Hi,
I have 16GB of RAM. What is the best amount to allocate to PrimoCache? I'm using Level 1 cache on a 256 SSD PCIe dirve. I can always buy more RAM if it woukd help improves performance.
I also have a secondary 512GB Samsung EVO drive. I used 32GB of this drive for Level 2 cache on 2 x 2TB HHD in a RAID 1 configuration. Is that an OK amount?
Thanks.
David
Optimal Level 1 RAM cache
-
InquiringMind
- Level SS
- Posts: 477
- Joined: Wed Oct 06, 2010 11:10 pm
Re: Optimal Level 1 RAM cache
Welcome to the forums Davidst95,
To decide on how much RAM to allocate to L1 you need to know your maximum application RAM usage. Task Manager in WinXP will report this (Commit Charge/Peak) but it doesn't in later Windows versions - you'll have to install a more advanced monitor for these (such as Process Hacker - use View/System Information to see Peak Commit Charge there).
Once you know your peak usage, subtract it from your total RAM and lower that figure by another GB or so to give you a safety margin. That should provide an allocation for PrimoCache without limiting application memory usage.
The next step is to verify whether that allocation is used - PrimoCache's own statistics screen should show this so just check it at the end of a working day. If only a small portion of cache is being used, you may want to consider reducing allocation.
As for L2 usage, that depends on how much you access your HDDs (both frequency and filesizes). If the drives are used as backup or for infrequently accessed data (e.g. movies that are viewed once), then L2 caching may be of no benefit. Heavy usage may on the other hand benefit from more cache than you have allocated. PrimoCache's L2 statistics are worth reviewing before making a decision here (suggested amount: enough to be filled by the end of a typical working day).
To decide on how much RAM to allocate to L1 you need to know your maximum application RAM usage. Task Manager in WinXP will report this (Commit Charge/Peak) but it doesn't in later Windows versions - you'll have to install a more advanced monitor for these (such as Process Hacker - use View/System Information to see Peak Commit Charge there).
Once you know your peak usage, subtract it from your total RAM and lower that figure by another GB or so to give you a safety margin. That should provide an allocation for PrimoCache without limiting application memory usage.
The next step is to verify whether that allocation is used - PrimoCache's own statistics screen should show this so just check it at the end of a working day. If only a small portion of cache is being used, you may want to consider reducing allocation.
As for L2 usage, that depends on how much you access your HDDs (both frequency and filesizes). If the drives are used as backup or for infrequently accessed data (e.g. movies that are viewed once), then L2 caching may be of no benefit. Heavy usage may on the other hand benefit from more cache than you have allocated. PrimoCache's L2 statistics are worth reviewing before making a decision here (suggested amount: enough to be filled by the end of a typical working day).