrelevant information. Kernel dumps are less demanding, but their size can vary considerably. According to Microsoft, kernel dumps will typically be around 1/3 the size of the RAM on your system.

Windows will use the page file even when RAM is available: This is important to keep in mind, especially if you’re seeing unexpected slowdown with large page files.

Windows will monitor memory usage and might page away processes with less activity to accommodate more active processes and also any processes that you may launch in the future. Take Windows Update vs your desktop, for example.

The vast majority of the time Update is dormant while your desktop isn’t, so it will page Update in favor of caching the desktop inactive memory, i.e. giving RAM to the process that more action needs it.

Virtual memory is basically space on your hard drive that is allocated by your operating system to be used as a supplemental reserve of memory when your application’s RAM limit has been maxed out by that application.

In this case, Windows will typically move some of the information stored in RAM over to your hard disk, where there is plenty of free space for it to use.

Now, what causes Windows 10 Virtual Memory Too Low error?

Assuming your system has a physical memory capacity of 8GB RAM. Now, the size of the virtual memory set by Windows will be equal to 2GB or a 32-bit system and about 4GB on a 64-bit system because at first, Windows creates the size of pagefile.sys file according to the amount of RAM that your PC has.

When you encounter the Windows 10 Virtual Memory too low error, it means that the program — whether AutoCAD, games or editing program you are trying to run has placed too many demands on the system that even the virtual memory is not able to handle.

Windows 10 automatically manages the pagefile for your computer’s configuration and the amount of RAM present in it. Most people just allow windows to manage it since it’s capable.

Conclusion

There are many times one can encounter Virtual memory-related problems if your windows 10 tries and fails to access those Memory pages. Virtual memory helps the smooth running of programs that the system would otherwise be unable to run.

This article will show you how to solve the Windows 10 Virtual Memory Too Low error problems by making little changes in the computer settings.

This article has been able to highlight the usefulness of virtual memory to your computer. If a PC virtual memory setting is too low and all virtual memory is in use, you may see a warning from Windows. In such cases, it may be helpful to increase the size of virtual memory on your hard disk.

There is no ideal size for a pagefile as no strict rules are governing that. Each computer is different as factors ranging from the kind of work your PC is exposed to the PC itself comes into consideration. Everything depends on its unique circumstances.