Anybody using SuperSpeed's SuperCache software with a modern SSD?

[MRFS]

Dear Friends,

I've been a very happy user of SuperSpeed's RamDisk Plus product for many years.

Although I have never used it, they also have a similar RAM-based product called SuperCache.

I've started reading about it here:

Disk Cache, Hybrid Disk Cache and RamDisk

... and here:

http://www.superspeed.com/library/sc...-reference.pdf


NOTE THIS FEATURE:

"Automatic configuration of boot drive (usually C:) during installation."


This documentation describes two (2) modes:

(1) cache mode
-and-
(2) mirror mode


My interest in this product stems from the recent availability of chipsets
like Intel's X79 which supports up to 8 x DIMM slots in quad-channel mode.

Fully populated with 8GB DIMMs, such a desktop PC supports 64GB of DDR3 SDRAM!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231513


And, I've just purchased 2 x Corsair 60GB Force 3 SSDs and they are working fine.

Putting the two concepts together, it appears feasible
(based on my reading of the SuperCache documentation)
to entirely "mirror" a 30GB C: partition in that same amount of RAM
when a total of 64GB of RAM is installed in an X79 workstation.


I have this gut feeling that such a configuration is only scratching the surface
of what is possible with an X79 chipset and a sophisticated RAM-based caching
product like SuperCache.

For example, I would like to know if SuperCache supports "cache mode" when
the C: partition is actually a RAID 0 array with 2 or more fast SSDs.

Also, 16GB DDR3 DIMMs are already available for server motherboards,
so they can't be too far away for high-end workstation motherboards too:

8 x DIMM slots @ 16GB = 128GB !!


I'd love to share some ideas and experiences with anyone else who would
like to explore this special topic here.


Thanks!


MRFS

[OS-Wiz]

I plan to try the trial version of SuperCache once all my memory shows up. From my research it appears SuperSpeed's SuperCache sits atop the others. However, FancyCache does get a few favorable mentions.

[MRFS]

Thanks!

FYI: SuperSpeed's customer service is excellent too.

When I was building our 16GB workstation with Intel Q9550 CPU,
I got so involved in the hardware, I failed to pay attention
to their instructions for activating RamDisk Plus.

It was all my fault, but they were very patient with me,
and we finally got everything working perfectly.

So, I give their Tech Support an A+, based on past experience.


MRFS

[MRFS]

We tried SuperCache 5 from www.superspeed.com and their Tech Support
wrote to say this about using that software to "cache" the C: partition:

"Hello Paul,
At this time we are not recommending caching boot volumes (usually C. There appears to be an issue between SuperCache and the volsnap driver. We are currently investigating the problem. We have also communicating with Microsoft. There are no reported incidents of cache non-boot (i.e. data) volumes. I apologize for the inconvenience."


So, Highpoint's RocketCache may be a very viable alternative, if one wants to "cache" the C: system partition:

HighPoint 3420X8 RocketCache - Too Much Cache is Better Than Too Little - The SSD Review


MRFS

[OS-Wiz]

I'm currently using FancyCache and no problems have been encountered. Whenever I hit the same spot the second time (doing whatever) response time is awesome. I cache my boot and game SSDs.

EDIT: I should mention that I put my computer to Sleep rather than shut down so I can retain the cached data/maps/etc. I shutdown just once a week now to get rid of any garbage collected throughout the week.

[MRFS]

Thanks for this: a 90-day trial is very generous:

FancyCache Overview


Glad to hear it's working with your boot drive too.


MRFS

[MRFS]

I just downloaded, installed and ran FancyCache with very few changes to default settings:

FancyCache User Guide


Here are the results on an entry-level workstation, cache size is set at 4,096MB (4GB) total;
Intel D 945 CPU, ASRock G41M-S3 motherboard, 2 x 4GB Kingston DDR3-1333 (8GB total),
C: on RAID 0 w/ 2 x WD2503ABYX HDDs controlled by Highpoint RocketRAID 2720SGL,
Windows 7 x64:

ATTO.01.jpg


FancyCache also has a Performance window, which shows a VERY HIGH cache hit rate
after running ATTO above:

ATTO.02.jpg


I'm going to write the developers to ask if they can improve on that Read Hit Rate of 99.41% (just kidding

No apparent problems during installation, or re-booting promptly when C: is the only NTFS partition being cached
with FancyCache.

As the lovely spouse replied when her husband jumped off the Conestoga Wagon
and asked her what she thought of her new home:

"VAN NUYS!"

And, that's how Van Nuys, California, got its name
(Bill Gates liked this joke, so I'm re-using it).


THANKS FOR THE REFERRAL!!

VAN NUYS!!!


Cc: FancyCache: Romex Software - Primo Ramdisk | VSuite Ramdisk | FancyCache, Speed Up Your Computer


MRFS

[MRFS]

OK, now we're getting somewhere ...

The next graph was obtained by disabling the FancyCache on the C: partition,
and enabling it on the L: partition: the latter is a RAID 0 array w/ 2 x Corsair 60GB Force 3 SSDs:

Newegg.com - Corsair Force Series 3 CSSD-F60GB3A-BK 2.5" 60GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

also controlled by the same Highpoint RocketRAID 2720SGL PCI-E x8 RAID controller:

Newegg.com - HighPoint RocketRAID 2720SGL PCI-Express 2.0 x8 Low Profile SATA / SAS Controller Card


FancyCache.ATTO.03.jpg


The WRITE speeds have improved significantly, as compared to the RAID 0 results above using 2 x rotating HDDs
configured as a RAID 0 array.

Take into account that the default setting with FancyCache is to "write through" to the
underlying storage medium, so each WRITE actually performs two output operations --
one to the cache in RAM, and the other to the RAID 0 partition.

Nevertheless, this is a very controlled experiment, which helps to highlight the combined
effects attributable to a memory-resident cache and 2 x SSDs configured as a RAID 0 array.

And, with the sole exception of the READs required to load the ATTO software into memory,
the entire test is completely "solid-state": all I/O operations are performed with DDR3 RAM
or with a pair of Corsair Nand Flash SSDs (i.e. no moving parts).


MRFS

[Computurd]

fancycache is awesome, christopher ryan has been running some benches and hopefully he will come here and post up some results

[ChristopherRyan]

Peep this.


Mushkin Chronos Deluxe 120 with FancyCache

---------- Post added at 01:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:57 AM ----------

I'm experimenting with different settings, but so far so good.