Any reason to use Readyboost on Windows 7 X64 with 8GB?

[Dorfdad]

Ive been reading about how windows 7 is supposed to improve and remove the restrictions of the readyboost that was in windows.

My question is if its even worth it on an X64 system with 8GB DDR3 RAM?

Would it improve the system speed even more having stuff cached right on the usb?

I have a 4GB sitting around here I would need to clean off but wanted to know what your thoughts were?

 

[zigzag3143]

readyboost

Ive been reading about how windows 7 is supposed to improve and remove the restrictions of the readyboost that was in windows.

My question is if its even worth it on an X64 system with 8GB DDR3 RAM?

Would it improve the system speed even more having stuff cached right on the usb?

I have a 4GB sitting around here I would need to clean off but wanted to know what your thoughts were?

Hey dorfdad

Readyboost is designed for systems with little ram. If I had 8 gigs readyboost would be off and so would the page file.

hope this helps a bit

Ken

 

[Zidane24]

Hey dorfdad

Readyboost is designed for systems with little ram. If I had 8 gigs readyboost would be off and so would the page file.

hope this helps a bit

Ken

I would set the PF to 64 MB (1/8) just so if an app complains about not finding the PF than it would see one

 

[Dorfdad]

Yep I was thinking that, but being new to 7 and the new changes... Ok thanks installing RTM now

 

[crazlunatic]

how do you even use all 8GB ram. I have 8GB and have not found a way to use it all. Even with virtual machine and gaming.

 

[Antman]

ReadyBoost does more than emulate RAM or Page. It complements SuperFetch. It caches certain disk I/O. I admit that I have not read any white papers on changes in Windows 7 implementation of ReadyBoost, but I doubt that MS made it dumber. It is my leap of faith that MS tweaked the algorithms that determine where small random data accesses are better served via flash versus HDD (page).

I have a self-modified USB splice inside my case, intercepting the lead to a flash reader. I soldered it to the back plane of the reader assembly. Here, I attach a 4GB thumb drive. It is internal and out of the way. If 7 ever needs it, it is there. I also keep a page file on a secondary controller RAID0 volume.

Let me define "Systems" as meaning hardware + Software. Some systems will never need the page file. Some systems will never need ReadyBoost. Some systems will experience a performance degradation using either or both. Some systems will benefit from either or both.

Many of the existing processes for analysis of page file efficiency will determine degradation vs. beneficence. Only direct examination of a particular system under a range of operational modalities will reveal the answer to the OP's question.

I think you youngsters call it YMMV.

 

[Antman]

how do you even use all 8GB ram...

Video editing. The 8 GB @ 667 limitation of my board renders my platform virtually obsolete.

Patiently waiting for proven USB3 implementation to upgrade.

 

[HerrKaLeun]

I have 8 GB and in Vista I had disabled pagefile once. Then Matlab would not work and I deisntalled it and tried all kind of things untill I realized that it needs a pagefile. Just leave it at default, if W7 doesn't need it, it won't hurt. If needed, it will use it. Unless your HDD really is small, leave it at the size W7 determines.

Unlike vista, W7 doesn't really fill up my RAM either. I haven't been using heavy software yet, though. I suppose once I do, superfetch will do more caching. In vista going from 4 GB to 8 GB sped up visrusscan, defragmentation and file transfer significantly.

I still have my 4 GB USB stick for readyboost. Not sure if it does anything. It sure doesn't hurt. If you have one, use it. If you don't have one... don't waste money buying one. I think W7 now can use much more than the vista-4GB for readyboost. That makes me think it is useful somehow.
My board has 4 RAM slots. 2 GB modules are inexpensive. 4GB modules are very expensive. So I figured readyboost would be the only feasible way to get more RAM (or fake RAM . no matter what you see how much RAM is free, you never have enough RAM! Especially not at $ 100 for 8 GB

 

[7echno7im]

In my experience, the disk cache is usually faster that the USB, even if the USB is 2.0. Forcing windows to use the readyboost on a USB drive when you have enough ram may even hinder your performance, unless the drive is an old 5400 super slow read/write drive

Also disabling the pagefile is not the best idea, setting it static is the best. Some apps require one.

If you disable the pagefile and Windows needs somewhere to page the data, it will page it it to kernel, which is not the best idea. If you have it too low, windows will dynamically make it bigger, hindering performance as well.

I have 6GB of RAM, I still set my pagefile to 6GB static, with out any readyboost drives, my drive's cache is faster than querying the USB drive over USB.

I recommend turning off the Windows write-cache buffer if you want more performance from your drives, but be sure that you have a power backup in case of loss of power. Not buffering the write cache could lead to loss of data if you lose power in midst of a write.

Computer Management> Device Manager>Disk Drives>[Select one]>Properties>Policies>Enable write cache>Turn Off write-cache buffer

Depending on your drive type, you may have even more performance options.

 

[Antman]

I asked nicely

7im? If the page file is a fixed size or range, and the Windows systems requires more memory than is available, the system will generate an out of memory error. It will NOT expand the page file.

Windows is designed to use a page file. The design aspect deals with memory allocation, not just memory usage.

I simply cannot wrap my head around "page it to kernel."

You are coming to a valid conclusion under some circumstances, but your roadmap is severely wrinkled.

