Ramdisk

Author
Post
Essentials Only Full Version
Echojester
Max Output Level: -89 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 94
  • Joined: 2014/04/28 11:14:41
  • Status: offline
2014/07/02 16:49:08 (permalink)

Ramdisk

I recently discovered using ramdisk to make software operate faster.i was wondering if anyone has any experience using this technique with audio software vsts,daws etc... and dose it offer any performance benefits besides load times?another already pointed out that sample libraries may benefit but it seems counterproductive to do that seeing all the ram you would have to use for large sample libraries. Im more interested in cpu performance befits it may offer seeing as ram moves data alot faster then even any ssd.any thoughts or insight appreciated.
#1

4 Replies Related Threads
    Guitarpima
    Max Output Level: -34 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 4125
    • Joined: 2005/11/19 23:53:59
    • Location: Terra 3
    • Status: offline
    Re: Ramdisk 2014/07/02 17:15:41 (permalink)
    I tried it once. My computer would not even start. I eventually did get it to start by disconnecting the power and the OS started. I promptly removed Ramdisk and haven't had a problem since.

    Notation, the original DAW. Everything else is just rote. We are who we are and no more than another. Humans, you people are crazy.
     
     Win 7 x64  X2  Intel DX58SO, Intel i7 920 2.66ghz 12gb DDR3  ASUS ATI EAH5750  650w PSU 4x WD HDs 320gb  DVD, DVD RW Eleven Rack, KRK Rokit 8s and 10s sub
    #2
    slartabartfast
    Max Output Level: -22.5 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 5289
    • Joined: 2005/10/30 01:38:34
    • Status: offline
    Re: Ramdisk 2014/07/02 17:51:43 (permalink)
    Pretty much by definition, the main benefit from a ram disk is that it cuts down dramatically on disk access time. If disk access is not bottlenecking the process, then it will not help much. Most of the time your programs are already loaded in memory, so unless they are lagging in reading or writing data to the hard drive you would not expect to see a major improvement in speed. As you note, loading a huge sample library into ramdisk memory, might not be all that practical, but if you could selectively load only a subset that included the samples you actually needed, there could be some improvement. Some of the programs that use samples will do this already in that they will load the samples you need in a project into a memory buffer on the first run so they will be available with minimal latency on subsequent runs. Although it might be tempting to put the swap file into ram if you have an enormous amount of memory, I expect that might cause problems with some applications. and of course if you are writing your program's output to a ramdisk, everything will evaporate if your computer crashes.
    #3
    ComposerT
    Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 14
    • Joined: 2014/07/03 01:32:56
    • Status: offline
    Re: Ramdisk 2014/07/03 08:15:25 (permalink)
    Hey Echo,
     
    I think these other replies are not on track.  The RAM DRIVE should be about 10x faster than your SSD, or 100x faster or more if you are using a HDD.
     
    IF you are using an SSD, placing your workload into RAM Drive also saves your SSD from numerous writes.

    I've just begun trying to figure out how to use the RAM DRIVE software that came with my Asus z97 motherboard, but the instructions are almost non-existent.  Frustrating.  Aside from step 1 or 2, there are no answers to the technical questions that arise.

    I'm tempted to use the RAM DRIVE software that I have read about from SoftPerfect which from my studying does seem to be much more user-friendly, and has no limitations on it, just like my Asus software, and from the reviews at OverClock.net it rated in the top 2 of many.  The good features set is that you can use as much RAM as your system has, i.e. 32GB and use all the available Drive letters that you wish to have numerous Ram Drives.  It also knows how to be in place when you boot up Windows so it is ready to go.

    I'm probably not telling you anything you have not already read up yourself.  I'm trying to get hard answers to your question(s) in a most serious fashion these next few days because I am wanting to load Sonar X3 Producer into RAM DRIVE to cut back latency and have super-fast response.  I've posted on a couple of sites yesterday trying to get more technical answers.



    #4
    Guitarpima
    Max Output Level: -34 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 4125
    • Joined: 2005/11/19 23:53:59
    • Location: Terra 3
    • Status: offline
    Re: Ramdisk 2014/07/03 10:17:17 (permalink)
    I forgot. I "imagined" my computer not starting because I used ramdisk. I don't see the point in it if everyone is using a 64bit OS. Ram is meant for system memory. Of course, the tech may have improved since I tried it last but I still don't see the point of it. I have platter disks and they work fine even with a high track count. SSDs are much better than platters. I would think by now that writes are not a problem so why worry about that?

    Notation, the original DAW. Everything else is just rote. We are who we are and no more than another. Humans, you people are crazy.
     
     Win 7 x64  X2  Intel DX58SO, Intel i7 920 2.66ghz 12gb DDR3  ASUS ATI EAH5750  650w PSU 4x WD HDs 320gb  DVD, DVD RW Eleven Rack, KRK Rokit 8s and 10s sub
    #5
    Jump to:
    © 2025 APG vNext Commercial Version 5.1