Windows XP provides tools and programs designed to set your computer to keep running at maximum capacity. Window XP allocates resources based on the setting and then set the device. However, you can change the way Windows XP uses processor time (processor time) and the computer memory to improve performance. You also can adjust the settings on your computer visual effects.
Memory and Performance
Microsoft recommends that the computer that is running Windows XP should have at least 128 MB of memory (256 MB recommended, to play 3D games 512 MB). With this much memory, Windows XP can consistently demonstrate superiority of Windows ever. Many users increase the number of his memory to maximize multimedia capabilities and gain better performance.
In general, adding memory is the easiest way and most effective way to improve computer performance. Although recommended, Windows XP does not require 128 MB of RAM. This operating system can run with 64 MB of RAM. For activities such as web browsing, e-mail, and other activities, with 64 MB of RAM you will get the equivalent performance with Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me).
Other Factors Affecting Performance
Regardless of the application used, CPU speed could affect performance. Windows XP does not require a high hardware-minimum Pentium II 300 MHz, but the system can get more leverage with faster hardware. Operating system, especially the user interface (UI) of Windows XP, sensitive to graphics systems and graphics drivers. Onboard video card will facilitate the processing of the RAM is used by the operating system and applications.
Set the Left Processor
Processing systems managed by Windows that can allocate tasks between processors, including managing multiple processes on a single processor. However, you can set Windows to allocate more processor time to the running programs. This program produces a response time faster. Or, if you have background programs, such as printing or disk back-ups who want to run while working, you can set Windows to divide the processor between background and foreground programs.
Adjust Computer Memory
At the time your computer is running out of RAM and he needed extra in a short time, Windows uses hard disk space to simulate system RAM. This is known as virtual memory or paging file is often called. This is similar to the UNIX swapfile. The default size for virtual memory file (named pagefile.sys) created during installation is 1.5 times the amount of RAM on your computer.
You can optimize virtual memory use by dividing it into multiple drives and move them from the hard disk is slow or frequently accessed. The best way to optimize your virtual memory space is divided to the extent possible a lot of hard drive.
You can optimize the use of computer memory. If more using the computer as a workstation, not as a server, you can allocate more memory to your programs. Your programs will work faster and and your system cache size will have a default size of Windows XP. You can also allocate more computer memory cache unuk get a bigger system, if the computer is used as a server or if you use programs that require a larger cache.
Changing Visual Effects
Windows provides several options to set your computer visual effects. For example, you can display shadows under menus, and give them 3-D display. You can ask Windows to display the entire contents of a window when you move it on the screen. To have more readable text, you can refine the screen fonts. You also can run a web interface on the folder, which will feature a number of hyperlinks and information to the left of the folder window.
Windows provides the option to run all the settings (for best appearance), or turn off all the settings (for best computer performance). You can also restore the initial default settings.
Guide to Selecting Drive Virtual Memory
First, try to avoid using the pagefile on the same drive with the file system. Second, avoid placement of the pagefile on the drive fault-tolerant, such as mirrored volumes or RAID-5 volume. Pagefile not need fault-tolerance, and some fault-tolerance system has a data writing speed of the low because they write data to multiple locations. Third, do not place the pagefile on a different partition on the same physical disk.
Program Performance Change the Background and Foreground
1. Open System in Control Panel.
2. On the Advanced tab, under Performance, click Settings.
3. On the Advanced tab, under Processor scheduling, do one of the following:
* Click the program to provide more resources to the program processor in the foreground than the background program.
* Click the Background Services to divide processor resources to all programs.
Note:
* To open System, click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click System.
* Select Program will accelerate the response foreground program. If you want a background task, such as Backup utility, to run more quickly, select Background services.
* Programs to allocate part time (time slices) or shorter quanta and varied, while the Background Services allocates long quanta and fixed.
Change the Virtual Memory File Size
1. Open System in Control Panel.
2. On the Advanced tab, under Performance, click Settings.
3. On the Advanced tab, under Virtual memory, click Change.
4. Under Drive [Volume Label], click the drive that contains the paging file you want to change.
5. Under Paging file size for selected drive, click Custom size, and enter the paging file size in megabytes of the new Initial size (MB) or Maximum size (MB), and then click Set.
If the lower initial or maximum size, you must restart the computer to see the effect these changes. At the time usually does not require increases restart.
