Virtual/Physical Memory

Oceans 80 · 02-02-2010, 07:33 PM

So, I was fucking around with my desktop and widgets and what not and got the system monitor widget and seen that my physical and virtual memory are pretty high...I thought virtual memory was RAM and it changes once in awhile but the physical memory doesn't seem to change (i know they're on refresh timers). How would one clear up physical memory? I feel like this is a total n00b question and I'm going to look like an r-tard and do a good ol' forehead smack when I get the answer...thanks though

Ego Tripping · 02-02-2010, 08:22 PM

It's actually the opposite...Virtual is virtual...Physical is physical (the actual RAM installed). I'm clueless as to why you would think otherwise, it's pretty cut and dry.

Virtual memory is just hard drive cache that is reserved for when the physical amount of memory is exhausted.

There is no 'clearing up' of Physical memory except rebooting your PC (since RAM doesn't hold any data permanently, but merely is a 'scratch pad' of information for the OS).

To help increase your Virtual Memory, you can change that amount through the Control Panel through:

System-->Advanced System Settings-->Advanced Tab-->Settings-->Advanced-->Virtual Memory-->Change

Not reccomended though, and no offense, but especially for you, since you really need to brush up more on how all this works to really justify changing the settings. 95% of all people never really need to unless they are running some intense apps like 3D Studio Max or are crazy ass gamers.

Edit - And your monitor there seems to be reporting how much is left, not what is there total. Every system process takes up RAM, no way around that. Once again, brush up on what RAM really is and what role is plays within the OS. Otherwise, those kinds of numbers will just confuse you till the days end.

Being · 02-03-2010, 08:53 AM

that pretty much covers itall

Oceans 80 · 02-04-2010, 04:54 AM

i have all the settings to set to show how much is used not what is free...

but yeah i got ya...told you i was askin a stupid question...

i am pretty tech savvy i just was unsure and wasn't really sure where/didn't feel like googling...

02-02-2010, 07:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
Oceans 80 _`! TwiSTed !'_ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,580 Thanks: 20 Thanked 62 Times in 37 Posts	Virtual/Physical Memory So, I was fucking around with my desktop and widgets and what not and got the system monitor widget and seen that my physical and virtual memory are pretty high...I thought virtual memory was RAM and it changes once in awhile but the physical memory doesn't seem to change (i know they're on refresh timers). How would one clear up physical memory? I feel like this is a total n00b question and I'm going to look like an r-tard and do a good ol' forehead smack when I get the answer...thanks though __________________ Drugs Taught a Whole Generation of American Kids the Metric System... ### <3YaHooka

02-02-2010, 08:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ego Tripping Are you in? Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 13,468 Thanks: 229 Thanked 665 Times in 443 Posts	It's actually the opposite...Virtual is virtual...Physical is physical (the actual RAM installed). I'm clueless as to why you would think otherwise, it's pretty cut and dry. Virtual memory is just hard drive cache that is reserved for when the physical amount of memory is exhausted. There is no 'clearing up' of Physical memory except rebooting your PC (since RAM doesn't hold any data permanently, but merely is a 'scratch pad' of information for the OS). To help increase your Virtual Memory, you can change that amount through the Control Panel through: System-->Advanced System Settings-->Advanced Tab-->Settings-->Advanced-->Virtual Memory-->Change Not reccomended though, and no offense, but especially for you, since you really need to brush up more on how all this works to really justify changing the settings. 95% of all people never really need to unless they are running some intense apps like 3D Studio Max or are crazy ass gamers. Edit - And your monitor there seems to be reporting how much is left, not what is there total. Every system process takes up RAM, no way around that. Once again, brush up on what RAM really is and what role is plays within the OS. Otherwise, those kinds of numbers will just confuse you till the days end. __________________ God appears, and God is light, To those poor souls who dwell in night; But does a human form display To those who dwell in realms of day. Last edited by Ego Tripping; 02-02-2010 at 08:26 PM.

02-04-2010, 04:54 AM	#4 (permalink)
Oceans 80 _`! TwiSTed !'_ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,580 Thanks: 20 Thanked 62 Times in 37 Posts	i have all the settings to set to show how much is used not what is free... but yeah i got ya...told you i was askin a stupid question... i am pretty tech savvy i just was unsure and wasn't really sure where/didn't feel like googling... __________________ Drugs Taught a Whole Generation of American Kids the Metric System... ### <3YaHooka

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