Virtual memory is an area on a computer’s hard drive that allows programs to run without loading them into physical memory. When there isn’t enough RAM, the system uses virtual memory. It copies information from physical memory to the hard drive, freeing up space for new programs. Virtual memory is cheaper than buying additional RAM but slower. The key to optimal performance is having enough RAM.
A virtual memory system denotes an area located on a computer’s hard drive that allows programs to run without needing to load them into physical memory. Computers basically have two types of memory systems: random access memory (RAM) and virtual memory (VM). When there isn’t an adequate amount of physical memory, or RAM, available to run all the applications a user might have open at any one time, the system uses virtual memory to make up the difference.
If the computer does not have the ability to access virtual memory when it runs out of RAM, the user will receive an error message stating that other applications should be closed to load a new program. The virtual memory process works by looking for locations on physical memory that have not been accessed for a certain amount of time. This information is then copied to an area on the hard drive. The free space that has been freed up can now be used to load the new program.
This feature is one of many things your computer does automatically that goes unnoticed by the average user. Virtual memory is not only a way for your computer to create additional memory for applications to use, but it also takes advantage of available system memory resources. This is cheaper than buying additional RAM chips. Every computer’s hard drive has an area used for virtual memory.
This secondary source of storage, where information is stored and retrieved, is called a paging file. The area where data is swapped back and forth between physical memory and the virtual memory system, in equally sized blocks, is called pages. Virtual memory is basically a small page file, which is located on your hard drive. Simply adding to the size of the paging file can increase the size of the virtual memory system’s storage capacity. Conversely, the only way to create more RAM is to purchase and install chips with larger memory capacities.
One of the disadvantages of virtual memory is that the read and write processing speed is significantly slower than with random access memory. Users who rely heavily on the system’s virtual memory to run their applications will experience a decrease in the overall performance of their computer. The thing is, hard drives aren’t built to handle tiny pieces of information. The key to optimal system performance is having more than enough RAM to handle routine program processing workloads. This will ensure that accessing VMS is the exception and not the rule.
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