The best way to improve system performance is to make better use of your RAM. Understanding the Windows Task Manager's Performance graphs and indicators will help you determine what you should do.The first rule of thumb is that you can never have enough RAM. More is better. So if you can afford to go out an buy a little bit more phisycal memory do so, otherwise follow my tips below.
PCWizKid's Video explains what to look for.
The Task Manager's Performance tab provides the best way to monitor memory use. To run the Task Manager, press Ctrl-Alt-Delete, then click on the Performance tab. With it, you can interpret the information as mentioned in the video above and make better use of your memory.
Video notes:
If the Total Commit Charge exceeds the Total Physical Memory, you probably need more RAM. When the Commit Charge is regularly higher than the Physical Memory available, it means that you have to regularly use a Page File, which may slow down your system down if its old. Buy more RAM in that case.
If the Peak Commit Charge is frequently at or near the Limit Commit Charge, you need to increase your memory. When this occurs, it means that your PC is frequently out of memory or close to being out of memory. Either add RAM or increase your Page File size.
Check the PF (PageFile Usage) make sure its not in the red, if so increase it as mentioned in my previous article here.
The Performance Tab has the following areas. (Important ones are highlighted)
| Category | Subcategory | What the data means |
|---|---|---|
| Totals | Handles | Lets a program use system resources such as registry keys, fonts, and bitmaps. Sometimes, poorly written programs don't close their handles down when the program closes, leading to memory loss. As a practical matter, you won't need to monitor this number. |
| Threads | A discrete portion of a program executing a single task independently of other parts of a program. Again, as a practical matter, you won't need to monitor this number. | |
| Processes | Reports on the number of programs and services (processes) currently running on your system. Monitor this to see whether you have too many programs and services running on your PC. To shut down unnecessary services, see [Hack #4]. | |
| Commit Charge (K) | Total | The total amount of physical memory (RAM) and virtual memory (page file) currently in use, in kilobytes. The more programs, files, and data you have open, the greater your commit charge will be. The greater the commit charge, the more demands will be put on your system. To reduce the commit charge, close programs and files, especially large files. |
| Limit | Reports on the total amount of physical and virtual memory that is currently available for your PC, measured in kilobytes. To increase the limit, you can increase the Page File size (see article 4.9 "Optimize Your Swap File Size") or add RAM to your system. | |
| Peak | Reports on the highest total amount of memory, measured in kilobytes, that has been in use during your current session. Check this value each session to see whether the Peak value is frequently at or near the Limit value. If it is, you need to increase your memory, by either adding RAM or increasing your Page File size. | |
| Physical Memory (K) | Total | Displays the total amount of RAM in your PC, in kilobytes. This number can be confusing; to find out the amount of RAM in megabytes, divide it by 1,024. |
| Available | Reports on the total amount of RAM, in kilobytes, currently available. When available RAM is used up, your system begins to use its Page File. | |
| System Cache | Reports on the total amount of RAM, in kilobytes, that is being used for the most recently accessed data and programs. Programs and data can be in the system cache even after they have been closed down; the PC looks to the system cache first when opening a program or file, since it can be opened from the cache faster than from the hard disk. | |
| Kernel Memory (K) | Total | The total amount of memory, in kilobytes, in use by the primary components of the XP kernel. The kernel is the core programs and files that make up the operating system. |
| Paged | The total amount of memory in a Page File, in kilobytes, used by the primary components of XP. | |
| Nonpaged | The total amount of memory of RAM, in kilobytes, used by the primary components of XP. |
Other Tips Users have watched
- Free up 10 Gigs of disk space easily in Windows
- Windows Performance Increase - Virtual Memory
- Make Windows XP Boot Faster - Top Tweaks Oldies but goodies
- Top 10 Free Windows Downloads to Tweak Performance
- Windows Tweak - Increase Video Card Performance
- Windows Hacks - Useful Shortcuts Save Time
- Windows XP TWEAK - Faster Boot-UP
- Unlock hidden Windows XP Options
- Windows XP PowerToys - TweakUI v2.10
- Create Shorcuts of Hidden Commands in Windows XP
- Customize Windows XP to look like Vista
- New Microsoft Free Desktop Themes for Windows XP
- Free Up windows resources which are slowing you down