Too large virtual memory

Question

Hello, 

I use some workstations as network render nodes. (I use Autodesk 3ds max and Vray.) Last week, I rendered some images from a large file, which includes large amount of proxy files. Proxy files require large amount of ram for render. After I completed the job, I have noticed the virtual memory amount of all workstations increased dramatically.

Two of the workstations have conventional hdds and 16 gbs of rams and one of them has 32 gbs of ram and a ssd. The ones those have 16 gbs ram have 96gbs and 48 gbs virtual memory (seems extremely large) and the one has 32 gigs of ram has 26 gbs of virtual memory. All the virtual memories are adjusted by Windows 10 automatically. 

I have two questions:

1.if I leave virtual memory settings as they are, Will Windows decrease them  automaticaly (as increased them automatically) or should I decrease them manually?

2.If I adjust them manually and set some lower value, and then re-check automatic adjustment box  (whatever the name), will the Windows be able to re adjust the required amount itself? 

Thank you for your reply.

Answer 1

Windows in my experience takes a while, maybe 30 days or more before it will automatically adjust the size of the page file.   16gb ram here on my i7 laptop will settle down to about 1gb, its often around 8gb.

You can manually lower it if you want.  It wont affect the automatic except for maybe the next thirty days or so and if it needs more it will grow.

Answer 2

In Addition to Mikes reply:

If things are running slow, that's when you want to increase virtual memory.

f you receive error messages that warn of low virtual memory, you need to either add more RAM or increase the size of your paging file so that you can run the program on your computer. Windows usually manages this automatically, but you can manually change the size of virtual memory if the default size isn't large enough for your needs.

Answer 3

You're welcome.

It does adjust as time goes on.

Answer 4

Thank you very much for your reply. Never had any error messages yet, but I just wonder wheter windows will decrease the reserved amount automatically or not. So it does look like windows will decrease the reserved disk space automatically. 

thank you again.

Answer 5

Thank you very much for your reply.