Using an SSD as RAM on a Windows PC: Easy Guide

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Get a RAM boost for your PC using an SSD
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This wikiHow guide teaches you how to use extra space on your Solid State Drive (SSD) as virtual RAM on a Windows PC. To use your SSD as RAM, you need to move your virtual memory paging file to the SSD. While SSDs can be used as RAM in a pinch, they aren't as effective or fast as actual RAM, so it's always best to get an upgrade. If you have a Mac with an internal SSD drive, macOS automatically manages your virtual memory settings and already uses your SSD as RAM when needed. [1]

Using an SSD as RAM: Fast Facts

  • On Windows, you can use an SSD as RAM by moving your paging file to the SSD.
  • If Windows is installed on the SSD, it is likely already using it as RAM because it manages your virtual memory by default.
  • While using an SSD as extra RAM is helpful if you don't have much RAM, actual RAM is much faster than an SSD.

Steps

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  1. To do this, type sysdm.cpl into the Windows search bar and press Enter .
    • If Windows is installed on the SSD, it is likely already using it as RAM because Windows manages the paging file by default. However, if Windows is not installed on the SSD or you've added another SSD , you can use this method to move your paging file to the SSD to use it as RAM.
  2. It's at the top of the System Properties panel.
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  3. It’s the first “Settings” button on the “Advanced” tab. A list of performance options will appear. [2]
  4. It’s the second tab on the window.
  5. It’s under the “Virtual memory” header. This opens the Virtual Memory dialog, which is where you can configure how much of your SSD will be used as RAM. [3]
  6. Now you can edit the options on this screen.
  7. This selects the drive as the location for your paging file (virtual RAM).
    • If you have specific instructions for how large of a page file you need, select Custom size instead, then enter the minimum and maximum page file size in the appropriate blanks. [4]
  10. A pop-up message will appear, letting you know that you’ll need to restart your computer before the changes take effect. [5] Click OK again, and your PC will shut down and restart. When it comes back up, it will use part of your SSD as virtual RAM.
    • If your PC is running slowly due to lack of RAM, installing more RAM is a better long-term solution. [6] RAM is also significantly faster than virtual memory, even if you're using an SSD.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-ph/guide/mac-help/mh11852/mac
      2. ↑ https://www.windowscentral.com/how-change-virtual-memory-size-windows-10
      3. ↑ https://www.windowscentral.com/how-change-virtual-memory-size-windows-10
      4. ↑ https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001292.htm
      5. ↑ https://www.tomshardware.com/news/how-to-manage-virtual-memory-pagefile-windows-10,36929.html
      6. ↑ https://content.crucial.com/content/crucial/es-la/home/support/articles-faq-memory/virtual-memory-settings-suggestions.html
      7. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/usb-and-sd-storage-media-readyboost-with-a-sd-card-or-a-flash-drive-f19ab915-5f8a-b131-e6d8-a6900154a42c

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