RAMDisk+SSD? Boot time Important.

Hi,

I have a T420 with (only) 40GB mSATA, and after installing W7, I have only 5GB free. So, I need to move all the temporary files, caches, etc to another drive. And I have 8GB RAM and I don't think I use all the RAM now and certainly I can set aside 2GB for RAMDisk. I have also a 7200rpm hard disk in my T420.

My questions:
1) Do you think it is better to use RAMDisk or the hard disk for the temporary files, caches (and what else)? Why?

2) If RAMdisk, is 2GB sufficient? (how can I check the current size of the temporary files, caches, etc in my laptop?)

3) I read about RAMDisk will slow down the boot time. From my understanding, it is because they set the RAMDisk so that those files are backup into the harddisk before the computer shuts down. If I do not back up (I don't need those temporary files after I shut down), will RAMDisk slow down my boot and shut down time?

4) If I put my computer to sleep/hibernate, will I lose all the data in the RAMDisk?

Thanks.

Yee Kan

 

My answers:

using ramdisk for temp files is the best usage of ramdisk, imho. it cleans itself after every reboot. not just temp files, you can also put page file there.

the size depends on your usage. the more the better. I am using 32-bit win7, and i put all upper part memory that can't be used by OS (5gb total) for the ramdrive.

i don't suggest you backup your ramdrive. it is intended for cache usage. I guess it might slow down a little bit, but not that noticeable -- my feelings, could be wrong.

sleep is fine. hibernate is not allowed, at least for the version i am using.

edit: i am using the gavotte ramdisk which supports PAE -- this lets you use upper part memory that can't be used by 32-bit win7. it is free.

 

disable hibernate, youll get 2-8 gb back. then set the page file to 512mb.

 

All above is good advise, especially disable hibernate and shrink the page file.

Ramdisk is the way to go for temp files. Point Windows to the ramdisk and it'll setup new temp files at boot time. So, no need to save the ramdisk with stuff on it; save the ramdisk as mostly empty. Will speed boot that way.

As for ramdisk size, experiment. Start large, shrink it down, depending upon needs.

SSD + Ramdisk = best of both worlds. Fast boot, super quick in operation.

I rejuvenated a couple Z61p laptops and now have nice little speedy laptops that oughta last for another couple of years for light usage.

 

+1. You may also try compressing "Program Files" to get extra additional gigabytes in exchange for very minor increase in CPU load. With just 40GB C:\ disk it may be useful to move C:\Users directory to another disk, but that is not a very easy task w/o fresh install (there are plenty of guides in the Internet).

Using RAM disk for temp files is not a particularly good idea. Many apps write a lot of data to it (for example, when creating a .zip archive, it may be first created in %TEMP%, and only then copied to the final location).

Also, and more importantly, there are applications / installation programs that expect temp directory to be persistent between reboots. Keeping TEMP directory on RAM drive may result in some apps failing to install, or even cause BSOD on upgrades.

Performance wise, your extra RAM will be still used for temp files as cache, so there there hardly will be significant performance benefits. In fact, performance may degrade, as with RAM disk there will be less RAM for disk cache.

 

Oh, really? I didn't realize that temp directory has any significance, except for if we want to go back to the history. I realize that unzip will normally go to the temporary directory, but that is fine with me since I don't expect to unzip more than 2GB, probably. I will still have 6GB RAM free, and that's probably enough for disk cache (RAM usage seldom exceed 3GB). What do you think?

 

Not always true. You should analyze the usage of TEMP space to determine whether a ramdisk will help or not. A little experimentation will go a long way in showing this.

I run the TEMP directory on a ramdisk in a Win7 config on a W700 and see substantial resource savings by doing so. BUT, it depends upon whether you have any heavy hitters that grind TEMP space, which I do.