Q: If I upgrade to 256MB of RAM and disable virtual memory, will I see a big performance boost (because programs will be accessing real memory instead of the slower virtual memory)?
-- Ty from Anaheim, California

A: Virtual memory lets your OS make additional system memory out of vacant hard drive space. This lets your system run multiple programs. If Windows could run only one program with the physical memory available, you would have to constantly close programs to open up new ones.

Virtual memory can also drastically reduce your system's speed. If your system relies too much on virtual memory, the operating system's performance will drop lower than Tom Snyder's Nielsen ratings. You need the right balance between RAM and virtual memory.

You can have too much memory. Pentium boards based on Intel's 430xx design cannot cache more than 64MB. Any accessed memory more than 64MB is non-cachable, and performance will drop. How much it drops depends on the speed and quality of the memory.

Of course, having a lot of RAM (and 256MB is definitely a lot) doesn't hurt if you have a newer chipset that can cache all available RAM.

Virtual Memory is an integral part of Windows' operation.

If your accessible RAM can handle all the programs you're using, your system will indeed rely less on virtual memory, so performance will improve because your system won't access the hard drive as often.

But this does not mean you should pack your machine with RAM and turn off virtual memory. Virtual memory is an integral part of Windows' operation. Even though you might use it less, Windows still needs it to some extent.

You'll reach a point where it's no longer cost-effective to add RAM. Tests by PC Computing have shown that as RAM size goes up, its benefits decrease. Between 64MB and 128MB is about all the RAM that can make a difference in Windows 95 and 98. The only real benefit from having more than 128MB of RAM is in graphics processing or high-end multimedia production.
Roger Chang