RamDISK to access 4gb ram on 32bit XP?

I'm wondering if anybody else has tried this to make their 6860 a little faster.

I'm using RamDISK ( link) to set up a 1024MB Z drive that will use the rest of the ram that Windows won't use. Then I made a page file that uses all the memory in the Z drive.

Will this help speed up my computer at all, or should I just use a normal page file and have a super fast 1gig hard drive that gets wiped on restart?

 

Your method will give you another effective 1GB of memory, and therefore will boost performance some.

 

I'm using Gavotte's RAMDisk in exactly the same way on Windows 7 as the latest build has only been released in 32-bit flavour. I run a 256-768MB page file, all temp directories (by repointing 'TEMP' and 'TMP' environment variables in System Properties), and Firefox and IE internet cache from the RAMDisk. 100% worth it in my opinion, even if you don't have an SSD. Firefox absolutely flies now.

 

sounds both intense and awesome

 

You won't be able to do much with the super fast 1gig drive, using it for the pagefile will be better.

 

The RAMDisk that you are using has an option to save the image on shutdown so you don't have to lose the data when you restart.

 

Yea, I have been using it for the page file and things seem to be faster. I never thought of using it to store my Firefox temp files as well.

edit: How would I go about setting my firefox temp files and all my other temp files to my RamDisk drive?

 

For Firefox3:

1. Open a new tab and type "about:config" in the address bar and hit Enter.
2. Right click anywhere on page and select "New" and "String".
3. For string name, type in "browser.cache.disk.parent_directory" (without the quotes).
4. For string value, type in the path where you want your cache directory (e.g. 'Z:\').
5. Restart Firefox.

For other temp files go to System Properties - Advanced - Environment Variables and change all 'TEMP' or 'TMP' variables to 'Z:\'.

 

Thanks for the help, this is one of the best speed increases I've seen since I upgraded my CPU.

 

Wait till you get an SSD

 

Heh, I've already got 2 hard drives running in a raid 0. I would get a SSD, but their limited size is a turn off for me currently. If there ever is a 500GB SSD that fits in the 6860 I'll be the first one to buy it.

 

Not long to wait then:

http://www.computerworld.com/action...articleId=9123920&taxonomyId=19&intsrc=kc_top

I was gob smacked how much my OCZ Core improved the general speed of my laptop.

 

looks like im gonna hold off on getting new hard drives for a while then...

 

Wow, I'm slavering over that drive. I'll probably pick 2 up once they come out.

 

Re the RAMDrive, yes they can speed things up. However, unless you can get one that takes memory before Windows loads, it will only use the memory that Windows sees- which is 3 gig on a 32-bit OS.
I had the same thought and tried the same thing when I put XP on my 6860, but nope- just 3 gig memory and the RAMDrive took 1 gig of that from Windows, leaving 2 gig for Win and programs.

You can check it in your Task Manager/Performance tab, the memory is all added up there.

 

Gavotte's RAMDisk v1.0.4096.4 uses a standard Windows driver but it loads into the area of memory which 32-bit Vista/Win7 cannot use (anything above 3.12GB). Any memory tools including Task Manager will prove this.

Superspeed RamDisk Plus 9 also does the same.

 

Its a pretty handy tool. I was always under the impression that the unaddressed memory could not be used at all. Its good in the sense, that you're literally using the whole 4GB memory with a 32-bit OS without a pagefile (I think!). Its a very useful thing, but has anyone come across any side-effects, etc.

BTW, it also works if the chipset is physically limited by a 32-bit memory controller, e.g. Napa Platform (my notebook). The left-over 1GB memory can be used, using Gavotte. (*woot*)

 

Nope it runs flawlessly on Win7. IE/FF Cache, page file and all temp files are on the RAMDisk too. I also use it for the default download location for IE/FF. I assume you're using the PAE registry switch to force the use of memory above 3.12GB?

 

Nope. No PAE.
The OS I'm using is Vista 64.
I'm only using it for the pagefile, 'cause 1GB of pagefile is quite less for me.

 

Would this work with an 8gb kit?

Our chipset is limited to 4gigs of RAM the best we can tell, so if i went for an 8gb set up could i use the spare 4gb to set up a RAMDISK?

 

If you have a motherboard that supports 8GB of ram (not the 6860fx), and you are running a 32bit OS, then yes, you could use 3GB normally and 5GB on a ramDISK.

But if you are asking if you could put 8GB in your Gateway fx. No this would not work. The 4GB limit is a hardware limitation instead of a software limitation. The reason I have 1GB of ram to play around with is because of the 3GB limit on ram that 32bit xp/vista has.

 

Well that blows

I thought maybe we could find a use for 8gb kits after all.

Oh well

 

No, the RAMdisk only looks past software limitations. Hardware limitations are impossible to get past.

 

Yeah, and that stinks... where is my exabytes or RAM and yottobytes of 500TB read/write SSD's and 1000 core 57gHz CPU's that run off 5 watts of power


I want the Star Trek computers... or at least Jarvis from Iron Man (in a laptop format )

 

Thanks for this information and also thank you for mentioning a Ramdisk program that will let us use the remainder of 4gb ram that a 32bit os can't use.

I have a suggestion though. A pagefile was designed to reside on a traditional hard drive, but ReadyBoost was designed to be used with flash memory which, while it can't compete with a hard drive in transfer rates, has much much better access times. RAM has even better access times and a ramdisk used a Readyboost drive provides a middle layer between ram and the page file and helps even more imo. I know it was a thread about XP but in case any of you upgraded or are thinking about it will help.