ReadyBoots via USB

[Huib]

Hi,
The function is working.

Questions:
-is it worthwile to use it having 2G Ram?
-it seems that the double is needed (4G USB) when 2G Ram is in use?
-on the other hand it seems that only a maximum of 2G can be used?

I would like to have the opinion of the experts.

Regards
Huib

 

[Mike Brannigan]

Hi,
The function is working.

Questions:
-is it worthwile to use it having 2G Ram?
-it seems that the double is needed (4G USB) when 2G Ram is in use?
-on the other hand it seems that only a maximum of 2G can be used?

I would like to have the opinion of the experts.

Regards
Huib

ReadyBoost has very little to do with RAM
The function of ReadyBoost is to take advantage of flash memory storage
devices by creating an intermediate caching layer on them that logically
sits between memory and disks.
This acts as a write through cache for accessing data on disk.,
After you create the cache SuperFetch populates the cache initially then
then as you access additional files they are cached in ReadyBoost memory and
if you write to disk these are written to Cache then through to disk, so the
next read of the file even if you close it (and assuming that you have not
had it flushed from ReadyBoost) will be from the faster USB memory then the
disk.
A cache of any size will improve performance as is not related to RAM.

 

[Taibear ios]

to clarify things even further in a simple manner

readyboost creates a mirror in the flashdrive of the superfetch data on the
hard disk...

this means that even if you pull the flashdrive out, vista will keep using
the data on the disk and nothing bad will happen.

superfetch and prefetch on xp is just a list of where files are located so
they can be accessed faster...

its an index.. thats all.. no part of the actual programs are there.

Why use a flashdrive then to mirror? Because flashdrives have small access
time. Thus the index can be read faster.

 

[Mike Brannigan]

to clarify things even further in a simple manner

readyboost creates a mirror in the flashdrive of the superfetch data on
the hard disk...

this means that even if you pull the flashdrive out, vista will keep using
the data on the disk and nothing bad will happen.

superfetch and prefetch on xp is just a list of where files are located so
they can be accessed faster...

its an index.. thats all.. no part of the actual programs are there.

Why use a flashdrive then to mirror? Because flashdrives have small access
time. Thus the index can be read faster.

Your description is not accurate.
The data held within the USB cache file is NOT just an index.
SuperFetch and XP's older and less efficient Prefetch do use information in
scenario files to watch the process and memory access and usage. BUT the
purpose of SuperFetch is to use that data to prepopulate memory with pages
of data that have been flushed out (as memory becomes available and in
preparation for those pages to be used based on the scenario data) - the
ReadyBoost cache is the place where these pages are prepopulated by
SuperFetch and also cached on their way to disk. SO yes as I explained
ReadyBoost is a write through cache - such that removal does not break
anything since the data is written there on its way to disk - BUT when those
pages are requested by the memory manager they are repopulated to RAM form
the ReadyBoost cache faster then from disk. And in addition to the write
through nature SuperFetch populates the ReadyBoost cache in preparation of
subsequent times when pages may be required as per the scenario files.

So for example - you have a number of applications open and you go to lunch
but a memory intensive process starts when you are away - those application
pages in memory will be flushed to disk but the job finishes before you come
back from lunch so Super Fetch will retrieve those pages and bring them back
into memory before you actually call them again by using the applications.
More interestingly you always open a new application after lunch such as a
mail client this will be in the scenario db and thus that mail clients
initial application load data will be SuperFetched to memory before you have
even clicked the icon. Obviously this is all memory permitting. (if you
had a ReadyBoost memory stick inserted and insufficient memory existed to
SuperFetch to RAM that after lunch app it would be SuperFetched to the USB
stick at least getting you closer to a faster launch time.)

--

Mike Brannigan

to clarify things even further in a simple manner

readyboost creates a mirror in the flashdrive of the superfetch data on
the hard disk...

this means that even if you pull the flashdrive out, vista will keep using
the data on the disk and nothing bad will happen.

superfetch and prefetch on xp is just a list of where files are located so
they can be accessed faster...

its an index.. thats all.. no part of the actual programs are there.

Why use a flashdrive then to mirror? Because flashdrives have small access
time. Thus the index can be read faster.

