Readyboost vs pagefile vs RAM

[CharlyAR]

Hi guys,

I'm running Win7 x64 with a Quad Core and 4GB of RAM. I've enabled Readyboost on two USB devices of 2GB each I had laying around: a SanDisk Cruzer Micro, random read speed is 5341 KB/sec, random write speed is 3068 KB/sec. And a Kingston FCR-HS219, random read speed is 3412 KB/sec, random write speed is 3739 KB/sec. Not much, but should suffice to give it a try.

While booting, I saw and improvement. But the thing is I have my computer on 24/7 so I don't care that much about boot time. And I don't see a lot of activity of these devices once is turned on. Specially over the pendrive.

Is it because I have > 2GB RAM? Or is it because they are too small?
Would I benefit if I create a pagefile over one of these devices instead of Readyboost?
How can I "measure" this?
Is there a guide regarding Readyboost and USB devices?

Thanks a lot!

 

[Muad Dib]

Readyboost was really intended to assist low memory systems. Some of the older systems which are limited by the MOBO to 2GB, etc. Probably not going to help with 4GB.

Start the RESOURCE MONITOR and click the MEMORY tab to see how much memory is actually being used after boot and after some actual system use.

P.S. Welcome to SevenForums!

 

[CharlyAR]

Thanks Muad Dib for your fast reply!

So that's it. I thougth it was also being used for caching. I guess I will leave only one then. Win7 after booting only uses 1GB. Sometimes I use 100% of RAM, but most of the time I'm working I use about 2~3 GB.

And thansk for your welcome.

Cheers.

 

[Muad Dib]

Well, Win7 will EVENTUALLY use all available memory as "Standby". As you use apps and close them Win7 does not remove them from memory (unless it runs out of memory). Instead it marks the memory usage as "Standby" and if you use the app again it is already loaded. Thus you get a quick response when changing between apps that have already been loaded from the HDD.

One of the benefits of using "Sleep" mode is that all the most used apps stay loaded in memory.

 

[CharlyAR]

Thanks for the extended reply. That's useful.
Just out of curiosity, wow do you see how much memory is marked as "sleep"?
I also wonder how does it manage the fragmentation. I guess it will release the memory if it runs out OR it needs contiguous?

 

[Shockwave]

i have 8GB of RAM and i noticed a pretty good difference using my 8GB flash drive for readyboost

 

[Antman]

It must be over simplified for mass consumption...

Yes, the more RAM you have, the less readily apparent the effect is. No, it is not a disk cache. Yes, it is integral to the design of Windows 7.

I am just tired of the FUD on ReadyBoost and SuperFetch. Several highly knowledgeable posts exist on this forum addressing the matter in detail.

All due respect, Muad Dib, but you are less than entirely correct. Being pragmatic, your answer is good enough.

 

[Muad Dib]

Thanks for the extended reply. That's useful.
Just out of curiosity, wow do you see how much memory is marked as "sleep"?
I also wonder how does it manage the fragmentation. I guess it will release the memory if it runs out OR it needs contiguous?

Not "Sleep" but Standby. The memory outlined in the red boxes is STANDBY memory. It consists of programs/data that will not have to be read from the HDD when it is used again.

​

When the computer "Sleeps" the memory, including Standby memory, is retained.

The next time you re-boot start the biggest/slowest loading app you use and note how long it takes to load the first time. Close the app. Now start it again and note how long it takes to load.

 

[Muad Dib]

It must be over simplified for mass consumption...

Yes, the more RAM you have, the less readily apparent the effect is. No, it is not a disk cache. Yes, it is integral to the design of Windows 7.

I am just tired of the FUD on ReadyBoost and SuperFetch. Several highly knowledgeable posts exist on this forum addressing the matter in detail.

All due respect, Muad Dib, but you are less than entirely correct. Being pragmatic, your answer is good enough.

Antman, I am grateful for your blessing. I will be happy to post the MS Whitepaper in another thread if that will satisfy your stringent discipline. But for most people it is a bit of overkill. :sarc:

 

[Antman]

Antman, I am grateful for your blessing. I will be happy to post the MS Whitepaper in another thread if that will satisfy your stringent discipline. But for most people it is a bit of overkill. :sarc:

Half of the truth is less than the truth. You could preface an incomplete response with, "For your particular situation..." or "Practically..."

False information begins with partial information. You are being held to a high standard because this is not a lesser forum.

 

[Muad Dib]

Half of the truth is less than the truth. You could preface an incomplete response with, "For your particular situation..." or "Practically..."

False information begins with partial information. You are being held to a high standard because this is not a lesser forum.

In which case, a better, and more constructive, response on your part would have been to provide a link to the "complete truth" so the OP and others could investigate subject at their leisure.

May I suggest, perhaps you could have written "For a more detailed and complete explanation of the details regarding pre-fetch and standby memory please refer to...."

"Half the truth is less than the truth...", "False Information begins with partial information...". Cute, yes... helpful, no.

There are few posts in a technical forum that constitute a "complete response". If a user really wanted to read the the complete technical reference manual they would not post the question on a forum.

 

[etdavenport]

that wonderful guys, just great. but no one answered the question. Is it more beneficial to use your flash drive as a ready boost or just set a page file on it. I have a small netbook that I use for school and it is rather slow. So i bought a small [8mm , very low profile and totally cool] 4gb usb flash drive. Which would help regular computing more. Windows ready boost or jsut setting the page file to 4gb on the drive. I could care less about boot time.


thanks.

 

[Corazon]

Since you seem to have sufficient RAM in that Readyboost really provides no benefit to you, I'd go with the pagefile Just try it...but might I add that generally the pagefile is just a poor substitute for, well, more RAM...

 

[whs]

Here is a Ready Boost Monitor with which you can measure the activities. I think with 4GB of RAM or more, you will find very little, if any, activity since there is hardly any paging (hard faults) going on. You can check that in Resource Monitor > Memory tab > the graph on the bottom right. That shows you the paging activities over a certain period of time.

 

[etdavenport]

the size of the flash drive I am using is 4gb... The amount of RAM on the net book I am talking about is less than 2

 

[Britton30]

Welcome to Seven Forums etdavenport. since your netbook has 2GB RAM installed I would expect it to show some type of speed improvement,say, lagre apps opening or more steady video. You can try both options mentioned here i.e. page file on the USB and use as more RAM. I suspect you'll have more benefit with ReadyBoost, as WHS said.

 

[etdavenport]

thank you!

 

[Britton30]

Very welcome.