Inward_Spiral
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Disk cache vs virtual memory in Windows...what's the difference?
Hoping everyone can help set me straight on this subject, because I have often thought these two were the same thing.
This subject was brought up because we're using an app that requires a lot of memory (both physical and virtual).
One of my team members asked if we should re-configure the app to not write so much data out to memory, and let Windows Disk Caching handle the load.
Now, to my knowledge, disk caching occurs when an action is performed repeatedly in windows, and Windows caches the required info for that action to speed things up. Now, isn't that "cache" in virtual memory anyway?
Would really appreciate an assist here, I learned most of the principles of computers off of *nix boxes, and sometimes Windows throws me a curve, so I want to make sure I understand what's going on here.
Many thanks!
This subject was brought up because we're using an app that requires a lot of memory (both physical and virtual).
One of my team members asked if we should re-configure the app to not write so much data out to memory, and let Windows Disk Caching handle the load.
Now, to my knowledge, disk caching occurs when an action is performed repeatedly in windows, and Windows caches the required info for that action to speed things up. Now, isn't that "cache" in virtual memory anyway?
Would really appreciate an assist here, I learned most of the principles of computers off of *nix boxes, and sometimes Windows throws me a curve, so I want to make sure I understand what's going on here.
Many thanks!
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So, if there isn't a pagefile, and the app won't fit into RAM, then windows can still employ an HDD cache?
No not quite. The disk Cache and RAM are independent items. I suspect what you were told is off load things like data to the Write Behind Cache. Which if I am not mistakens means write to disk when system is somewhat Idle especailly the disk or otherwise write to disk when OS is shutting down.
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My fault for not awarding points after JammyPak and CrazyOne helped me out.
Both of you were a big help, I can't believe I didn't close out this post and credit you two!
Both of you were a big help, I can't believe I didn't close out this post and credit you two!
Umm well yes and no and maybe. Of cousrse most modern Hard disks have a "CACHE" which is RAM on the hard disk. Now cache can go into yeah virtual memory or if there is enough RAM on the system then perhaps it will all go to RAM and perhaps not.
On my machine (XP Pro) I have elimanated the Virtual Memory(Pagefile) so everything goes to RAM for me.