FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

ReadyBoost for Vista 64

Post Date: 2009-08-22
 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
JoeVideo View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie

Email address used to purchase matched with forums account email.

Joined: 06 Aug 2009
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 47 		  Quote JoeVideo Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Topic: ReadyBoost for Vista 64
    Posted: 22 Aug 2009 at 4:16am
I installed a brand new regular SanDisk Cruzer 8 GB as ReadyBoost:
 
 
($20 at Radio Shack, in stock, 3 minutes to buy, 30 minutes to chat with the cute salesgirl)
[Disclaimer: I cannot vouch for any other flash drives or even the same purchased from discount merchants]
 
...as a ReadyBoost drive, formatted it to NTFS, set the ReadyBoost options to the 4 GB usage max and the 4 KB read setting (both seem to be defaults).
 
-------------------------------------------
Just insert, open "Computer", right click on the flash drive, go to "Properties", go to the "ReadyBoost" tab, select "Use this device", "Apply" and close all the way out.... give SuperFetch a chance to work with the new set-up... and see for yourself:
-------------------------------------------
 
...and a very simple ReadyBoost monitor:
Mine:
Others:
 
All I can say is that I've already seen a 5 sec. reduction in boot time (not much, but Digital Storm systems are so fast that even 5 sec. is pretty amazing). My apps do seem to open a bit quicker. Lastly, the simple and seemly very accurate ReadyBoost monitor has shown me some reads to the USB flash drive of well over 100 MB/sec. By spec, it's not supposed to be able go that fast, but it just does.
 
My own personal hypothesis at this point is that aside from any minor speed advantages I've gained, by function, this set-up will reduce some hard drive usage (and thus wear and tear of moving parts).
 
As always, all comments good and not so good are welcomed.
I earn what I own and I own what I earn,
Some days I teach and some days I learn.

Brief Specs:
i7 920 OC'd to 3.3GHz
6GB DDR3 1600MHz
300GB VelociRaptor
+ 2 7200RPM 1TBs
1 GTX 285 2 GB
Back to Top
Grog View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 21 Jun 2009
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 31 		  Quote Grog Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 23 Aug 2009 at 12:20pm

I've been reading up on this and it doesn't seem that you have to have that large of a flash drive.  I'm using a 1GIG cheap peice of crap (Transcend).  I have no idea who makes that.  It's a drive I had left over from the past and I'm just testing it with this application.  I've ordered a...

PNY Attaché 8GB Flash Drive (USB2.0 Portable) Model P-FD8GBATT2-FS - Retail

The reason I've ordered PNY is because their reviews seem to be better than the SanDisk reviews

Now, maybe I will see a difference with this size drive but, I haven't noticed a difference with this 1GIG I'm using right now.  I do have a question though.  After I've formated the drive to NTFS, do you set the slider to reserve the maximium amount of space for speed?  This is what I've done and the graph is almost completely blued, indicating most of the disk space has been used (962MB).  7.55MB of free space left.


Edited by Grog - 23 Aug 2009 at 12:20pm
Back to Top
JoeVideo View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie

Email address used to purchase matched with forums account email.

Joined: 06 Aug 2009
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 47 		  Quote JoeVideo Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 24 Aug 2009 at 1:44am
I'm using an 8 gig because the used space for RB is a little over exactly 4 gigs, there's no 5,6 or 7 gig USBF... and the price dif between the 4 and the 8 was $8.
 
Vista usually automatically sets the space needed for best results, but I believe it can be manually reduced sometimes. From what I've read, it always "tries" to get the full 4 gigs, if available. Mine reads 4.05 gigs, though there is a little bit of proprietarily installed immovable software/firmware called U3:
...which I think I remember reading somewhere, that it actually enhances the efficiency of RB somehow (?).
 
This might remove some of it, if you want:
 
Legend also has it that different physical parts of some USBFs have "intentionally" different properties, for various aspects/functions of the random+read/write processes (?). Basic metallurgy also tells me that different parts of the drive will have "unintentionally" different properties. I don't think electronics at this level would actually bother with scrutinously tested consistent alloys for mass production. It's probably just a random mix of aluminum, copper and tin inside most USBFs.
 
One thing I just found out is that Kaspersky AV gets hung-up on the U3's virtual CD, so I have to remove it when I do an AV scan of any kind.
 
As far the reviews go, they usually don't test the "random" read/write speeds, which is what RB actually uses. My hypothesis on this is that when a tiny little USBF is optimized for read and write (not random), it's not as good at "random"... Which might explain why in specific RB comparison tests, the best performers on paper aren't necessarily the best ones to use for RB purposes. [Please see my "Disclaimer" in the lead post of this topic]
 
In any case, it's mostly a fun little experiment on my end, but I understand that it can actually be very useful with some systems, especially older Vista laptops.
 
Happy Boosting!
I earn what I own and I own what I earn,
Some days I teach and some days I learn.

Brief Specs:
i7 920 OC'd to 3.3GHz
6GB DDR3 1600MHz
300GB VelociRaptor
+ 2 7200RPM 1TBs
1 GTX 285 2 GB
Back to Top
JoeVideo View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie

Email address used to purchase matched with forums account email.

Joined: 06 Aug 2009
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 47 		  Quote JoeVideo Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 25 Aug 2009 at 5:58am
Update:
I manually removed the U3 software from the above USB ReadyBoost (see below), then did everything else the same as my above set-up and did a quick layman's type of test... Ran Kaspersky, Degrag and Disc Check (Error-checking)... opened a few IEs... all at the same time... and I actually saw one ReadyBoost read of 214 MB/sec.
 
How to remove U3 from SanDisk:
 
  • Click on the red square on your Desktop that says Cruzer or click on the yellow and white U3 icon in the system try by the clock.
  • Click on Settings
  • Click on U3 LaunchPad Settings
  • Click on Uninstall on the left side menu
  • Follow the onscreen instructions. You may choose the option to back up and restore your data, but you should also have already done this manually, just in case something happens during the uninstall.
    		•
    I earn what I own and I own what I earn,
    Some days I teach and some days I learn.

    Brief Specs:
    i7 920 OC'd to 3.3GHz
    6GB DDR3 1600MHz
    300GB VelociRaptor
    + 2 7200RPM 1TBs
    1 GTX 285 2 GB
    Back to Top
     Post Reply Post Reply

    Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



    This page was generated in 0.0390625 seconds.