TaskManager and WinXP Performance tab

[Guest Tom]

WinXP Pro SP3

Office 2003 SP3

 

I have an older system that I'm using for a variety of situations. I need

to find out if my 1GB memory is too low as well as any other input you'd deem

appropriate.

Totals: 16550

Threads: 759

Processes: 65

**********

Physical Memory

Total 1047532

Available: 287448

System Cache: 371752

************

Commit Charge

Total 605192

Limit 2518580

Peak 728084

************

Kernal Memory

Total 75068

Paged 51080

Non-paged 23984

*************

CPU Usage 7% at this time

PF Usage 590MB at this time

Ideally, I'd like to know how to read these numbers and also determine if

too much paging is being performed. If I could determine what mix of apps

causes the paging that'd been great! Can I get an automated notice when

memory runs low or paging gets too high (text message)?

TIA!

[Guest Ken Blake, MVP]

Re: TaskManager and WinXP Performance tab

 

On Sat, 18 Oct 2008 08:09:00 -0700, Tom

<Tom@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> WinXP Pro SP3

> Office 2003 SP3

>

> I have an older system that I'm using for a variety of situations. I need

> to find out if my 1GB memory is too low as well as any other input you'd deem

> appropriate.

 

 

For most people running XP, 1GB is *more* than you need.

 

How much RAM you need for good performance is *not* a

one-size-fits-all situation. You get good performance if the amount of

RAM you have keeps you from using the page file, and that depends on

what apps you run. Most people running a typical range of business

applications find that somewhere around 512MB, or even a little under,

works well. Almost anyone will see poor performance with less than

256MB. Some people, particularly those doing things like editing large

photographic images, can see a performance boost by adding even more

than 512MB--sometimes much more.

 

If you are currently using the page file significantly, more memory

will decrease or eliminate that usage, and improve your performance.

If you are not using the page file significantly, more memory will do

nothing for you. Go to

http://billsway.com/notes%5Fpublic/winxp%5Ftweaks/ and download

WinXP-2K_Pagefile.zip and monitor your pagefile usage. That should

give you a good idea of whether more memory can help, and if so, how

much more.

 

--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[Guest Tom]

Re: TaskManager and WinXP Performance tab

 

Thanks, Ken.

Does this utility still work with XP Pro SP3? The utility is dated circa

2002 - 6 years ago!

What about just understanding the aspects of the task manager in "today's

world"?

Did you see anything unique in the numbers/information that was posted?

TIA, again!

Tom

 

"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:

> On Sat, 18 Oct 2008 08:09:00 -0700, Tom

> <Tom@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>

> > WinXP Pro SP3

> > Office 2003 SP3

> >

> > I have an older system that I'm using for a variety of situations. I need

> > to find out if my 1GB memory is too low as well as any other input you'd deem

> > appropriate.

>

>

> For most people running XP, 1GB is *more* than you need.

>

> How much RAM you need for good performance is *not* a

> one-size-fits-all situation. You get good performance if the amount of

> RAM you have keeps you from using the page file, and that depends on

> what apps you run. Most people running a typical range of business

> applications find that somewhere around 512MB, or even a little under,

> works well. Almost anyone will see poor performance with less than

> 256MB. Some people, particularly those doing things like editing large

> photographic images, can see a performance boost by adding even more

> than 512MB--sometimes much more.

>

> If you are currently using the page file significantly, more memory

> will decrease or eliminate that usage, and improve your performance.

> If you are not using the page file significantly, more memory will do

> nothing for you. Go to

> http://billsway.com/notes%5Fpublic/winxp%5Ftweaks/ and download

> WinXP-2K_Pagefile.zip and monitor your pagefile usage. That should

> give you a good idea of whether more memory can help, and if so, how

> much more.

>

> --

> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

> Please Reply to the Newsgroup

>

[Guest Ken Blake, MVP]

Re: TaskManager and WinXP Performance tab

 

On Sat, 18 Oct 2008 10:24:00 -0700, Tom

<Tom@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> Thanks, Ken.

 

 

You're welcome. Glad to help.

 

 

> Does this utility still work with XP Pro SP3? The utility is dated circa

> 2002 - 6 years ago!

 

As far as I know, it does, although I personally haven't run it

recently. Try it and let us know.

 

> What about just understanding the aspects of the task manager in "today's

> world"?

> Did you see anything unique in the numbers/information that was posted?

 

 

No, I didn't.

 

 

> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:

>

> > On Sat, 18 Oct 2008 08:09:00 -0700, Tom

> > <Tom@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> >

> > > WinXP Pro SP3

> > > Office 2003 SP3

> > >

> > > I have an older system that I'm using for a variety of situations. I need

> > > to find out if my 1GB memory is too low as well as any other input you'd deem

> > > appropriate.

> >

> >

> > For most people running XP, 1GB is *more* than you need.

> >

> > How much RAM you need for good performance is *not* a

> > one-size-fits-all situation. You get good performance if the amount of

> > RAM you have keeps you from using the page file, and that depends on

> > what apps you run. Most people running a typical range of business

> > applications find that somewhere around 512MB, or even a little under,

> > works well. Almost anyone will see poor performance with less than

> > 256MB. Some people, particularly those doing things like editing large

> > photographic images, can see a performance boost by adding even more

> > than 512MB--sometimes much more.

> >

> > If you are currently using the page file significantly, more memory

> > will decrease or eliminate that usage, and improve your performance.

> > If you are not using the page file significantly, more memory will do

> > nothing for you. Go to

> > http://billsway.com/notes%5Fpublic/winxp%5Ftweaks/ and download

> > WinXP-2K_Pagefile.zip and monitor your pagefile usage. That should

> > give you a good idea of whether more memory can help, and if so, how

> > much more.

> >

> > --

> > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

> > Please Reply to the Newsgroup

> >

 

--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

Please Reply to the Newsgroup