Now this one is a bit on the advanced side of things, previously I have shown simple fixes to speed up your machine, but this one is a bit more difficult to setup. Today I’m going to be talking about SSD caching.
First things first SSD Caching:
Now what is SSD caching? SSD caching is using an SSD to actively store commonly used programs and documents for faster access. Now what makes this different from just saving everything to your SSD is that your system actively decides what programs need to be cached instead of just the programs you install. This helps if you are on a budget and have a small SSD. Now this will not help you if the program is already stored in your RAM as RAM is already fastest method for loading programs, unless you have DIMM SSDs and if you do, kudos to you for having more money than you know what to do with.
Also, if you are running a hybrid drive then you are already using a small ssd as a cache for an hdd. Hybrid drives are essentially this process but already built into the drive.
Alright that aside lets get started on setting it up. Now this tutorial is for Windows users only. I would write one for Linux users, but it is much more involved AND a small fraction of our readers are Linux users.
WARNING: IT IS BEST TO DO THIS ON A CLEAN INSTALL OF WINDOWS
Step 1: Boot into your BIOS and switch your SATA controller to RAID mode. Then Reboot your system.
Step 2: Install Windows on your Hard-Drive NOT the Solid-State. We’ll get to that later.
Step 3: Install all your system drivers including the Chipset drivers. As well as the RST drivers (Rapid Storage Technology). Your motherboard manufacturer should have all of these on their website, if you don’t see RST drivers this is a good indication that your motherboard is not compatible, although nearly all Intel Motherboards since the Z67 chipset have been compatible so do not worry. Reboot
Step 4: Intel RST should now be available in your stem tray. Open it, it should look like this when opened:
(Ignore the error message)
Step 5: Click the Accelerate button at the top of the screen and select the SSD to allocate how storage you want to allocate to Smart Response Technology.
Note: RST can only use up to 64GB so the rest of your SSD can still be partitioned for use.
Step 6: Now Select an SRT mode. I would advise using the Maximized Mode as you will get the best overall performance yield with this mode when it comes to read and write times.
Alright that about covers it. Now there are other ways to do this and you don’t have to have a clean install of Windows to do this, but you would want to back up your partition before even attempting this.
I was originally going to include RAID, but there are too many different RAID configurations to include in this guide so that will be saved for a later date.
Let me know what you thought of this article in the comments below, and if there are enough of you interested in how to do this in Linux I will create a guide for that as well. Thanks Again everybody!
Matt Followell is another contributing author here at DSOGaming. A long time fan of PC Gaming and a huge supporter of the open source and homebrew movement. You’ll see him interacting with the community from time to time going by the user-name of Radapples.
Contact: Email
So after all of that you’re stuck with windows on a HDD?
I guess this is handy for those with a extremely small SSD and a large HDD but what about if you want to use windows and this caching on the same ssd?
If you have a large enough SSD just install Windows on you SSD like you would normally and use another partition for caching.
The writer should have wrote a guide on how to do that instead. Nobody will want to use a desperate ssd for only caching when they could install windows on it
I wrote this as a general guide for somebody who doesn’t have a budget to install their entire OS on an SSD, but it can be applied to those with a larger budget to speed up their system as a whole.
Also for AMD Users:
On your Windows XP, Se7eN or 8ight:
You can use SSD Provider software eg. Plextor, Samsung etc. They have Cache Solution integrated with their Dashboard SSD. Or if you prefer Better Solution i can point you to Best Cache SSD Soft -> http://www.romexsoftware.com/en-us/primo-cache/download.html
You’ll have 90 Days Trail.
Primocache is Best for any HDD solutions, RAID etc. also you can have any SSD size for cache + is option for additional Cache lev.1 with RAM 🙂
So I have (Primo) with 128GB SanDisk UltraII + 512MB from RAM 😀 for my RAID 0 conf.
And its BIG difference, Win, Games, Soft all its Ultra Fast 😀
Now i have 84GB Free on SSD -> and Win + Soft and some Games are already Cached 😉
SSD’s have come down in price enough that most people should be able to at least have a 240gig in their system. But thanks for the article!
Well like I said below, it doesn’t have to be done exactly like this. You can install your OS on the SSD and use 20-64GB of the same SSD for HDD caching for overall speed improvements.
I wrote this guide more directed at people one a small budget, but there are other ways this can be applied.
Please state at the top in bold, that this procedure should be considered only for those who have a very small SSD (like 60Gb or below)…otherwise it’s useless since the main reason to get SSD is because you want your OS partition on it.
If you have a larger SSD you can still install Windows on it. You’ll just have to shrink your partition and set up SSD caching after shrinking the partition and using the extra space for caching.
so can we have links to the rest of ur guides?
cuz this one is too good to pass on the others 😛
here you go: http://www.dsogaming.com/articles/spring-cleaning-regular-maintenance/
🙂
Sure, this is actually a series of guides that I am writing to improve your system’s performance or free up some space.
They are all Titled Spring Cleaning:
http://www.dsogaming.com/?s=Spring+Cleaning
”CLEAN INSTALL OF WINDOWS”
Look up and download over a terabyte of data? Yeah no.
A terabyte of data? Like I said, it is advised to be done on a clean install, but it can also be done on a preexisting one. It just involves re-sizing partitions.
or Primocache 🙂 just point the SSD and its done, 1min -> including download lol
Guestion:
If I have an SSD with windows, HDD and an PCI-E SSD and install windows 10 for example, will the two other drives work like nothing happened? And a clean install is required if you change motherboard?
Ok, just making sure I understand you correctly. You have a SATA SSD with Windows on it. You want to use the PCI-E SSD to cache for your HDD?
Oh, my question has nothing to do with the article actually. Read it without that context.
Ok, are you asking if you install Windows on your SSD will the other two drives be affected? The answer is no they will not, they will remain the unchanged.
As far as a clean install, is it required? No. Is it advised? Yes. When you switch to a new motherboard you are going to have to install a new set of drivers and you don’t want those old drivers on your drive.
Ok so let’s say I want to get rid of my Z87-HD3 because it doesn’t support SLI, is it anyhow ok to just get some other similar board with SLI? What’s the actual downside of doing something like this? And last thing, the other drives will be unchanged but is it the same with programs or are they tied to windows somehow? Like can I put Battlefield 4 on my HDD and install win 10 on my SSD and expect BF4 to work? I really don’t want to clean install right now…
Anytime you get a different board you are going to need to install the drivers for it or certain functions won’t work. You’ll need to visit the manufacturer of your new board’s website and download those.
Yes your programs will still work, but they may not appear in the registry. If you upgrade from Windows 7 or 8 to 10 the registry will remain in tact, but if you move the game you will have to redirect Origin to its new folder.
Ok thanks for the info!
Thanks for the addition! 🙂
This guide really helps me because I own a laptop machine and I got it with a hybrid sshd (24gb+1tb). Really simple guide. Awesome series! Most of the mid -> high end laptops are coming with this kind of hybrid storage. Until I will upgrade the storage, this works for me. Thanks!