Cache required by 7 Home Premium 64-bit?

[mcintyre94]

Is there any information available anywhere covering the basic cache use of Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit? I'm talking when it's running in the Background, without Windows based tasks also running, for simplicity.

Quick background information; I've just bought a Custom PC which has a 32MB Cache on its 500GB HDD, and intend to use it for gaming. I'm trying to decide whether to stick a cheap HDD in for Windows 7 to run on alone, leaving the Cache to my games and applications. However, I've heard 32MB is quite good (feels weird saying that about computers, haha), and obviously the cost of a HDD could easily buy a game or two. So, if anyone has any idea, please could you help me?

Thanks in advance,
Callum.

PS: All information on my Profile is the new PC, not this one. That one will run Windows 7, this runs Vista.
PPS: I'm really sorry if this is in the wrong place, I have checked and couldn't see a better Forum. I have read the rules. If it's some sort of test of reading,

"Abusing the PM (Private Message) system with any of the above, or sending PMs to members for Windows 7 related help instead of posting it in the forum."

This should have "is not allowed" or "Please do not" or similar attached to it.
PPPS: This seems to be quite a new Forum. Nice job on getting so well ranked on Google so quickly.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Hello, Welcome to the Forums!
Nice job filling out your system specs.
32MB is a good sized cache on a hard drive. You should have no trouble playing games.

BTW, this forum has been around since the beta days of Windows 7, if not earlier.

 

[mcintyre94]

Thanks Jonathan.

That was really helpful, thanks. I'll stop panicking about getting another Hard Drive by christmas then.

 

[MilesAhead]

You can achieve performance by having the OS on one physical HD and applications on another. For under $100 you can still get a performing drive with 32 MB cache. You might want to check out something like WD Caviar Black 640 GB for the system drive. That is if you don't mind reinstalling your programs. Drive letter assignment and registry and all that.

The idea is the boot HD handles the OS and paging file, while the 2nd HD runs demanding software. That way you have 2 separate armatures moving on separate physical drives, eliminating thrashing.

Although I just googled and noticed a patent for multi-armature HD. Independent seeks on each platter. Plus there is solid state. But, for cheap storage that performs pretty well a couple of standard Sata HDs still works.

 

[Jonathan_King]

That is if you don't mind reinstalling your programs. Drive letter assignment and registry and all that.View attachment 42140

He could also just clone his old drive to the new one, and adjust the partitions.

 

[mcintyre94]

Yep, I'm aware of Solid State but it's just too expensive right now.

I was most likely going to look for a cheap SATA HDD with about 40GB storage (just to be safe) and at least whatever Cache you guys would recommend.

I'm pretty sure I'll be alright without, but if I can I'll probably still go for it, just for simplicity. Depends on Windows 7's recommended cache.

EDIT: This PC was bought from scratch and is shipped with a blank HDD. No worries about re-installing programmes or anything, nothing's there except for what will come with Windows 7.

 

[logicearth]

I'm pretty sure I'll be alright without, but if I can I'll probably still go for it, just for simplicity. Depends on Windows 7's recommended cache.

You'll be fine with or without cache, but having more cache on the HDD the better the performance there will be. Well in theory anyways.

 

[mcintyre94]

Yep, I appreciate this isn't essential, but the aim is to harness the power of the PC nicely.

I just hoped someone would know of a rough cache I should give Windows 7, so I could work out whether or not to buy the second HDD.

EDIT: In other news, my System Specs are now more detailed.

 

[Frostmourne]

I'd buy one hard drive for Windows and your games and move the page file to another hard drive if you want. Otherwise just one hard drive is enough - choose the right one. You need one with dense platters, decent read/write times and a fat cache. That said most 500GB hard drives have 16MB caches. I bought a Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB / 32MB cache with 2 500GB platters providing the space. The denser the better. Thats enough for any games.

 

[MilesAhead]

I got the 750GB drive from SMS. The 640GB has slightly better performance. You can see it here:

http://www.supermediastore.com/prod...=15&sortBy=price&search=caviar+black&offset=0

The good thing about this SMS is, it's not the lowest price you could find, but the "free standard shipping" uses FedEx and the drive comes packed sandwiched between 2 large foam pads with a square cut out of one. The chances of it arriving in perfect condition are very high. Also they are great for plugging into USB docking stations, which is how I use them. Nice quiet drives. They run warm, but not hot. At least not so hot that they burn your hand when you pull 'em out of a docking station.

I saw the specs sheet from WD and on that series the 500GB and 640GB have the best performance. All the Caviar Black series have 32 MB cache.

 

[MilesAhead]

That is if you don't mind reinstalling your programs. Drive letter assignment and registry and all that.View attachment 42140

He could also just clone his old drive to the new one, and adjust the partitions.

If the OS and the applications are on the same drive, won't they be in the Registry as C: ?? How's the cloning work if you are going to have OS on one drive and programs on another? Just for future reference in case I want to add a drive sometime.