ReadyBoost?

[Ronnie]

I've installed a couple of flash drives that are supposed to support
ReadyBoost in Vista on a couple of my Vista computers, however I'm not
seeing much on an increase in speed. I've looked at the Task Manager, but
I'm not seeing any type of memory size increase either. How does this work?
Would it be better to install more ram rather than this setup?

Ronnie

 

[AJR]

The subject of ReadyBoost has been "covered" many times - however. here
goes - Readyboost is not an adjunct to RAM! It is an aid to "Superfetch"
Vista's answer to XP's Prefetch.
It is faster to read/write to a flash drive/stick (depending on specs) then
to the HD. Vista checks the device specs and if it certifies it for
ReadyBoost use, non-sequential read/writes are directed to the device -
sequential read/writes to the HD.

So any increase in performancce depends on type of HD activity. In
determining suitability, Vista also compares device specs to the HD specs
(why a device may funcion as ReadyBoost in one computer and not another) -
main spec is HD rotational speed - which is why ReadyBoost is much more
suitable for laptops (low HD speed).

Mminimum standards required for ReadyBoost. are:

a.. 2.5 MB/sec throughout for 4 KB random reads (randon meaning
non-sequential)
b.. 1.75 MB/sec throughout for 512 KB random writes

 

[Steve Thackery]

As AJR says, Readyboost is only really relevant where you can't fit extra
RAM. When you've only got a small amount of RAM, the memory must be paged
to disk frequently, which slows things down. Readyboost speeds up this
paging activity somewhat.

BUT - by far the best way to improve performance is to avoid paging to disk
in the first place. Spend your money on extra RAM if your machine will take
it. Aim for 2G.

SteveT

 

[AJR]

Note "...As AJR says, Readyboost is only really relevant where you can't fit
extra RAM. .." - I did not "say that" - what I said was that "Readyboost is
NOT an adjunct to RAM".
RAM and Superfetch (virtual memory, paging file, etc.) perform different
functions - basically RAM "handles" active program threads -
Superfetch/ReadyBoost - passive (used) threads on the basis of usage in that
they may be recalled.

Vista default setting for the page file size is 1 1/2 times - adding more
RAM increaes the default size (which you can increae without adding RAM)
does not significantly affect speed as ReadyBoost does.

Value of Readyboost is noted by the appearance of Hybrid drives whch include
"built-in" flash drive capability.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I've installed a couple of flash drives that are supposed to support
ReadyBoost in Vista on a couple of my Vista computers, however I'm not
seeing much on an increase in speed.

How much RAM do these computers have? Unless they are under 2GB, you
seldom see any improvement.

I've looked at the Task Manager, but
I'm not seeing any type of memory size increase either.

No, you never do. Ready Boost does *not* increase the amount of RAM,
nor directly substitute for it.

How does this work?

It's disk caching. Read here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReadyBoost

Would it be better to install more ram rather than this setup?

In general, yes, more RAM is better than ReadyBoost. However, whether
more RAM will help you depends on how much RAM you already have, and
what apps you run. If you already have enough RAM to keep you from
needing to use the swap file, neither more RAM nor ReadyBoost will
help you.

 

[On the Bridge]

readyboost doesnt do sh*t

 

[JW]

Ready Boost does not increase the amount of main memory on your system.
When you configure a flash drive for ready boost it acts as cache memory for
your paging file allowing you to retrieve data that had to be paged out from
main memory faster.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

Ready boost is only really useful if your system has less than 1GB of
memory.

--
--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[AJR]

If the memory slot has an LED indicator it is a good visual clue to
ReadyBoost activity.

with credentials such as "Associate Expert Windows - Shell/User:...." I
would not expect such a post - may I suggest a review of ReadyBoost as
documented in the "Vista Resource Kit".

 

[JW]

I totally disagree with you. Where did you ever get this idea?

 

[Spirit]

My Laptop has 2gig and a FAST Thumbdrive and readyboost is a significant
resource
when I have a few thing open.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

Sorry you feel that way AJR. I have simply answered the posters question in
a truthful way. I have used Ready boost on a 2GB machine and have not seen
any significant increase in performance. I certainly wouldn't recommend
using Ready boost on any machine with memory in excess of 1GB and that is a
recommendation I stick with!

--
--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[John Barnett MVP]

I certainly haven't experienced any increase in performance with 2GB of
memory. My Core2 duo machine performs exactly the same with memory intensive
applications open (or numerous applications open) regardless of whether I
use ready boost or not.

--
--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..