 

[John Barnes]

Thanks Mike

to clarify things even further in a simple manner

readyboost creates a mirror in the flashdrive of the superfetch data on
the hard disk...

this means that even if you pull the flashdrive out, vista will keep
using the data on the disk and nothing bad will happen.

superfetch and prefetch on xp is just a list of where files are located
so they can be accessed faster...

its an index.. thats all.. no part of the actual programs are there.

Why use a flashdrive then to mirror? Because flashdrives have small
access time. Thus the index can be read faster.

Your description is not accurate.
The data held within the USB cache file is NOT just an index.
SuperFetch and XP's older and less efficient Prefetch do use information
in scenario files to watch the process and memory access and usage. BUT
the purpose of SuperFetch is to use that data to prepopulate memory with
pages of data that have been flushed out (as memory becomes available and
in preparation for those pages to be used based on the scenario data) -
the ReadyBoost cache is the place where these pages are prepopulated by
SuperFetch and also cached on their way to disk. SO yes as I explained
ReadyBoost is a write through cache - such that removal does not break
anything since the data is written there on its way to disk - BUT when
those pages are requested by the memory manager they are repopulated to
RAM form the ReadyBoost cache faster then from disk. And in addition to
the write through nature SuperFetch populates the ReadyBoost cache in
preparation of subsequent times when pages may be required as per the
scenario files.

So for example - you have a number of applications open and you go to
lunch but a memory intensive process starts when you are away - those
application pages in memory will be flushed to disk but the job finishes
before you come back from lunch so Super Fetch will retrieve those pages
and bring them back into memory before you actually call them again by
using the applications. More interestingly you always open a new
application after lunch such as a mail client this will be in the scenario
db and thus that mail clients initial application load data will be
SuperFetched to memory before you have even clicked the icon. Obviously
this is all memory permitting. (if you had a ReadyBoost memory stick
inserted and insufficient memory existed to SuperFetch to RAM that after
lunch app it would be SuperFetched to the USB stick at least getting you
closer to a faster launch time.)

 

[Taibear ios]

Okay okay, your description may be accurate but its usless the way you
present the information.

I suggest you write what it is in one paragraph in simple words so simple
users will understand what you are talking about.

Dont you know the saying? I would make it smaller, but I didnt have the
time.

to clarify things even further in a simple manner

readyboost creates a mirror in the flashdrive of the superfetch data on
the hard disk...

this means that even if you pull the flashdrive out, vista will keep
using the data on the disk and nothing bad will happen.

superfetch and prefetch on xp is just a list of where files are located
so they can be accessed faster...

its an index.. thats all.. no part of the actual programs are there.

Why use a flashdrive then to mirror? Because flashdrives have small
access time. Thus the index can be read faster.

Your description is not accurate.
The data held within the USB cache file is NOT just an index.
SuperFetch and XP's older and less efficient Prefetch do use information
in scenario files to watch the process and memory access and usage. BUT
the purpose of SuperFetch is to use that data to prepopulate memory with
pages of data that have been flushed out (as memory becomes available and
in preparation for those pages to be used based on the scenario data) -
the ReadyBoost cache is the place where these pages are prepopulated by
SuperFetch and also cached on their way to disk. SO yes as I explained
ReadyBoost is a write through cache - such that removal does not break
anything since the data is written there on its way to disk - BUT when
those pages are requested by the memory manager they are repopulated to
RAM form the ReadyBoost cache faster then from disk. And in addition to
the write through nature SuperFetch populates the ReadyBoost cache in
preparation of subsequent times when pages may be required as per the
scenario files.

So for example - you have a number of applications open and you go to
lunch but a memory intensive process starts when you are away - those
application pages in memory will be flushed to disk but the job finishes
before you come back from lunch so Super Fetch will retrieve those pages
and bring them back into memory before you actually call them again by
using the applications. More interestingly you always open a new
application after lunch such as a mail client this will be in the scenario
db and thus that mail clients initial application load data will be
SuperFetched to memory before you have even clicked the icon. Obviously
this is all memory permitting. (if you had a ReadyBoost memory stick
inserted and insufficient memory existed to SuperFetch to RAM that after
lunch app it would be SuperFetched to the USB stick at least getting you
closer to a faster launch time.)

 

[gls858]

Hi,
The function is working.

Questions:
-is it worthwile to use it having 2G Ram?
-it seems that the double is needed (4G USB) when 2G Ram is in use?
-on the other hand it seems that only a maximum of 2G can be used?

