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This blog is where I post about my consulting work with Microsoft Technologies, and other random tidbits that don't fit in my Photo Blog or my Iraq Blog.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Desktop performance tweaking: using an SSD for ReadyBoost and Virtual Memory Paging File

Little known fact: Windows 7 CAN use an internal SSD drive for ReadyBoost.

Example scenario where it makes "some" sense: You have an existing Windows 7 desktop that could use a performance boost, but you don't have time to reinstall/migrate the boot drive to an SSD.

* Install a cheap SSD, and configure it for ReadyBoost (just right click on the drive the same as you would a USB Flash drive). NOTE: ReadyBoost will only use 4GB of the drive.

* Move your virtual memory paging file from the boot drive to the SSD.

* Move any data files you are working with actively to the SSD (such as source code if you are developer).

Total time to implement: About 10 minutes
Performance improvement: Noticeable/useful but not magical