What is the ReadyBoost option that comes with some USB hard Drives

[Melissa]

I am just enquirying as to what the option is on some generic External USB Flash Drives and Hard Drives for storage that it has an option in the properties section that there is a ReadyBoost option.

When I initially trialled the option it created a folder on the drive. I do not know what it does with the storage space or if it alters anything else.

Does anyone know the purpose of the Readyboost option.

 

[Barman58]

Readyboost is a Windows function, that allows a USB pen drive to augment the system memory for speeding up the system start.

The reason it does not appear on all devices is that there is a set of criteria, that has to be met before windows will consider using a particular device for readyboost, it has to be formated in a certain way and also of sufficient speed to make the option worthwhile

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReadyBoost

 

[nilank]

...and it's only useful when you're low on RAM and have a fast pendrive. You have 4 gigs, so you don't much need it!

 

[LMiller7]

ReadyBoost uses the flash drive as a cache for the hard drive. The OS already uses RAM as a cache but on systems with limited memory there often isn't enough of it for efficient caching. Flash drives have much faster seek times than conventional drives so if their other performance characteristics are adequate they make a good cache. Not as good as RAM but not bad.

ReadyBoost has the greatest benefits on systems with slow hard drives and limited RAM. With 4 GB RAM (usually more than enough for a good cache) and a reasonably fast hard drive ReadyBoost is unlikely to be of much benefit.

 

[Comp Cmndo]

ReadyBoost - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"On laptop computers, the performance shifts more in favor of flash memory because laptop memory is more expensive than desktop memory and many laptops have relatively slow 4200 RPM and 5400 RPM hard drives."

This is no longer true. Laptop drives are mostly 5400rpm & some are 7200rpm (same as desktop). If you have an SSD, there is no benefit at all. If you have a 7200rpm drive, there may be a measurable but no noticeable benefit.

Also, DDR3 memory is not expensive, anymore. You could probably add a 4GB module for $25. According to Sony specs, you may have already upgraded RAM?
http://www.sony-asia.com/product/vpcyb16kg

Just noticed you are using Win7-32bit, so RAM over 4GB is not recognized. It may not actually see over 3GB.

 

[x BlueRobot]

These links may explain a few things:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/performance-maintenance/201571-how-does-readyboost-work.html
• SuperFetch: How it Works & Myths

 

[Melissa]

I actually have additional 2GB added and had the computer looked at back in December. I am not too sure how to check for the extra memory.

I will in future Google as perhaps it may be easier. I just wondered how it worked. I have it on the flash drive - just wondering if you have the same option on Expansion drives etc.
My computer is running slow. So I am going through process of elimination and see if my so called friend fixed my computer - lap top I should say