ReadyBoost or Swap File on flash drive?

[Nigel Molesworth]

I've just bought a 4GB flash drive to use as a ReadyBoost drive. However, it
occurred to me that putting the swap file on might be a better idea. It's
going to be mounted inside the case of the PC, so not easily removable.

Any comments?

 

[Dustin Harper]

I'd recommend using the drive for Readyboost, rather that the swap drive.
Windows will use Readyboost to it's advantage. It really is efficient at
managing memory.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

The swap file is what ReadyBoost puts on the device. It is written to the
hard drive as well so that you can remove the device without harm to your
work. Vista will use the copy on the device for faster access, that's all.

 

[Xenomorph]

Keep in mind the transfer speeds of the device.

If you have a 1-4 gig swap file, do you really want your computer reading
that data at 5-30 megs a second off a memory stick, or 30-150 megs a second
off your hard drive??

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Where are you getting your numbers on the memory stick?

 

[jobox]

The speed is a factor, but flash drives are notorious for corrupting data.

 

[Xenomorph]

Search for any benchmarks for USB drives.


http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/flash2005.ars/8

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=2006&page=3

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/08/10/two_fast_and_functional_usb_flash_drives/page9.html

 

[BEidsvold]

Not only does it depend on the speed of the flash drive, but also how much
RAM you currently have on your PC. Using the exact same 4 GB flash drive, I
used Readyboost with 2 GB and 4GB RAM on my PC. There was no improvement
with the 4 GB installed, but quite an improvement with only 2 GB.
(Readyboost does accomplish not only the Page File usage, but also all disk
caching).

 

[DevilsPGD]

In message <[email protected]> "Colin

The swap file is what ReadyBoost puts on the device. It is written to the
hard drive as well so that you can remove the device without harm to your
work. Vista will use the copy on the device for faster access, that's all.

*sigh*

First off, there is no swap file, there is a page file. Pedantic? Yes.
However, there is a difference.

Second, what ReadyBoost does is not a pagefile (and definitely not a
swapfile), ReadyBoost is an extension/supplement to the filesystem
cache.

 

[DevilsPGD]

In message <#[email protected]> "jobox"

The speed is a factor, but flash drives are notorious for corrupting data.

Older or exceptionally cheap ones might, but I haven't seen anything
purchased in the last three or four years corrupt a single file (and
before that, I avoided USB based storage, so I have little personal
experience to draw from)

 

[Nigel Molesworth]

with only 2 GB...

^^^^

How quickly things change