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Re: RAM Cache
To: limtc
On Sun, 4 May 2008 04:12:12 -0700, limtc wrote:
> My GS has 4MB RAM, but I only have 1 3.5" drive.
>
> - will increase the RAM Cache (in control panel) increase the
> performance? If yes, how much should I allocated?
> - will it reduce the shuffling of disks needed (as some OS functions
> might be cached)?
> - if I remove away the control panel, will the RAM cache setting still
> there?
I've never really been sure how the RAM cache works. I know it only
cached certain drives and really didn't make any difference if you were
using certain SCSI cards. Removing the Control Panel NDA shouldn't
affect the operation of the RAM cache. It should only remove your
ability to change the size of the cache if I remember correctly.
However, to improve performance in your situation I will suggest what
others have already suggested. Set up a RAM disk and copy a boot disk
onto it and change your Startup Slot to "RAM Disk". You should be able
to set up an 800 KB RAM disk and with the Startup Slot set to "Slot 5",
you can boot a 3.5" boot disk with the Finder and tools and maybe a few
inits or DAs, do a volume copy from the 3.5" disk to the RAM disk (just
drag the 3.5" icon over the RAM disk icon), change the Startup Slot to
"RAM Disk" and reboot. Then your 3.5" drive can be used for whatever
application you want to run and you won't have to do any disk swapping.
There are utilities that make copying a boot disk to a RAM disk and
changing the Startup Slot for you automatic. I believe at least one of
these utilities even lets you create a RAM disk that is larger than 800
KB so you can get even more on your RAM boot disk but it may require you
to swap disks once while it is copying the files from 3.5" to the RAM
disk.
If you could find an AE RAMKeeper or Checkmate Technologies MemorySaver,
you could even set up your RAM disk once and these cards will keep your
memory card powered up so that you don't need to keep copying the
operating system from 3.5" to the RAM disk every time you start up.
However, getting some type of mass storage device (SCSI or IDE hard
drive or Compact Flash adapter) might be a better investment than one of
the memory powering cards.
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