I have an idea that I would like to kick around. I'm not a developer, so this may never become real, but I enjoy to try and come up with new ideas to make computers better.
Could a motherboard manufacturer add another RAM/HDD layer to increase speed? I understand that having a dedicated HDD for the OS and Swap File can increase speed. I see these 1GB USB 'jump drives' all the time. Could similar technology be used internally to achieve faster speed? Could a Motherboard add a layer of Memory that would be faster than a HDD, but not so fast as RAM?
I know that RAM drives are nothing new, but a RAM drive is volatile (it erases when you shut down). Like your jump drive, this would not erase. We'll call it a 'memory drive'. It would hold your OS in it. The size would have to be at least 2.5-4 GB, but it would not have to be as fast as RAM, since it would be accessed more like a HDD and would not be running at the speed or multiplier of the FSB. Without any need to worry about RPM speed or other mechanical limitations, couldn't an essentially faster loading and operating OS be obtained? Plus, if the swap file was loaded onto this 'memory drive', the benefits would be seen in many applications.
I am no electrical engineer, so I do not know if this would be possible. I do not know where it would connect. Would the PCI bus be too limiting?
Nor am I a software programmer. Would Windows even care if it was the 'C' drive?
Would it be cost effective?
Please let me know what you think.
The Duke
Could a motherboard manufacturer add another RAM/HDD layer to increase speed? I understand that having a dedicated HDD for the OS and Swap File can increase speed. I see these 1GB USB 'jump drives' all the time. Could similar technology be used internally to achieve faster speed? Could a Motherboard add a layer of Memory that would be faster than a HDD, but not so fast as RAM?
I know that RAM drives are nothing new, but a RAM drive is volatile (it erases when you shut down). Like your jump drive, this would not erase. We'll call it a 'memory drive'. It would hold your OS in it. The size would have to be at least 2.5-4 GB, but it would not have to be as fast as RAM, since it would be accessed more like a HDD and would not be running at the speed or multiplier of the FSB. Without any need to worry about RPM speed or other mechanical limitations, couldn't an essentially faster loading and operating OS be obtained? Plus, if the swap file was loaded onto this 'memory drive', the benefits would be seen in many applications.
I am no electrical engineer, so I do not know if this would be possible. I do not know where it would connect. Would the PCI bus be too limiting?
Nor am I a software programmer. Would Windows even care if it was the 'C' drive?
Would it be cost effective?
Please let me know what you think.
The Duke