What folders to put on RAMDisk?

Hi. I've recently upgraded to 32GB RAM, created 20GB RAMDisk with ASUS ROG RAMDisk software and I'm in need of help to verify & decide which folders should be added to this for overall better performance.

For now, I've synchronized whole installation folder of my Photoshop on C:\Program Files (about 3.5GB data) and I've seen significant better performance right off. I've even added TEMP folders - C:\Windows\Temp + %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp and Chrome folder, but I'm unsure if I should synchronize whole Chrome User Data folder as I did or maybe anything else should be synchronized, to keep the amount of data down as much as possible? The folder which has been synchronized is %USERPROFILE%AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data.

Could anyone verify if everything I did has been correct done? I'd even like to synchronize CS GO and GTA V but I don't really know which folders should be synchronized for these games? I can't do it like for Photoshop adding whole installation (game) folder as it's only 20GB RAMDisk and for example CS GO is 18.5GB on my SSD so it wouldn't really work. Thanks in advance.

bro67 said:

A RAM disk is not going to make much of a difference with your system. You risk losing valuable files if they get placed on the RAM Disk by accident and as for temp files, you again will not see much of a difference.

I never speak about speeding the whole system up, but some heavy applications and temp/cached files? Just by loading whole 3.5GB Photoshop CC folder at C:\Adobe\Program Files into RAMDisk, I saved 5-6 seconds just for application start... and I'm talking just about application startup, not operating temp/cache files files which can be a lot more than that.

thomaseg1 said:

I used to use a ram disk back in win 7.
I gave it up because the benefits do not add up to the risk.
Forgetting to save your work,Power outages,BSODs top the list.
As for temp files you run the risk of clearing the ram disk and deleting a IN-use
temp file and crashing your system.

Thank you for your post, but it was completely irrelevant for this topic. As you can see, I've never asked for use opinions, possibly troubles, and so one. I know risks and gains with using this kind of software and they aren't sounding so bad to be honest.

TairikuOkami said:

20GB is way too much, you are left with 12GB only, a lot of that 20GB could be used elsewhere.
I have 4GB GPU and it also uses 16GB RAM as a shared memory for textures and such.
I have only 2GB RAMDisk and I have put there a browser, documents and temp files.

You do not really need to put games there, since they are only being read. RAMDisk is beneficial for files, which are being frequently written, like documents or game save files, which take only several MB, eg Euro Truck Simulator used to cause lags, every-time it auto-saved to my HDD.

20GB isn't too much and I'm fine with only 12GB free for my daily use as I'm not even using more than 6GB when not gaming and editing in Photoshop. If I need more free RAM then I allocate less RAM into RAMDisk, simple as that. I've free room for that, anytime. By the way, the memory is dynamically allocated by ASUS ROG RAMDisk and these 20GB is the max amount which can be allocated. So like now, only 10,3GB memory is in use (6,5GB RAMDisk + 3,8GB system, apps), though my RAMDisk is set to 20GB I can still freely use another ~20GB ram for system, games and apps. Yes, games benefits RAMDisk as well. Copied my CS GO maps folder into RAMDisk (4GB files) and maps loading is a bit faster now.

Anyway, I'll be switching from ASUS RAMDisk to PrimoCache instead and let this program work on its own.

Moving a folder that size takes longer than opening it. It works if you are doing a VM setup for multiple users but risk errors if the system crashes or you lose power.

Make sure that you have a UPS with this setup, work on optimizing the RAM disk for speed and Write Cache, figure out what works the best for how you use it (The computer itself).

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Hi,
Ram disk is only really good for benchmarks and that might be just a few of them
Depending on how fast the ssd is, that is and of course ddr3-4 memory being used
DDR4 is likely faster than an hdd or ssd if not a m.2 ssd but still a lot of trouble for a score
Not actually for any real programs to use like this.

The only thing I use a ramdisk for is my Browser cache.....

ThrashZone said:

Hi,
Ram disk is only really good for benchmarks and that might be just a few of them
Depending on how fast the ssd is, that is and of course ddr3-4 memory being used
DDR4 is likely faster than an hdd or ssd if not a m.2 ssd but still a lot of trouble for a score
Not actually for any real programs to use like this.

Hi there

So you don't think programs like VMWare workstation are not "Real Programs" !!! OK you aren't running the VMWare program from the RAMDISK but you can run Virtual machines on a RAMDISK.

4GB RAM disk is great for "Non Persistent" Virtual Machines -- OK you have the slight overhead of copying a VM to the RAM disk before booting it up -- but then it's really fast and great for testing as it's not pesistent so ideal for teaching and training purposes as well as demoing software which you don't necessarily want permanently installed -- note if the (RAMDISK) VM needs to be re-booted then that's fine as well as it thinks the RAMdisk is a standard drive -- so unlike the sandbox you can test stuff that needs re-booting.

So if you've loads of RAM using a RAMDISK is not a bad idea -- also especially good for things like Photoshop scratch files etc etc.

Cheers
jimbo

Honestly from what ive learned so far you can move the following folders to a ramdisk.

Desktop,temp (using environment variables),Event logs Page file(only with certain ramdisk software, etc. You can right click on a folder and go to its properties and look for a location tab if you dont see it then its not worth moving unless you know what you are doing.

- - - Updated - - -

How to Move Your Documents, Music, and Other Folders Somewhere Else in Windows

That link might help you out a little

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