16GB ReadyBoost Ram

LetItBe_2

Hi,

I currently have 8GB of Ram thinking about doubling it to 16GB as I use heavy duty programs on computer I read about Ready boost virtual memory would it make such a difference buying a 32GB usd stick for cheap and using 8 to 16GB of additional virtual ram than buying 8GB hardware Ram?

Anyone been down this route?

Thanks.

fwor

I guess the quick answer to the question "Do I need more RAM" is to run System Monitor in the background while using your typical mix of heavy duty programs, and see if you are getting near to using it all. If you aren't, there's not a lot of point in fitting more.

It's not really correct to think of ReadyBoost as "virtual RAM". It simply acts as a larger version of a HDD's built-in cache - unlike RAM, it can't be used as "working space" by programs. It also consumes CPU cycles to keep it current, while a HDD's cache does not.

Almost certainly a better solution than ReadyBoost would be to change from a conventional HDD to an SSD, though that may not be cheap, even with today's falling prices, if your HDD needs to be large...

Richie-from-the-Boro

ReadyBoost is a Microsoft product and a function of windows 7

Want a simple way to speed up your PC?

Just plug in a USB flash drive or card and let ReadyBoost borrow it. ReadyBoost is designed to help when your PC's memory is running low. Low memory can make your computer sluggish because Windows, which needs a place to stash data, turns to the hard drive. Flash memory offers a speedier alternative.

ReadyBoost works with most flash storage devices. In Windows 7, it can handle more flash memory and even multiple devices—up to eight, for a maximum 256 gigabytes (GB) of additional memory.

Extra RAM is, as fwor says, a different thing altogether.

closed

waste of time

System

If you have more than 4GB of memory then it is unlikely that you will see any improvement by using readyboost. Readyboost only really has an effect if you have 2GB or less of memory.

SSD regardless of the amount of memory totally negates any improvement from Readyboost.

TBH I doubt if even under the heaviest load your machine is using anywhere near the 8GB that you already have. If you are seeing problems then it is probably more to do with the fact that the programs have not been written to make use of multi core architecture. Or even that they are 32 bit programs working in a 64 bit environment.

almillar

8GB sounds like plenty to me, and I've just upgraded to 4GB from 2GB on my desktop, as well as adding a 128GB SSD, and have just given up ReadyBoost.
If you think about how ultra fast RAM is, an SSD is quite fast. Then you've got ReadyBoost, which will be stuck at the speed of a USB2 stick probably, and a bit faster than some mechanical hard drives (latency wise anyway), but nowhere near as fast as the other two.

LetItBe_2

im using 1GB of a 2GB usb stick and it has made a difference I feel, however I am using 8GB harwardware ram and 1GB virtual ram.

spannerzone

closed wrote: »

waste of time

I'd agree.... checking online suggestst that readyboost was only really effective with Vista or Win7 running on a paltry 1GB ram....any more ram like 2GB and readyboost made no discernable difference.