Best format for ReadyBoost

[FiOS Dave]

I am using a 2GB SD card for ReadyBoost, and want to know
what is the best format to use for quickest operation.
I've tried FAT, FAT32, exFAT and NTFS, but don't see much
difference (except for available space!)
Thanks in advance,

Dave

 

[JW]

FAT32

See:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc162480.aspx

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I am using a 2GB SD card for ReadyBoost, and want to know
what is the best format to use for quickest operation.
I've tried FAT, FAT32, exFAT and NTFS, but don't see much
difference (except for available space!)

How much RAM do you have?

If you have 2GB or more of RAM, the little it might do for you is so
slight as to be almost unnoticeable.

And if you have less than 2GB of RAM, you would do much better to
spend your money on upgrading your RAM to 2GB than on buying a device
for ReadyBoost use.

So, in general, I recommend *against* using ReadyBoost.

 

[FiOS Dave]

Thanks for the answer(s).

I have 2GB of RAM in the system, and currently have the SD card formatted
as NTFS. Since I have no other need for the SD card, I will leave it as is.
I understand that there are a limited number of write cycles for flash,
and wonder if there is a way to keep track?! I guess when the flash card
fails, I will know that I have hit that limit...

Dave

 

[JW]

You should reformat the Ready Boost drive to FAT32 since if you do it will
hold a lot more actual data since less space is required for the FAT 32
directories than for the NTFS directories.

 

[Bender]

Microsoft has written Readyboost to write to the flash memory in such a way
as to even out the wear. Expect about 10 years of constant use before the
number of write cycles becomes limited. By then a replacement should be very
cheap, and probably not even needed as new technology makes Readyboost
technology obsolete (such as the newly discovered memresitor) .

Thanks for the answer(s).

I have 2GB of RAM in the system, and currently have the SD card formatted
as NTFS. Since I have no other need for the SD card, I will leave it as
is.
I understand that there are a limited number of write cycles for flash,
and wonder if there is a way to keep track?! I guess when the flash card
fails, I will know that I have hit that limit...

Dave

 

[Poutnik]

Microsoft has written Readyboost to write to the flash memory in such a way
as to even out the wear. Expect about 10 years of constant use before the
number of write cycles becomes limited. ......

I would not say it is work of Microsoft.

Whatever FileSystem is flash memory formatted for,
internally it uses its own specialized filesystem for flash devices
( there are such ones )
or at least modified version of common filesystem.

It contains integrated memory controller chip to manage it.

The purpose is to manage "wear leveling" to get all sectors tired in the
same/similar speed. Some areas have extra backups.

Without it e.g. FAT32 File allocation table area would get damaged soon.