If you’ve been watching the sharp increase in RAM prices with worry, you’re not alone. A perfect storm has been brewing, which has led to memory, which used to be one of the more affordable upgrades you could make to your PC, becoming incredibly expensive. We’ve already seen RAM kits going for the kind of prices you’d usually expect from a high-end graphics card – and this means what was once a reasonably cheap way to upgrade your PC is becoming prohibitively expensive.
However, what if I said there is a way to give your PC a memory boost for free, which could at the very least delay the need to buy more RAM until prices get more sensible?
It might sound too good to be true, or even a scam (no, you can’t download more RAM), but it uses a feature that’s been part of Windows for decades: virtual memory.
For those of us who have been using PCs for decades, virtual memory was once quite a handy little ‘hack’ for getting a performance boost. However, as RAM became faster and more affordable, it feels a bit like it’s been forgotten about – but with the increase in RAM prices (and the increase in capacity and speed of Solid State Drives [SSDs]), this old school feature could see a resurgence.
Also, while I call this a ‘hack’, it’s a relatively easy feature to use, and it’s an official, built-in part of Windows 11, so you don’t need to download any additional software. So, read on to find out how to get a free speed boost with virtual memory.
Tools and requirements
- Windows 11
- An SSD with spare storage space
Quick steps
- Open Windows 11’s Settings app and go to the System section
- Open up Advanced settings
- Set the virtual memory amount
- Restart your PC
Step by step guide
1. Open up Settings in Windows 11
First, open up the Settings app in Windows 11 by clicking on the Start menu and selecting Settings. On the left-hand side of the screen, select System, then scroll to the bottom and select About. This opens a handy page that gives you lots of information about your PC, including the amount of RAM you have, as well as how much storage space is on your SSD (this info can come in handy later).
2. Open up Advanced system settings
Scroll down the About page until you see a section titled Related link. This can be easy to miss, but it should be just after the Device specifications section. There, you should see a link for Advanced system settings. Click on it to open up the next window. The new window should open with the Advanced tab open. Under Performance, click Settings. This opens another window, so click the Advanced tab, and you’ll see a section titled Virtual memory.
3. Select your storage drive
In the Virtual memory section, click the Change button. In the new window (yes, another one, you can see why Microsoft calls the operating system ‘Windows’) that appears, untick the box that says Automatically manage paging file size for all drives. You’ll now be able to select the drive you want to use with virtual memory. If you have multiple drives, it’s worth picking the fastest one with the most storage space to spare.
4. Set the virtual memory size
Under where your drives are shown, select Custom size. You can then set the amount of virtual memory to use. This is measured in megabytes (MB), while memory, such as RAM, is usually measured in gigabytes (GB) these days, so you’ll need to bear that in mind. Roughly, 1,000MB = 1GB (it’s not quite that precise, but it’ll do for now), so if you wanted 8GB of virtual memory, you’d need to set it as 8000. Put your ideal number in the Initial size (MB) text box, then enter a higher number in the Maximum size (MB) box. This is important as it’ll make sure Windows 11 doesn’t use too much of your storage space for virtual memory. For both instances, make sure the size you enter doesn’t exceed the amount of space on the selected drive.
5. Final steps
Once you’ve set the initial and maximum size of the virtual memory on the drive you want to use, click the Set button. You’ll then need to click the OK buttons twice to close the other windows, then restart your device. If there are any problems, go back through these steps to tweak the virtual memory amount, or select System managed size to allow Windows 11 to handle it.
How to use virtual memory in Windows 11: FAQ
How much virtual memory should I set for Windows 11?
Choosing the amount of virtual memory for Windows 11 to use will depend on how much storage space you have, as well as your current amount of installed RAM. The general consensus is that you should set it between 1.5 and 3 times the amount of your RAM. So, if you have 8GB of RAM, setting the virtual memory to between 12GB – 24GB is recommended.
Is setting too much virtual memory bad?
It’s important to set a sensible maximum limit for virtual memory. While it’s unlikely to cause your PC any harm, using too much virtual memory will quickly use up the spare space on your SSD, which means you may not be able to install games or store large files anymore. Some SSDs also drop in performance when they are full. On the other hand, not setting enough virtual memory can cause performance problems and crashes.
What are the downsides to using virtual memory?
Using virtual memory can give your system a performance boost for free, but it does come with some disadvantages. Virtual memory is slower than traditional RAM, so upgrading your physical memory will always provide better performance boosts. You also want to make sure the ratio of virtual memory to physical memory is set right – if Windows 11 needs to switch often between the two, it can have a negative impact. Using virtual memory also means some of your storage space is used, reducing the amount of your SSD you can use.
How to use virtual memory in Windows 11: Final thoughts
Using virtual memory in Windows 11 can give your PC a legitimate performance boost without having to spend any money. This makes it a fantastic feature for anyone who has a PC that’s struggling with a limited amount of RAM, as you can boost your PC’s memory capacity for free while the cost of RAM increases.
However, you should bear in mind the pros and cons of using virtual memory, and what it can and can’t do. If your PC is seriously struggling, I still recommend upgrading the physical memory of your machine (check out our best RAM guide for advice) as soon as you can afford to. Meanwhile, using virtual memory can give you a useful boost until RAM prices come down again.
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