Virtual Memory
Helping you understnad Virtual Memory
Virtual Memory
Virtual memory is like a back up for you RAM (random access memory). If your computer doesn't have enough RAM to run a program or operate, windows uses virtual memory to compensate. Virtual memory combines RAM with temporary (volatile) space on your hard disk. When RAM runs low, virtual memory moves data from RAM to a space called a paging file. Moving data to and from the paging file frees up RAM to complete its work.
Drawbacks
Without virtual memory, your system to be unstable or crash. Virtual memory uses up HDD space. If your system has to rely on virtual memory too much, your system could have significant performance. The key is to have enough RAM to handle everything you tend to work on simultaneously. Then, the only time you "feel" the slowness of virtual memory is in the slight pause that occurs when you change tasks. When you have enough RAM for your needs, virtual memory works beautifully. When you don't, the operating system has to constantly swap information back and forth between RAM and the hard disk. This is called thrashing, and it can make your computer feel incredibly slow.
How does the change in memory lead to innovative computer designs?
With the new advancing technology, with more memory and extra memory we can make even faster and more clever computers making memory portable and easy to access for the user.