I would like to have the opinion of the experts.

Regards
Huib

If you have 2 gig of RAM it's not worth the effort even if you already
have the USB device. IMO it's advertising hype. Tests show that it's
helps if your system has 512meg of RAM otherwise the "boost" is
imperceptible.

gls858

 

[Mike Brannigan]

Okay okay, your description may be accurate but its usless the way you
present the information.

I suggest you write what it is in one paragraph in simple words so simple
users will understand what you are talking about.

Dont you know the saying? I would make it smaller, but I didnt have the
time.

Not just more "accurate" but the actual accurate answer - yours was
completely wrong.

As regards simplifying my answer:-
OK - ReadyBoost improves performance.
If you have a USB stick and it meets the requirements then use it. You
have nothing to loose and potentially something to gain.

Simple enough for you.

 

[Chris Sidener]

Incredible!

Mike DID write one paragraph. Succinct, correct and difficult to re-write
using "simpler"
words. He followed that with a paragraph of examples. He was "spot on"
accurate.

Did you find words that you, or anyone over the age of 14, wouldn't
understand?

Chris S.

 

[Mike Brannigan]

-Windows Vista introduces Windows ReadyBoost, a new concept in adding
memory to a system. You can use non-volatile flash memory, such as that
on a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive, to improve performance
without having to add additional memory "under the hood."-

The way they describe it isnt all that promising. Like you'd be using
it if you had 512mb of ram. Do you need to format the drive especially?
Cos mine said it couldnt use the drive

The only requirement on the USB drive is that it meets basic IO
specifications:
Which are effectively if the drive is between 256MB and 32GB in size, has a
transfer rate of 2.5MB/s or higher for random 4KB reads, and has a transfer
rate of 1.75MB/s or higher for random 512KB writes, then ReadyBoost will ask
if you'd like to dedicate up to 4GB of the storage for disk caching.
As regards format; even thought ReadyBoost can use NTFS, it limits the
maximum cache size to 4GB to accommodate FAT32 limitations if you choose to
format using this method.

On another note the first Windows ReadyDrives are out, they have a
cache built in so the drive has to be used less often mainly for saving
power. But they dont give better/much better performance yet.

'Samsung's Hybrid Hard Drive (HHD) released to OEMs - Engadget'
(http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/07/samsungs-hybrid-hard-drive-hhd-released-to-oems/)

Not sure where you get your performance figures to claim "they don't give
better/much better performance yet" as the link you provide only has
Samsungs estimates which do look like benefit.

 

[JIV]

Not sure where you get your performance figures to claim "they don't give
better/much better performance yet" as the link you provide only has
Samsungs estimates which do look like benefit.

Any studies on whether whether FAT32 vs NTFS makes a perceptible difference
w/ the Readyboost device?

 

[Huib]

Hi,
I was the intial requester and for an unknown reason i only did appear
middle the answer of Mike.
As i am not an expert and want only to know if it worthwile to use it i
repeat here my question:
I do know that the USB ReadyBoots is only an additional help for programs
who uses diskspace as tempoary memory.
My question is more related to the point: having 2G Ram and having a fast
HDD has it still wothwhile to use ReadyBoots?
And if yes where is the breakeven-point of the size required on the USB?
With the comments i was reading i should say yes but using it with a 340MB
USB i saw no difference.

My initial questions were:

 

[John Barnes]

That is probably because there is no universal answer. Mike told you what
happens. If the way you use your computer almost everything you are working
on remains in memory, which would be the case for most users with 2gig of
memory, then it has little practical use. Most would probably find it
useful at 512m and some would find it useful at 1gig. In any case, the
difference between reading from the disk at an average of 8-9 ms and the USB
would hardly be noticeable and with a slow USB even less so. Make sure you
have a fast USB device if you are going to use it. Remember, also, that the
number of USB devices operating on your bus slows down the speed of data
access.

 

[Double Z]

My question is more related to the point: having 2G Ram and having a fast

HDD has it still wothwhile to use ReadyBoots?

It's actually called Readyboost, lol. Not a big deal, I know...

I have 2 Gigs RAM and use a 2 gig usb stick. I've noticed no
performance gain to speak of. My two cents.

 

[anonymous]

Probably not. Readyboost seems to work best if you have 1G ram and use a 2G
USB stick. Don't expect a performance jump, more of a tweak.