Does the PC page file size affect the elapsed time for an OptiStruct job?

Yes, the page file size recommended by the vendor is not necessarily the optimal size to run big jobs in OptiStruct. Moreover, if more RAM is installed in a machine, it can process larger page files more efficiently. Changing the page file size is usually recommended to decrease the elapsed processing time.

The elapsed time does not necessarily increase with an increased page file. If too many applications are opened, or if RAM-intensive applications are being used, OptiStruct could be pushed into the swap space, slowing the processing time considerably.

The preferable page file size is: page file size=2*RAM+32 Mb.
For example: If the available RAM is 512 MB, the page file size would be 2*512+32=1056Mb.

The maximum page file size is 1500Mb for the 512 Mb RAM.

The page file size can be adjusted as follows:

WindowsNT:
"Start"->Settings->Control Panel->System->Performance->Virtual Memory

Windows2000:
"Start"->Settings->Control Panel->System Properties->Advanced->Performance Options->Virtual Memory->Change..->

WindowsXP:
"Start"->Settings->Control Panel->System->Advanced->Performance Options->Virtual Memory->Change..->

Further, it may be beneficial to break up the page file between two disks on a multiprocessor machine (between drives C and D, for example).

Another solution is to put the page file on an SCSI drive rather than an IDE drive. SCSI drives are faster, and will speed up processing.