Inexperienced users Windows Vista constantly ask questions relative to why they took a whole new operating system RAM, and the more they RAM, the more appetite Windows Vista. Let's try to understand and put every point on i.

Perwo-blunted, is once and for all to understand and accept that Windows Vista totally different approach to memory management. "Other" mean that not the same as Windows XP. B principle, and compare them something incorrectly, but we did try.

Look at the line "free of physical memory," the Task Manager in Windows Vista.

At the time of withdrawal of the screenshot on the computer was running several windows IE 7, plus a remote desktop. In doing so freely with 6 MB of free memory.

Now compare this screenshot of a screenshot of XP, with approximately the boot.

Instead item 'Discount physical memory, "says that around 1.5 GB free - as it should be.

So what happens? Why Vista uses a lot of memory if you little deystviey not fulfilled? To answer this question, you need to understand what is spent memory.

Suppose that you wanted to create a new text file.

1. Double click on the icon Notebook.
2. Executive Notebook file from the hard disk is loaded into memory.
3. Notebook executed.
4. Notebook distributes free memory to store your paper.

So, it is clear that the notebook needs a small amount of memory, enough to start and display their contents. But it may be several megabytes, as a maximum. Even if true. As with the remaining 2046 Mb memory?

You need to stop thinking about the system memory as a resource, and to begin to think about how the cache. Like the L1 and L2 cache of your processor, RAM - just another high-speed cache between your computer and disk.

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And the most important rule of design system cache: an empty cache - spend an empty cache. In the cache is empty, no pinch. It is not expensive, high-speed memory, which is spent on food, and that brings no benefit. The main purpose in the life of any cache - to fill as soon as possible data, which are likely to need, and consistently deliver the necessary data. Otherwise, you will have to apply directly to the hard drive.

Diomidis Spinellis (Diomidis Spinellis) published an excellent rating parsing cache in a typical performance, as at January 2006 computer.

In the end, this is how your memory faster than hard disk:

System memory - 37 times faster.
L2 cache processor - to 82 times faster.
L1 cache processor - to 283 times faster.

These figures explain why the Vista left with 6 megabytes of free memory. Vista is trying to fill each byte of data memory, which in its opinion may need in the next moment. Vista launches low-priority background processes, and places it on unused system memory. U Microsoft for these processes have even prichudlivoe marketing name - SuperFetch: "In past versions of Windows reaction system can be uneven. You may encounter slow loading system after work, after several quick switch users or just after lunch. Also as a large number of carbohydrates can you slow down after meals, and your computer can begin to stall for a variety of reasons. actively When you are not using the computer, the background tasks, including automatic backup and antivirus scanning, use this feature to perform, at a time when they least you can be to disturb. background These tasks may take place in the system memory, which is used by your applications. Once you begin to use the computer again, it will take some time to re-load your data into memory, which reduces productivity.

SuperFetch aware of the applications you use most often, and loads them into memory beforehand, in a way, your system responds quickly to requests. SuperFetch uses intellectual scheme priority system, which is aware of the applications you use most often, and even the ability to discern which applications probably will you use at different times, such as on weekends, but not during the work week so that the computer is ready to do what you want to do. Windows Vista can also arrange priorities for your applications in background tasks, so that even when you vyvodite your computer from the simple, the system almost instantly ready for use. "

Of course, this is not a new concept. No Vista handles system memory as a cache aggressive and much more efficient than previous versions of Windows. As you can see from the above screenshot Task Manager, Windows XP no worries about the fact that the entire free gigabyte of memory. With the prospects of caching - it is incomprehensible reason. Vista is trying to the extent possible, how can to fill the system memory.

I am a supporter of the use of religion as a system memory cache, but SuperFetch still may have several side effects. The first thing I noticed is that it was something wrong when I ran Battlefield 2 in Vista and connected to the network game. Battlefield 2 - quite a serious consumer of resources. Playing regularly uses 1 GB of memory for large maps for 64 - x players. During the first few minutes, I noticed that the system worked and slightly delayed treatment were permanently to the disk. This was very unusual, and it is not similar to the behavior of XP. Once you download the map and sign in the game - the whole thing is in the memory. As of this moment can boot from the disk? Emerged that liberated SuperFetch saw a bunch of memory for the game and continued to fill free memory background processes with a low priority. Normally, this would be left unnoticed, but even low background disk flow enough noticeable when you play online shooter so even with 63 users in 1600 х1200 permission.

I absolutely calmly refer to SuperFetch in its own way has used my system memory. The question should not stand "Why Vista uses all my memory?" But "What feature of previous versions of Windows use my memory so ineffective?". I do not know. Perhaps, before the 2 gigabytes of memory have become standard in most PCs, had other rules.

The less I have free memory, the better - each byte of memory must always work in my favour. However, I would like to see a way to tell SuperFetch that it suspended its work when I play.