 

[HerrKaLeun]

Sure the HDD cache is faster than the USB stick. But it is only 32 MB compared to 4 GB or so. Most HDD only have 16 MB or even 8 MB cache.
wouldn't W7 be smart enough to fully use the HDD cache and only use readyboost if the HDD cache is full already?

Maybe my readyboost doesn't help much, but do you think with good HDDs it would slow me down?

 

[Jon55]

I recommend turning off the Windows write-cache buffer if you want more performance from your drives, but be sure that you have a power backup in case of loss of power. Not buffering the write cache could lead to loss of data if you lose power in midst of a write.

Computer Management> Device Manager>Disk Drives>[Select one]>Properties>Policies>Enable write cache>Turn Off write-cache buffer

Depending on your drive type, you may have even more performance options.

Can anyone else verify this? Would this be a good idea to do on a laptop? Will disabling it really improve performance?

Regarding Paging, disabling it altogether is a bad idea. What about setting it to a low setting, such as 512 MB?

 

[Frostbite]

I tried ready-boost on a system with only 1 gig and 2 gig ready-boost and didn't see much difference. Since that system wasn't being stretched i.e. using over 750mb the ready-boost didn't do much. It's basically just a disk cache for small bits of data. Reading from disk is far quicker for bigger sequential reads.

 

[pparks1]

I played around with ReadyBoost under Vista and I didn't see 1 bit of difference with it enabled. With anything more than 2GB of RAM, I wouldn't even consider it. And since RAM is really cheap...might as well just put more RAM in it if you need to. And since the OP already has 8GB...there really isn't any more need.

As far as page files go, i usually recommend hard setting the size so that Windows doesn't adjust the size on the fly and possible fragment stuff. With regards to size...since hard drives are so incredibly cheap these days, why not make a 1x or 1.5x RAM pagefile and just be done with it. Even if you don't use it....it's unlikely that it will really take up that much of your hard drive...you can always shrink it later if you really need the hard drive space back.

 

[stormy13]

Whether you use a USB stick, SD card, etc, or not before you go disabling the Readyboost service you might want to read up on Readyboot.

 

[Antman]

I have been outside playing volleyball, me on one side and all of the kids on the other side. I am sore and tired. Tomorrow, I will post a number of references to address some of the archaic, mythic and just wrong information posted here. I will include source documentation links and will not include any anecdotal content. In the meantime, I am hoping that that some of you will do a little bit of homework and research the subject matter. HINT: You should not look at tweak guides.

Quoting myself is poor form. -1 on me.

ReadyBoost does more than emulate RAM or Page. It complements SuperFetch. It caches certain disk I/O....

Let me define "Systems" as meaning hardware + Software. Some systems will never need the page file. Some systems will never need ReadyBoost. Some systems will experience a performance degradation using either or both. Some systems will benefit from either or both.

Many of the existing processes for analysis of page file efficiency will determine degradation vs. beneficence. Only direct examination of a particular system under a range of operational modalities will reveal the answer....

 

[chuckr]

...since hard drives are so incredibly cheap these days, why not make a 1x or 1.5x RAM pagefile and just be done with it. Even if you don't use it....

I seem to have great difficulties reading various posts on this board...

RAM pagefile?
If you have a pagefile in RAM, you're just subtracting that much that could be used as system memory.

Perhaps I should read more...

(C'mon Antman, start typing !!!)

 

[Antman]

RAM pagefile? If you have a pagefile in RAM, you're just subtracting that much that could be used as system memory...
(C'mon Antman, start typing !!!)

He typed: why not make a 1x or 1.5x RAM pagefile and just be done with it.
It is not unreasonable to interpret this as: Just use the archaic formula, Page File Size = Physical memory times 1 or 1.5

I really am tired.

 

[pparks1]

Yes, I mean to set your pagefile = RAM x 1.0 or RAM x 1.5. For example, I have 8GB of RAM, and Windows suggested a 12GB page file. So, since I have 1TB of disk space and well over 850GB of free space, I figured why not.

Again, do I need a 12GB page file with 8GB RAM? Not likely.
Can I get the disk space back later if I need it? Yes.

 

[Generator]

Yes, I mean to set your pagefile = RAM x 1.0 or RAM x 1.5. For example, I have 8GB of RAM, and Windows suggested a 12GB page file. So, since I have 1TB of disk space and well over 850GB of free space, I figured why not.

Again, do I need a 12GB page file with 8GB RAM? Not likely.
Can I get the disk space back later if I need it? Yes.

That all depends on what applications you plan on running, I could kill that amount in a couple of mouse clicks.

I do beleive that.. this formula is one of the myth's Antman is on about. The reason being is if someone has a minimum amout of ram (say 500mb for arguments sake) and sets it to x1.5 (750mb), their still gonna run out of memory pretty sharpish depending on what they run.

Try running 3d Max and creating a sphere, then add a 'TurboSmooth' modifier to it and put the 'Iterations' up by 30 if you can.. it'll soon kill your memory and your CPU will have a head-ache for awhile.
(THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED, DO @ OWN RISK!!)


..& Yes, before anyone states the obvious.. I only have 2gb on an x64 system, but it runs perectly fine for what I need and I do beleive the virtual memory has something to do with this.