Documentation / Optimizations / Memory Optimization

Memory Optimization

Free up RAM for gaming by clearing the Windows standby list, optimizing memory compression, and configuring page file settings based on your system's available memory.

Optimization Overview

Memory optimization ensures maximum available RAM for games by clearing cached data, optimizing memory management, and configuring the page file appropriately for your system.

Metric Value
Expected FPS Impact +10 FPS average, up to +20 FPS on systems with limited RAM
Latency Reduction 2-4ms (from reduced memory paging)
Restart Required No
Reversible Yes (one-click revert)
Risk Level Very Low
Most Effective For
Systems with 8-16GB RAM see the biggest benefit. Systems with 32GB+ already have plenty of available memory and may see minimal improvement.

What Gets Modified

Standby List Clearing

Windows keeps recently accessed files cached in the "standby list" even when that memory is needed elsewhere. This can cause games to experience memory pressure when plenty of RAM appears available.

Before Optimization After Optimization
4-6GB cached in standby list Standby list cleared, RAM available for games
Games may trigger memory paging unnecessarily Games get direct access to physical RAM
Occasional stuttering from memory reclaim Smooth performance, no reclaim delays
Learn More: What is the Standby List?

The standby list is Windows' file cache. When you read a file, Windows keeps it cached in RAM for faster future access:

  • Good: Makes frequently accessed files load instantly
  • Bad: Windows is reluctant to clear this cache, even when games need the RAM
  • Problem: Task Manager shows this as "available" memory, but games can't immediately use it

Frameshift's solution: Periodically clears the standby list before launching games, ensuring RAM is truly available.

Memory Compression Settings

Windows 10+ includes memory compression to fit more data in RAM. Frameshift optimizes these settings for gaming workloads.

RAM Amount Compression Strategy Reasoning
8GB or less Compression enabled (default) Helps fit more in limited RAM
16GB Reduced compression Balance between capacity and CPU overhead
32GB+ Compression minimized Plenty of RAM, eliminate CPU overhead

Page File Configuration

The page file (virtual memory) acts as overflow when RAM is full. Frameshift optimizes page file settings based on your system:

  • 8GB RAM: Page file size increased to 12-16GB (prevents out-of-memory errors)
  • 16GB RAM: Page file set to 8GB (balanced, rarely used)
  • 32GB+ RAM: Page file minimized to 2GB (only for crash dumps)

Registry Location: HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\PagingFiles

Service Host Grouping

Windows groups background services into "service host" processes. Frameshift optimizes this grouping to reduce memory fragmentation.

Setting Default Optimized
Service Split Threshold 380MB per process Optimized based on RAM (larger for gaming)
Service Host Processes 10-15 processes 5-8 processes (reduced overhead)

Expected Results

Performance Improvements by RAM Amount

System RAM FPS Improvement Stutter Reduction
8GB +15-20 FPS 50-70% fewer stutters
16GB +8-12 FPS 30-40% fewer stutters
32GB +3-5 FPS 10-20% fewer stutters
64GB+ +0-2 FPS Minimal (already plenty of RAM)

RAM Usage Before vs After

Example on a 16GB system:

Memory Category Before Optimization After Optimization
Available for Games 6-8GB 10-12GB
Standby List 4-6GB ~500MB
System + Background Apps 4-5GB 3-4GB

How to Apply

  1. Check Current RAM Usage

    Open Task Manager and note your current RAM usage at idle and while gaming. This gives you a baseline for comparison.

  2. Apply Memory Optimization

    Navigate to Optimizations tab, click "Apply" on Memory Optimization. Frameshift will analyze your RAM and apply appropriate settings.

  3. Test Immediately

    No restart required. Launch a game immediately and check RAM usage in Task Manager. You should see significantly more available memory.

Reverting Optimizations
To revert memory optimization, click the "Revert" button in the Memory Optimization section. Frameshift automatically creates a system restore point before applying each optimization category, so you can also use Windows System Restore if needed.
Pro Tip
Memory optimization is particularly effective when combined with game detection. Frameshift automatically clears the standby list when launching detected games, ensuring maximum RAM availability.

When to Upgrade RAM

If you're consistently running out of memory even with optimization, consider upgrading:

Signs You Need More RAM

  • RAM usage consistently above 90% while gaming
  • Frequent stuttering even after optimization
  • Games crashing with "out of memory" errors
  • Wanting to run Discord, browser, and streaming software while gaming

Recommended RAM by Use Case

Use Case Minimum RAM Recommended RAM
Gaming Only (1080p) 8GB 16GB
Gaming + Discord + Browser 16GB 32GB
Gaming + Streaming 16GB 32GB
Gaming + Content Creation 32GB 64GB

Troubleshooting

Still Running Out of Memory

If memory issues persist after optimization:

  1. Check for memory leaks in background applications using Task Manager
  2. Close unnecessary browser tabs (Chrome/Edge are notorious for RAM usage)
  3. Disable startup programs you don't need
  4. Consider upgrading RAM if consistently maxing out

System Feels Slower After Optimization

Very rare. If general system responsiveness decreased:

  • Revert memory optimization
  • Your workload may benefit from file caching (standby list)
  • Applies the optimization only when launching games, not for general use
Memory Errors During Gaming
If you get "out of memory" errors or crashes during gaming even with optimization applied, your system genuinely needs more physical RAM. No software optimization can create RAM that doesn't exist. Upgrade recommended.
Previous
Storage Optimization