Can SSD be used to increase memory?

Help/How To
1

I have 8GB of RAM, and run into the “insufficient memory” notice when my videos get to a certain size, like a 3 minute slideshow. I’m going to see if I can increase my computer’s RAM, but until then (or if I cannot) I was wondering if I could use my SSD as additional “RAM”? If so, how would I go about this (I’m using Version 22.12.21)?

2

While an SSD cannot directly increase RAM, it can be used to create a paging file or virtual memory, which can help when the physical RAM is insufficient.

Here’s how to set it up on Windows:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to System > About.
  3. Click on Advanced system settings.
  4. In the System Properties window, go to the Advanced tab and click on Settings under the Performance section.
  5. In the Performance Options window, go to the Advanced tab and click on Change under the Virtual memory section.
  6. Uncheck the box for Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
  7. Select your SSD drive and choose Custom size. Enter the initial and maximum size for the paging file (usually 1.5 to 3 times the amount of RAM).
  8. Click Set, then OK.
1 Like
3

Do you mean settings in the upper left corner between “help” and “player”? There is no system option there.

4

Windows Settings. This is a computer setup issue; not something Shotcut can do.

6

So for initial/maximum size 12000MB/24,000MB assuming 8GB (8,000MB) ram? Just want to be sure I’m getting this right, i’m not particularly computer savvy.

7

yes. Please be aware that I have tested how well this actually works. You can try it and see.

8

While this is very useful in case of insufficient memory, I wouldn’t recommend it any cost, I have personally used it a lot, at a time almost giving 256gb to paging file. It will for sure degrade your ssd’s life, your computer performance won’t be as good as it is with normal ram, a lot more lags. But it will solve the insufficient memory at the cost of slowing down the performance.

If you can accept to degrading the life of your ssd, it is good because it’s not like your ssd will die in 10 days, but will degrade it significantly.
You can try buying cheap sticks at your local store, ram are not very expensive these days.

2 Likes
9

There are a lot of topics available how to deal with low RAM usage here. Make part videos and export them with the same settings to avoid quality losses as the combined final video. Add the parts to the final video project export it again and you are fine.