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+---
+title: "ZRAM in NixOS - download more RAM?"
+author: "Errium"
+date: 2025-09-17
+description: "You've read the title bruh"
+tags: ["linux", "swap", "zram", "nixos"]
+---
+
+# ZRAM in NixOS - download more RAM?
+This guide will show how to enable and set up ZRAM on a normal desktop machine (PC or laptop). Servers, smart fridges, stupid TVs, and your grandma’s wrist watch might need a different setup.
+
+![ZRAM is only for based people](/img/community/errium/frfr.jpg)
+
+---
+
+## What is ZRAM?
+
+ZRAM is a technology that compresses data in RAM. It lets you create a virtual block of memory that works like normal swap, but way faster and without using disk space.
+
+In NixOS, ZRAM is super easy to set up through the system `configuration.nix` - literally two minutes and you're done.
+
+---
+
+## Why use ZRAM?
+
+1. **Saves disk space** - no need to reserve swap space.
+2. **Speed** - ZRAM is much faster than standard swap, especially with the right compression algorithm.
+3. **Reduces SSD wear** - self explanatory.
+
+---
+
+## ZRAM quirks
+
+1. If you have a laptop and want hibernation, you still need a swap partition the size of your RAM.
+2. Can use more CPU for compressing/decompressing data. But with the right algorithm, it’s mostly negligible.
+
+---
+
+## Setting up ZRAM on NixOS
+
+### Step 1: Enable ZRAM
+
+```nix
+{
+  zramSwap = {
+    enable = true;
+  }
+}
+```
+
+…but that would be a shitty guide if I didn’t explain how to actually tune it for your system.
+
+---
+
+### Step 2: Set priority
+
+Set a priority so the system uses ZRAM when swap is needed. You *can* skip this, but I strongly recommend specifying it:
+
+```nix
+{
+  zramSwap = {
+    ...
+    priority = 100; # example value
+  }
+}
+```
+
+* Default swap priority is usually `-2`. You can check that with `swapon --show` command.
+* Priority set to 100 is usually enough; no need to go higher unless you have a good reason.
+
+---
+
+### Step 3: Pick an algorithm
+
+Algorithms are really important if you want yourself the best ZRAM config. Here’s what NixOS offers:
+
+1. **zstd (Zstandard)** - as the name implies it's a standard algorithm. Good compression, but uses CPU more than other algorithms do. The price to pay is small, but can matter on low-powered machines.
+2. **lz4** - compresses less than zstd, but a lot faster and uses less CPU.
+3. **lzo** - compresses even less than lz4, very fast, minimal CPU usage.
+4. **lz4hc** - compresses more than lz4 but less than zstd, faster than zstd, slower than lz4, more CPU usage than lz4.
+
+Other algorithms exist and are available in `configuration.nix`, but these four are enough for any machine.
+
+> “Which algorithm should I pick?! I don’t get it”
+> - lz4. In 99% of cases, it’s fine. Fast, light, still compresses well.
+
+Enable an algorithm:
+
+```nix
+{
+  zramSwap = {
+    ...
+    algorithm = "lz4"; # example, pick what you need
+  }
+}
+```
+
+---
+
+### Step 4: Set memoryPercent
+
+`memoryPercent` sets the MAX amount of RAM ZRAM can use. Important: **ZRAM does not steal your RAM**. It only compresses memory *when swap is actually needed*.
+
+* Example: 16GB RAM, `memoryPercent = 50` → it won’t grab 8GB right away. It just means ZRAM can compress up to 8GB if swap is needed.
+
+**Simple examples:**
+
+* Need 300MB swap → ZRAM (lz4) compresses around 150MB RAM
+* Need 7GB swap → ZRAM compresses \~3.5GB RAM
+* Need 20GB swap → ZRAM tries 10GB, but limit is 8GB → only 8GB compressed, rest is like swap ran out
+
+When idle, ZRAM does nothing - your RAM is fully yours.
+
+Set it in config:
+
+```nix
+{
+  zramSwap = {
+    ...
+    memoryPercent = 50; # example value
+  }
+}
+```
+
+---
+
+### Step 5: Make sure that everything is good
+
+In the end your ZRAM config should look something like this:
+
+```nix
+{
+  zramSwap = {
+    enable = true;
+    priority = 100;
+    algorithm = "lz4";
+    memoryPercent = 50;
+  };
+}
+```
+This configuration is solid and should work just fine. This is what I rock on my main machine.
+
+---
+
+## Final steps
+
+After declaring ZRAM in your config:
+
+```bash
+sudo nixos-rebuild switch
+```
+*...Or whatever, you know how to rebuild...*
+
+Reboot. It's needed, frfr. 
+
+Then you cab check ZRAM status and make sure that all is in fact good:
+
+```bash
+swapon --show
+```
+
+---
+
+## That's it!
+
+Thanks everyone! Love your mom, and use ZRAM!
+
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