RamDisk? Is it worth it?

[johnnymk]

http://www.pcmag.com/article/0,2997,s%253D1470%2526a%253D22748,00.asp

[WhiskeyPapa]

Deja Vu.

A RAM drive utility was included with MS-DOS. We used to set up a RAM drive for the Windows 3.1 swap file.

$100 seems like too much.

[Startide]

There are freeware ram disk utilities out there for command line (DOS) as well as Windows9X environments. One use for ram disk is to put your cookie and cache onto it for instant deletion when you turn off the machine between users.

The DOS-based version is available at:
http://members.cox.net/dos/disk2.htm

[hapoo]

Originally posted by kb0wwp
Deja Vu.

A RAM drive utility was included with MS-DOS. We used to set up a RAM drive for the Windows 3.1 swap file.

$100 seems like too much.


RAM drive for a swap file is pointless! The purpose of a swap file is to use the hard drive as RAM, you just put the hard-drive-ram on ram.

[Dave_7]

Originally posted by hapoo



RAM drive for a swap file is pointless! The purpose of a swap file is to use the hard drive as RAM, you just put the hard-drive-ram on ram.

Yeah, but that IS the point... if you have enough RAM, then there's no reason to use the HD for the SwapFile (if you can help it). I know I wouldn't if I had a gig of RAM in my system.





Dave.

[hapoo]

you can set your swap file to 0 megs if you have that much ram and bypass the product

[unnamed]

dave they're saying if you have that much ram you don't really use the swap file.

theres no reason to use a ram drive for the swap file but i have heard of people loading the tcp/ip stack onto a ramdrive to speed up their connection a bit.

you don't need to buy a $100 program to do it though, there are ramdrive utilities that are free.

EDIT:
like this one free from microsoft.
http://download.microsoft.com/download/win2000ddk/sample01/1/NT5/EN-US/Ramdisk.exe

[Dave_7]

Ahhh... I see. Sorry, I misunderstood.

"you can set your swap file to 0 megs if you have that much ram and bypass the product." <---- I like that advice.




Dave.

[unnamed]

except there isn't really a reason to disable the swap file, it generally isn't a good idea.

windows generally doesnt use the swap file unless it needs it.

[Startide]

Originally posted by Admiral Hapoo:
RAM drive for a swap file is pointless! The purpose of a swap file is to use the hard drive as RAM, you just put the hard-drive-ram on ram.

Admiral, sir, one use of RAM drive for swap files, caches, and cookie folders is that if you shut down, the enemy cannot use their tools to pull data out of those files out of your hard drives!

sincerly,
Lieutenant Startide, Got|Apex naval intel division (not related to amd)

[hapoo]

Originally posted by Startide
Originally posted by Admiral Hapoo:
RAM drive for a swap file is pointless! The purpose of a swap file is to use the hard drive as RAM, you just put the hard-drive-ram on ram.

Admiral, sir, one use of RAM drive for swap files, caches, and cookie folders is that if you shut down, the enemy cannot use their tools to pull data out of those files out of your hard drives!

sincerly,
Lieutenant Startide, Got|Apex naval intel division (not related to amd)



Very true, but for the other 95% non-paranoid users, its not an issue. :P

[TommyBoomfiger]

IMO, RamDisk isnt worth $100. more like $15-30.
Ive used RamDisk for Win2K on a friends computer and I loved it. It took me only a few seconds to load quake 3. There is a catch to it, you can install most things on to the ramdisk partition, but if the computer crashes or if you turn it off without shutting down properly YOU WILL LOSE ALL THE DATA ON THE RAMDISK!!!! Not cool. Other than that, its FAST. Personally, i dont use ramdisk because i only have 1 gig of ram so i cant really use anything and have a decent amount of ram left over. Im waiting to get 2 gigs. You can also use it as a host for mounting a cd image for a superfast cd drive.