Increasing Virtual Memory to increase FPS for Arma

[Rand0m_Her0]

BE WARNED ADJUSTING LAUNCH PARAMETERS IS AN "ADVANCED" SKILL SET, YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY

INTENT: 

My goal is to help users on this server increase FPS on the server and increase their knowledge base about their home computers. 

CONTENT:

1. Understanding RAM versus hard-drive space and virtual ram

2. Why you should increase virtual ram

3. How to adjust virtual ram

How is RAM used

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RAM is not your storage medium, so you cannot manually delete anything to free it up. RAM instead is a temporary storage location like your desk's work surface, which if it's cluttered with tools, papers, and other items (in other words, open applications or system add-ons) will be harder to organize and use.

How the Hard-drive is used

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Unlike RAM, which is the work space of the system, the hard drive is like the filing cabinet, drawers, and other storage locations of a desk where tools and papers are stored when not used. If the cabinets of your desk are already nearly full, it will be harder to stuff items in there without moving things around and constantly reorganizing.

How Virtual Ram on the Hard-drive is used.

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Virtual memory on a computer can be best compared to a pull-out drawer in a desk that is easy to access but can be pushed out of the way of your main work space, and is used by the computer to temporarily store RAM contents that are loaded but not currently in use.

Why should you increase virtual ram.

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When the system is low on RAM (work space) the system will make more use of virtual memory to free up the work space and allow other applications to open and load more documents. Even when the system does not need to use a lot of RAM, it still makes use of virtual memory in order to keep the work space tidy and organized. Increasing virtual ram in effect would increase your work space and decrease bottle necks throughout your system. It is a good rule of thumb to reserve 10% of your hard-drive for virtual ram. 

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 How to adjust virtual ram

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Go to Start Menu > click on Settings. 

Type performance > choose Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows.

In the new window, go to the Advanced tab and under the Virtual memory section, click on Change. 

At the bottom of the new window, check what the Recommended value is and how it compares to Currently allocated. 

If the current setting is significantly less than the recommended, uncheck the Automatically manage paging file size for all drives box at the top of the same windows and then click on Custom size. 

Enter the Recommended value in the Initial Size box, and a larger figure in the Maximum size box. Remember to click set to save changes before clicking OK and then restart when prompted to enable changes.

[SSgt Brooks]

Like to point out if you have a lot of Ram > 16g 32g or 64g you can and you should turn off Page file, since the transfer speed / buffer is slower, this causes a game lag even when your FPS is above 30. If you have SSD page file will constantly read/write to the SSD which is not good as well. It is funny when people say your computer never uses more then 8g of ram but have page file turned on, then you find Arma 3, watching a video, recording ect can get your ram usage up to 14g. They never see those numbers because of page file allocation. I like to test out RAM Disk for the game but have not yet.

Like to point out got my ram use up to 28g out of 64g playing arma at least.

Edited August 21, 2017 by SSgt Brooks