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Windows 98 - Better allocation of the working memory

November 25, 2013
Updated: December 6, 2021
Quick overview:

In my tip Memory optimization in System.ini I describe at the bottom how to resize the system cache to speed up Windows. This way, more files that are needed can be loaded into the working memory to get a higher speed on it.

This so-called system cache is divided into blocks. The standard size of these blocks is 128KByte. Programs use several memory blocks as soon as their size exceeds this, which means that some memory blocks are not used. This defragments the working memory and results in poor access times, which greatly reduces the benefits of the system cache. To prevent this, it is possible to increase the size of these blocks. This also increases the access time, as Windows can access a few large blocks more quickly than a large number of smaller blocks. And this is how you proceed:

1. Click on Start/Execute and enter system.ini.

2. Now scroll down in the document that appears until the line [vcache] becomes visible. You may now see the entry that you have made in this tip.

3. Create a new line just below and write Chunksize=1024 in it.

Instead of the number 1024, the following memory sizes are also possible: 128, 256, 512, 1024 and 2048. As described above, a larger value is recommended for higher speed. Unfortunately, parts of these large blocks often remain unused or are only partially filled. Although this has no effect as with completely empty small blocks, this setting unfortunately consumes more memory and is only recommended for 128MB RAM or more.

For systems with less than 128 megabytes of RAM, the size 512 is recommended. For computers equipped with 128 or more RAM, the setting 2048 has proven to be perfect.

NOTE FOR NEW PUBLICATION: This article was produced by Sandro Villinger and comes from the Windows Tweaks archive, which has been built up since the late 1990s.

Founded Windows Tweaks as a teenager in the 90s. His helpful PC tricks made it Germany's most visited Windows site (at the time Sandro looked like this). He then went on to write elsewhere, for example for PC-Praxis, Computer Bild and PCWorld in the USA. Microsoft also poached him from us. Now Sandro is back, finally sharing his tweaks here again. For a stress-free digital everyday life. You can reach Sandro via e-mail.

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