Re: ReadyBoost compatible SD cards?
Stephan's dialogue is more like a triade (whatever that means).
Few "true" comments:
1. A ReadyBoost cache is created by Vista (via Superfetch) whether or not
you use an external ReadyBoost device.
2. ReadyBoost is utilized for non-sequential reads/writes - sequential
read/writes are directed to the HD. Therefore performance boost varies and
depends on type of HD "action".
3. If Vista "OKs" a device for ReadyBoost use - it is signifying that the
above read/writes will be faster to the device than the HD.
4. A ReadyBoost external device will not, repeat will not, improve
performance when utilized with desktops with "newer" HD specs.
5. A ReadyBoost device will improve performace when the HD Vista
performance index is 5 or lower - which is why ReadyBoost is "excellent' in
laptops.
6. ReadyBoost also "tracks" bootup and application usage over a period of
time and will improve boot time
7. ReadyBoost works in conert with two other "Ready.." functions -
ReadyDrive (Specific HD requirements) and unfortunately I do not recall the
third Ready utility.
8. Data written to the ReadyBoost device is encrypted and cannot be
accessed by "normal" means (Explorer, etc.)
9. An idea of activity is indicated by the device LED.
"Stephan Rose" <nospam@spammer.com> wrote in message
news:O8WdnQumdL4REwvbnZ2dnUVZ8vidnZ2d@giganews.com...
> On Thu, 12 Jul 2007 12:00:31 -0500, Swingman wrote:
>
>> "Doug" wrote in message
>>> When I tried ReadyBoost with a 4GB usb drive I made the mistake of
>>> allowing Vista to use the entire device. When a week later it failed to
>>> show up on the list of devices and I got a message something like "No
>>> such
>>> device found", so if you try it, be sure to reserve a small part as an
>>> ordinary drive to provide a toehold so that you can communicate with it
>>> and perhaps chkdsk it and/or reformat it. As it is I have the device and
>>> can find no way of using it for anything. It seems to have been trashed.
>>>
>>> But it even when it was up and running it brought about no detectable
>>> improvement in performance. I had 2GB RAM. From my brief attempt I feel
>>> it's not worth spending any time thinking about ReadyBoost.
>> \
>> Pretty much my experience ... to the point that I have actually been
>> contacted by MSFT after seeing one of my posts here in regard to
>> ReadyBoost.
>>
>> I did manage to re-format the 2GB SD that ReadyBoost mangled and put it
>> back
>> in use, but am reluctant to put anything but wiki-on-a-stick on it.
>
> The thing about Ready boost is that it can't work. If it does, then the
> system is so under spec that it should probably be running DOS 6.0
>
> Flash writes slower than a hard drive. Period. While it does read faster
> due to no seek times (though I am not sure about raw read bandwidth of a
> HD vs Flash with seek times taken out), it still can't read faster than
> the
> available bandwidth. The available bandwidth to flash card readers is
> significantly lower than that to hard drives over IDE or SATA.
>
> Here are some specs on USB Flash drives and their respective read & write
> speeds.
>
> http://www.everythingusb.com/hardware/Storage/USB_Flash_Drives.htm
>
> The best drive on that list has a read bandwidth of 34 mb/sec and a
> write bandwidth of 28mb/sec. It gets worse from there.
>
> SATA on the other hand has a bandwidth up to 150mb/sec and SATAII doubles
> this to 300mb/sec.
>
> So even if you cut the bandwidth in half to account for seek time losses,
> hard drives still win.
>
> There is no way Readyboost *can* work. It would need a direct hardware
> interface to the CPU like RAM has. Then, maybe then, it would work.
>
> Not even Solid state disks directly access their flash memory. Even they
> have to use RAM as a buffer between their flash memory and the
> interface to the PC to achieve their speeds.
>
> The only thing ReadyBoost is boosting is Microsoft's Marketing Hype.
>
> --
> Stephan
> 2003 Yamaha R6
>
> ????????????????
> ?????????????? 
In the case of a built in SD slot in say, a notebook,