PF Graphs

• When you click on the Performance tab in the Task Manager, you will see two graphs, the first called "PF Usage" and the second called "Page File Usage History." These graphs are misleading because they don't refer to the amount of page file, or PF, that is being used, but to what is called the commit charge. The commit charge is the combination of the current amount of physical memory, or RAM, and virtual memory being used. Virtual memory is a portion of your hard disk that is used as RAM by Windows, but this memory doesn't run as fast as physical RAM chip memory.
  
  

Commit Charge Box

• The commit charge box on the lower left-hand corner of the Task Manager is shown in kilobytes, as are all the numeric displays on the Performance tab. The Total is the commit charge being used currently. The Limit display show the total amount of memory available between the entire virtual memory swap file and the RAM combined. The Peak shows the peak usage of the commit charge during this Windows session.
  
  

Physical Memory Box

• The Physical Memory box is relatively simple. The Total shows the amount of physical RAM you have in your computer. The Available display shows how much RAM you have left that is not being used by either the operating system kernel or any programs, processes or services.