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What is the purpose of Windows 10 ReadyBoost?

What is the purpose of Windows 10 ReadyBoost?

  • It speeds up the Windows 10 start time.
  • It enables Windows to treat an external flash device, such as a USB drive, as a hard drive cache.
  • It enables the UEFI bios to boot faster.
  • It enables the quadruple channels on a 64-bit processor.

The correct answer is:

“It enables Windows to treat an external flash device, such as a USB drive, as a hard drive cache.”

Understanding Windows 10 ReadyBoost

Windows ReadyBoost is a feature introduced by Microsoft, designed to improve the performance of a system by using an external storage device, such as a USB flash drive, as a cache to supplement the system’s internal memory (RAM). Initially rolled out with Windows Vista, this feature has persisted through subsequent versions of Windows, including Windows 10. Its primary purpose is to enhance the speed and performance of computers, particularly those with limited memory.

How ReadyBoost Works

ReadyBoost functions by utilizing a USB flash drive or other external storage devices as an additional layer of memory caching for the hard disk drive (HDD). Caching, in this context, refers to the process of storing frequently accessed data in a location that allows faster retrieval than traditional storage. This cache helps the computer quickly access data that would otherwise be stored in slower areas of the system, such as on the hard drive.

Key Concepts of ReadyBoost:

  1. Flash Memory as Cache: Flash memory (in the form of USB drives or SD cards) can be used for caching. The system offloads some of the memory paging tasks to the external storage, which can offer better performance in certain scenarios. This is particularly true for systems that still use traditional hard drives rather than solid-state drives (SSDs).
  2. Memory Paging and Cache: Windows operating systems use a memory paging file (or swap file) as a part of the system’s memory management strategy. When the system runs out of RAM, it moves some of the less frequently used data from RAM to a paging file stored on the hard drive. ReadyBoost helps reduce the load on the hard drive by moving this temporary data to faster flash memory, reducing the time it takes for the system to retrieve it.
  3. Performance Boost for HDD-Based Systems: ReadyBoost provides a noticeable performance improvement on systems with mechanical hard drives (HDDs), as these drives are typically slower in accessing data compared to flash memory. However, on modern SSD-based systems, the performance benefits are less noticeable or even negligible since SSDs are faster than most USB drives.

Requirements for Using ReadyBoost

To use ReadyBoost effectively, the external storage device must meet certain criteria. Not all USB drives or memory cards are suitable for this purpose. The drive must have:

  • A minimum capacity of 256 MB: Drives smaller than this cannot be used for ReadyBoost.
  • A high data transfer rate: The device needs to read at 2.5 MB per second for random reads and write at 1.75 MB per second for random writes of small (4KB) files.
  • Enough free space: The drive needs to have sufficient free space to allocate to the ReadyBoost cache. Windows typically suggests how much space should be used when you set up the feature.

If the drive is compatible, you will see the ReadyBoost option when you insert the device into your system.

How ReadyBoost Helps with System Performance

The impact of ReadyBoost is particularly noticeable on systems with limited amounts of RAM (usually less than 4GB). The following outlines the key ways ReadyBoost can help improve system performance:

  1. Supplementing RAM in Low-Memory Systems: When a system runs out of RAM, it has to rely more heavily on its paging file, which is stored on the hard drive. The hard drive is much slower than RAM, resulting in delays and slower performance. ReadyBoost helps by offloading some of the data that would otherwise be stored in the paging file onto the USB drive, which is faster than the hard drive.
  2. Reducing Hard Drive Access Times: In HDD-based systems, the hard drive can become a bottleneck due to the mechanical nature of the drive, which involves moving parts. By shifting some of the load to an external USB drive that doesn’t have moving parts, ReadyBoost can improve the overall access times for data stored on the cache.
  3. Speeding Up Application Load Times: For frequently used applications, ReadyBoost can store some of the relevant data in its cache, allowing the system to access it more quickly when the application is started. This can result in faster load times for programs that are opened regularly.
  4. Assisting with Multitasking: When multiple applications are running, and the system starts to run low on RAM, ReadyBoost helps by ensuring that data related to the less-used applications can be temporarily stored in the cache. This reduces the likelihood of the system slowing down due to excessive memory usage.

ReadyBoost’s Impact on Modern Systems

While ReadyBoost was a useful feature during the time of its introduction, its relevance has diminished on modern systems, particularly those equipped with solid-state drives (SSDs) and larger amounts of RAM. SSDs, being flash-based storage themselves, are generally faster than most USB flash drives, meaning that ReadyBoost would not offer much performance improvement in such cases.

When is ReadyBoost Most Effective?

  1. Low-RAM Systems: The most significant performance gains can be seen on systems with limited RAM (e.g., 2GB or less). If your system struggles to keep up with memory demands when running several applications, ReadyBoost can provide a noticeable boost.
  2. HDD-Based Systems: If your computer still uses a mechanical hard drive, especially one with slower access speeds, ReadyBoost can help by reducing the hard drive’s workload.
  3. Older Machines: Older machines with limited hardware resources can benefit the most from ReadyBoost. These systems often don’t have the luxury of upgrading to an SSD or additional RAM, and in such cases, using a USB drive for caching can help prolong the system’s usability.

When ReadyBoost May Not Help:

  1. Systems with SSDs: Since SSDs are already faster than most USB flash drives, ReadyBoost won’t offer much, if any, improvement. Windows automatically disables ReadyBoost on systems with SSDs because the drive itself is fast enough that adding a flash drive would not be beneficial.
  2. High-RAM Systems: If your system already has plenty of RAM (e.g., 8GB or more), there is little need for ReadyBoost. In such systems, the operating system can manage memory efficiently without relying on external caching.

Steps to Enable ReadyBoost in Windows 10

If your system meets the criteria for using ReadyBoost, enabling the feature is relatively straightforward:

  1. Insert a USB flash drive into your computer.
  2. In File Explorer, right-click the USB drive and select Properties.
  3. Click on the ReadyBoost tab.
  4. Choose how much of the drive’s space you want to allocate for ReadyBoost. You can either allow Windows to select the recommended amount or manually adjust it.
  5. Click OK to enable ReadyBoost.

Conclusion

Windows 10 ReadyBoost is a useful feature, particularly for older systems or computers with limited RAM and traditional hard drives. By using an external flash device as a hard drive cache, ReadyBoost can help reduce the load on the system’s internal memory and improve performance. However, on modern SSD-equipped systems or those with ample RAM, the benefits of ReadyBoost may be minimal or nonexistent. Nevertheless, for users looking for an easy and cost-effective way to speed up their computer, especially if they cannot upgrade the hardware, ReadyBoost remains a viable option.