Get a Flash Drive and Use ReadyBoost

Get a Flash Drive and Use ReadyBoost

To start, this does not apply to us SSD users as there is no significant access time increase from the SSD and the USB storage drive.

For systems with limited RAM, Vista has a file on the hard drive called pagefile.sys. When RAM is consumed, it uses pagefile to store and retrieve files accessed most often. If you can imagine, this results in a huge drop in performance because accessing hard drive has slow access time than RAM.

Vista now enables us to pop in a USB drive and create a disk cache through the added memory which in some systems can be a huge step up, especially when 2Gb storage drives are so common now.

First, if your going to buy a drive, it has to have the following specifications:

• It must be USB 2.0 compatible;
• It must be at least 64mb in size; and
• It must be able to read at 3.5mb/sec and write at 2.5mb/sec which all pretty much are in any case.

Method

• Plug in the USB storage drive;
• Press Start/Computer and right click on the new drive;
• If the drive is compatible there will be a tab for ReadyBoost, click on it;
• Select 'Use this Device' and select the amount of space you want to use.

Now, there is no need for restarting the system and the effects occur instantaneously. It is nice to know that when you restart with this drive again, it automatically defaults to ReadyBoost again. I would expect those running Vista with 512mb will see a huge difference by sticking a 2Gb drive in performance where those with 1Gb will still visibly see the difference.

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