What would ya'll recomend... Windows managed swapfile? Min/Max size the same? Big swapfile? Little swapfile? As a gamer I'm used to having mine with both min/max size at about 2gb on a different hd from os... Any tips, ideas, theories to share?? All info will be hugely appreciated!!! Gerard

p.s. posted similar thread in the Poser forum and recieved one helpful reply (recomending pagedefrag) and another stating that Windows programmers know infinitely more about swapfiles than all of Renderosity users so to stick with those settings... Sadly I wasn't satisfied with THAT answer so am seeking fellow Carrara users opinions!!! Hmmmmm wonder why there's so many windows updates (BUG FIXES) and Service Packs Galore during the lifespan of the os??????!!!!!!!

Message edited on: 03/11/2006 15:36

dont think poser uses swap file >.

Really? Not for loading textures and geometries into ram and such while rendering? That's whack dood!! If that's the case then that's pretty cool... I suppose I should just add more ram then all should be good! (only have 1.5gb) Thanks! Any other thoughts?

G

Message edited on: 03/11/2006 21:41

Sure, Poser doesn't use the swap file on its own, but of course Windows will swap out the memory Poser allocates to the swap drive if there's not enough RAM...

Yeah, your not gonna get around your OS settings.I honestly don't think it matters much, as long as you have enough room and it is defragmented regularly, which is true of your HD. Looking at the task manager usage will tell you how much swapping you are doing, but Only CPU and RAM will really = speed.In that order. It depends on what size and complexity you are rendering. SWAP disk is never going to amt to any real performance, unless you really don't have enough space.

Thank you all for your input and suggestions!! I've seemed to solve the dilema I've been having lately with Poser 6 & Carrara that led me to question the issue of swapfiles... Monday, I reformatted my C: drive which XP Pro is on... at the same time I updated my mainboards bios (I'm not a noob {do pc repair and upgrades on the side} and have done this a million times) HOWEVER I forgot to change any settings in the bios that I always do to enable optimal performance... I even forgot to change the fsb from the default and everything... my processor wasn't even running at it's normal clock speed!! It's been a really busy week at work, my daughter is on spring break and I guess I'm getting a case of in your 30's alzheimer!!! LOL!! Thank you all guys for your replies!!! Gerard!

I've always gone with the fixed swap size of at least 120% of system ram on the system drive. If you can spread also add fixed sized page files on other disks that should be better. Also I can recommend using a system file defragmentor such as the free one at sysinternals.com. With regards the Carrara swap settings, simply locate on your fastest disk to help speed up rendering.