Using Dataram RAMdisk

[Windows7Trainee]

Mentioned recently I swapped my hard drive for an SSD, then increased RAM to 8 GB.

Installed RAMdisk (512 MB) and trying to send all the temporary files I can think of.

So far sending the cache for Google Chrome and IE, also redirected TMP and TEMP folders to RAMdisk.

Anything else?

 

[GeneO]

Why don't you put the browser caches on the SSD and use the RAM for programs? The SSD is plenty fast for a browser cache. I keep a 3GB browser cache on my SSD and having a cache that size is better than a smaller in-memory cache IMO. TMP should be fine on the SSD.

If you are worried about writes from these sources wearing out the SSD, forget it. Wear leveling algorithms on SSD are very good now. Like I said, I have my temp, browser and Photoshop caches on my SSD and at the rate I am going, my SSD will wear out in 13 years

These smaller tmp and cache files are just what the SSD ordered

 

[maxseven]

So far sending the cache for Google Chrome and IE, also redirected TMP and TEMP folders to RAMdisk.

Anything else?

I tried putting everything but the kitchen sink on it, and found that some programs create VERY LARGE temp files and the RAMDisk is inadequate for those. I forget the symptoms, but it was ugly enough that I backed-off from the RAMDisk almost completely with the exception of browser cache as you've got now.

I suspect 512MB is even inadequate for THAT but maybe you'll have better success than I (changed all mine to a GB).

 

[Windows7Trainee]

My intent is to reduce the writes to the SSD and extend it's life.

There may be a better way, hence the question.

 

[GeneO]

My intent is to reduce the writes to the SSD and extend it's life.

There may be a better way, hence the question.

You don't need to worry about that. Really. Here are my stats as an example:

Crucial m4 128 GB SSD. I have all my caches, including Photoshop and my temp files on the SSD. I use it at most 8/24. This SSD has about 3000 total erase cycles (these have been pushed to twice this many erase cycles with no errors by some ppl). I use the caches a lot for Photoshop and web browsing - I have 3GB of Firefox cache and about the same for Chrome and a large number of GB for Photoshop. Total cache is 10GB.

I have 1553 Power-on hours logged and have used 40 erase cycles (this includes several secure erases and about 5 windows reinstalls).

This means my power-on lifetime expected of this SSD is (3000/40)*1553 hours = 13 power-on years. Since I use the SSD only 8/24 hours, it should last me 13*(24/8) = 40 years.

With modern SSD wear-leveling algorithms, you should not worry about temp or cache - these are what the SSD does best - small random reads and writes, so use it! Otherwise what is the point of getting one - faster first time program startups?

 

[OldMX]

Moving the system temp folders to ramdisk is not a good idea, since 512mb is a little low space for it, i've seen applications installs fail because of this.