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    what is prefetch and how does it work?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Orochimaru, Sep 17, 2007.

  1. Orochimaru

    Orochimaru Notebook Consultant

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    what is prefetch and how does it work?
     
    Orochimaru, Sep 17, 2007
    #1
  2. Thomas

    Thomas McLovin

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    Thomas, Sep 17, 2007
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  3. CalebSchmerge

    CalebSchmerge Woof NBR Reviewer

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    In a nutshell it will load programs into RAM that it thinks you will use so that they load nearly instantly. If the computer needs the RAM, though, it will instantly overwrite the prefetched files.
     
    CalebSchmerge, Sep 17, 2007
    #3
  4. Orochimaru

    Orochimaru Notebook Consultant

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    so is it safe to disable prefetch
     
    Orochimaru, Sep 17, 2007
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  5. Firov

    Firov Notebook Consultant

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    Why would you want to? It improves performance, so why on Earth would you want to decrease your system's performance by disabling it?
     
    Firov, Sep 17, 2007
    #5
  6. Jalf

    Jalf Comrade Santa

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    Quoted for emphasis.

    Yes, it's safe to disable it, but why would you want to? Do you get a kick out of making applications load slower? ;)
     
    Jalf, Sep 17, 2007
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  7. Orochimaru

    Orochimaru Notebook Consultant

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    im sorry im new at this - please dont hate me
     
    Orochimaru, Sep 17, 2007
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  8. AKAJohnDoe

    AKAJohnDoe Mime with Tourette's

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    It is possible to disable prefetch (and superfetch in Vista as well); however, I did disable both in Vista Home Premium and tried it for awhile. I did not notice any appreciable differences, so I re-enabled them both.
     
    AKAJohnDoe, Sep 17, 2007
    #8
  9. Firov

    Firov Notebook Consultant

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    I'm sorry, but its far too late for that. I'm very set in my ways, so I'm afraid that I really have no choice but to hate you for life. Heh. I'm just joking. :)

    But honestly, you don't want to disable prefetch. Best case scenario, you don't notice a difference, worst case is that you notice the system starts programs much slower than before.
     
    Firov, Sep 17, 2007
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  10. AKAJohnDoe

    AKAJohnDoe Mime with Tourette's

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    There are many more tuning opportunities that are lower hanging fruit and therefore easier to reach (and also more effective) than disabling fetch.
     
    AKAJohnDoe, Sep 17, 2007
    #10