So the latest adventure started with checking out how my computer was using ram memory is executing 3D intensive graphics tasks which benchmarked rather poorly as per Performance Test benchmark
I run the benchmark graphics test components and watched memory usage in real time using freeware System Explorer
what ? only 28% of system memory being used and still 228MB paged out in virtual memory space on the ssd ?
( high speed storage used in support of computer oparations and tasks = ram memory + memory storage in the form of a dedicated file on the disk drive,( page file) . the former fast , the latter relatively slow)
From my observations did not seem optimal
So what to do ? well maybe trick the app into loading paged out parts of it programming onto high speed ram memory, rather than the lower speed page file on the ssd
sort of a high speed virtual memory - a page file located in ram memory
With extra ram memory now available and usage about half , a ram disk might be worth a try
A ramdisk creates storage space functionally the same as a conventional disk drive most are familar with, but in ram memory space ( but stored data is erased when the computer is shut down)
But this is ideal for creating an additional page file , which can be user configured within Windows via control panel
A good thing is that Windows will tend to use the fastest page file accessable first - so will favour the ram drive page file , once it loads ( will not speed up start up , does tend to slow down start up a little as it takes time to load as is a start up configured app)
Anyhow I found a inept owner friendly ramdisk app , freeware AMD Radeon Ramdisk
Settled on creating a approx 1.2GB ram disk , and then 1GB volume ( displays as a drive in Windows explorer )
8GB total installed ram memory - normal max usage about 4GB - max shared system memory 1.6GB - Windows elbow room 1GB
Configured to start at computer start
so the results - did not make any difference to the benchmarks results - 3D rating remained lamentatable
However did wake up time to complete security scanning of files by 30% faster and web browsing using Edge browser is much more snappier now
So for my normal usage and desired computer performance has been a good improvement
( Another unexpected delight has been quicker duration in shutting down now - and i suppose less wearing of the ssd for longer life)
More or less finished refurbishing subject computer - is working as per my requirements
Silent , fast booting , quick launching of applets and apps , reasonably quick security scanning times, fast webpage rendering , rich images.
These projects donated by respected acquaintances are not for resale - is an interest of mine and I keep them as valued possessions
some collect paintings , old books , stamps , play sports , what ever - each to their own
BootRacer says
Not bad for a H57 chipset mainboard
In case anyone is wondering why a ramdisk may speed up some tasks , compare your own benchmarked disk drive which stores the page file ( the extended virtual memory space of solid state ram memory ) with that of page file performance in ram memory space
1GB is only maybe 20% of allocated page file space but Windows will tend to use the fastest storage device first - so is reasonable to expect that even such a small capacity ramdisk will be well used
The other advantage is for those using SSD's which are reputed to suffer " wear " - a ram drive for the page file should reduce this - and for those with electro-magnetic drives , should be evidenced by less clicking noise during task processing
However for any particular usage resource system memory requirements there should be enough excess free memory space to create a ramdisk without compromising other ram intensive sub-systems like graphics shared system memory or else performance or quality will be degraded
In the end maybe only observably useful for some computers and usage
As usual , if in doubt , don't.
