Max performace settings (swap/cache) with 256/512 mb ram?
 

What are the optimal swap and cache settings given a pc with either
256 or 215 mb ram with a Celeron 2.6 Ghz CPU?

What about other stuff like himem.sys, emm386 (and it's various
settings), smartdrv, buffers=, files=, etc?

98 Guy wrote:

What are the optimal swap and cache settings given a pc with either
256 or 215 mb ram with a Celeron 2.6 Ghz CPU?

What about other stuff like himem.sys, emm386 (and it's various
settings), smartdrv, buffers=, files=, etc?

Correction: 256 or 512 mb ram.

You do not need to adjust any settings with that configuration. For the swap
file, it is always best to let Windows manage it. You might move it to
another disk, but there is no need to set a maximum or minimum. The cache
setting only applies above 512Mb RAM. The other settings are not required
for Windows, but some DOS programs might require a custom DOS environment
that includes them.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"98 Guy" wrote in message ...

What are the optimal swap and cache settings given a pc with either
256 or 215 mb ram with a Celeron 2.6 Ghz CPU?

What about other stuff like himem.sys, emm386 (and it's various
settings), smartdrv, buffers=, files=, etc?

Check out :- http://www.outertech.com/index.php?_charisma_page=index

"Jeff Richards" wrote in message ...
You do not need to adjust any settings with that configuration. For the swap
file, it is always best to let Windows manage it. You might move it to
another disk, but there is no need to set a maximum or minimum. The cache
setting only applies above 512Mb RAM. The other settings are not required
for Windows, but some DOS programs might require a custom DOS environment
that includes them.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"98 Guy" wrote in message ...

What are the optimal swap and cache settings given a pc with either
256 or 215 mb ram with a Celeron 2.6 Ghz CPU?

What about other stuff like himem.sys, emm386 (and it's various
settings), smartdrv, buffers=, files=, etc?

98 Guy wrote in :


What are the optimal swap and cache settings given a pc with either
256 or 215 mb ram with a Celeron 2.6 Ghz CPU?

What about other stuff like himem.sys, emm386 (and it's various
settings), smartdrv, buffers=, files=, etc?

Try Cacheman:
http://www.outertech.com/index.php?_...e=product&id=2

The default Windows settings, unless you experience problems.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"98 Guy" wrote in message ...
98 Guy wrote:

What are the optimal swap and cache settings given a pc with either
256 or 215 mb ram with a Celeron 2.6 Ghz CPU?

What about other stuff like himem.sys, emm386 (and it's various
settings), smartdrv, buffers=, files=, etc?

Correction: 256 or 512 mb ram.

"Richard G. Harper" wrote:

The default Windows settings, unless you experience problems.

I find it hard to believe that the default settings are the most
efficient when you have 256 or 512 mb ram.

I say this because when 98 came out, the typical pc had 16mb of ram
and 32 or 64 mb of ram was seen as the outer limits.

So my perception is that given 10 to 20 times the amount of ram, there
must be optimizations that can be made over the default settings.

98 Guy wrote:

I say this because when 98 came out, the typical pc had 16mb of
ram and 32 or 64 mb of ram was seen as the outer limits.

So my perception is that given 10 to 20 times the amount of ram,
there must be optimizations that can be made over the default
settings.

For example, if I have 512 mb of ram, why do I want *ANY* swap file?

Don't I instead want to increase my vcache size?

"98 Guy" wrote in message ...

What are the optimal swap and cache settings given a pc with either
256 or 215 mb ram with a Celeron 2.6 Ghz CPU?

What about other stuff like himem.sys, emm386 (and it's various
settings), smartdrv, buffers=, files=, etc?

Optimal performance can usually be had by letting Windows handle it totally.
However, here are some easy 'tweaks' that may or may not help.
I use them.
1) In your System.ini file put in MaxFileCache= 70% of physical ram under the
[vcache] header.
ie: 256MB x 70% = 179200 so MaxFileCache=179200
ie: 512MB x 70% = 469763 so MaxFileCache=469763
2)In Virtual Memory (rt clk My Computer, Select Properties, Performance,Virtual
Memory) select 'Let me.....' and set a value in the Minimum box around 100-250MB
and close out and reboot. (Do not set a maximum value).
(Ignore the 'warning message' you get when you first try to OK your way out)
When you go back to check it, it should have reverted to 'Let Windows....' with
the minimum you picked being shown.
3) Put ConservativeSwapFileUsage=1 under the [386Enh] header in System.ini.
(May possibly help while gaming)
If you want to try it with and without, just put a ; in front of that line to
negate it .
Overall, I really haven't seen any 'real' change in performance by doing the
above.
4) There is a 'free' program called Cacheman, that lets you experiment with many
settings very easily.
It also lets you revert back to the Original settings, I believe.
I don't believe its claims about 'reclaiming' memory, etc, but it is fun to
experiment with it.
I would bet that when you are finished playing around, you will probably go back
to letting Windows handle it.

Overall, more ram may actually help the most.

PS: If you install more than 512MB of ram, you should use the MaxFileCache entry
with 70% of the total, but not to exceed a maximum number of aprox 512000.

The other items you mentioned are not even modified unless you run pure DOS
games or pure DOS programs.
Windows98 does not need an AutoExec.bat or Config.sys file to run Windows.
If you will be running DOS programs, then those settings 'might' have to be
'modified'.
Freeing up Conventional Memory may be required for certain DOS programs.

Search Google or other search engines for links about running DOS programs on
Win98.
Things like smartdrv can really speed up programs running from a pure DOS
prompt.
It does nothing in Windows.

More important to improving performance is to limit the number of programs that
start up with the initial boot.
If you don't need them, disable them from starting up everytime.

Because Windows is a VM system. Very dynamic.

"98 Guy" wrote in message ...
98 Guy wrote:

I say this because when 98 came out, the typical pc had 16mb of
ram and 32 or 64 mb of ram was seen as the outer limits.

So my perception is that given 10 to 20 times the amount of ram,
there must be optimizations that can be made over the default
settings.

For example, if I have 512 mb of ram, why do I want *ANY* swap file?

Don't I instead want to increase my vcache size?