Is there any way to use USB memory as RAM? - Scifi-Meshes.com

biotech · 10-07-2007, 09:31 AM

With the size of those USB sticks going up and up, seems to me if you could reconfigure them somehow as RAM it would really help with memory intensive programs, like what most of us use.

I know vertual memory is created on the hard drive, but seems to me if you could do a similar thing with the sticks it would be faster as there are no moving parts.

Berticus · 10-07-2007, 09:33 AM

Yep, just plug your drive in and tell your comp to use it as virtual memory. It works, but the bus speed of a usb port (even usb2.0) is slow compared to normal ram.

**Darkness** · 10-07-2007, 09:53 AM

Exactly, what use would that be ... USB drives are much too slow.

spudmonkey · 10-07-2007, 10:02 AM

The only way to get better than harddrive performance for virtual memory is to use a compact flash card with a CF to IDE adaptor. It's still not as quick as actual memory though and never could be

**Alec Trevelyan** · 10-07-2007, 11:56 AM

Now, a FireWire memory stick on the other hand....

JDR · 10-07-2007, 12:13 PM

And the award for dumbest question ever goes to....

biotech · 10-07-2007, 01:03 PM

And the award for most unneeded reply to a question ever goes to...

I do apologise for not being a computer expert.

**Spry** · 10-07-2007, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biotech

I do apologise for not being a computer expert.

Don't.

**Comco** · 10-08-2007, 01:32 PM

Bio - It is possible, but only in Windows Vista, as far as Microsoft OS's go. The term you want to look up is "ReadyBoost" (link).

It is also dependant on a few factors such as the speed of your USB / flash device...

Nadesico · 10-08-2007, 01:36 PM

Wait for USB3, the bus speed will be comparable to RAM at that point.

10-07-2007, 09:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
biotech SFM Oracle Realname: Rich Join Date: May 2006 Location: Hull, Yorkshire, England Age: 39 Posts: 3,718 Blog Entries: 2	Is there any way to use USB memory as RAM? With the size of those USB sticks going up and up, seems to me if you could reconfigure them somehow as RAM it would really help with memory intensive programs, like what most of us use. I know vertual memory is created on the hard drive, but seems to me if you could do a similar thing with the sticks it would be faster as there are no moving parts.
	Constellation class starship : Rick Sternbach concept runabout BSG Viper old school : BSG Colonial Movers now with updates!

10-07-2007, 09:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
Darkness You hassle, you die. Realname: F. Schnackenpfefferhausen Join Date: May 2006 Age: 21 Posts: 928	Exactly, what use would that be ... USB drives are much too slow.
	HALT! HAMMERZEIT!

10-07-2007, 11:56 AM	#5 (permalink)
Alec Trevelyan Awake and Dreaming Realname: Nate Howe Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston, MA Age: 24 Posts: 1,416	Now, a FireWire memory stick on the other hand....
	It's not a habit, it's cool, I feel alive... www.nhowephotography.com

10-07-2007, 12:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
JDR Banned Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,077	And the award for dumbest question ever goes to....
JDR Banned Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,077

10-07-2007, 01:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
biotech SFM Oracle Realname: Rich Join Date: May 2006 Location: Hull, Yorkshire, England Age: 39 Posts: 3,718 Blog Entries: 2	And the award for most unneeded reply to a question ever goes to... I do apologise for not being a computer expert.
	Constellation class starship : Rick Sternbach concept runabout BSG Viper old school : BSG Colonial Movers now with updates!

10-07-2007, 09:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
Berticus SFM Obsessed Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,190 Blog Entries: 6	Yep, just plug your drive in and tell your comp to use it as virtual memory. It works, but the bus speed of a usb port (even usb2.0) is slow compared to normal ram.

10-07-2007, 10:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
spudmonkey SFM Obsessed Total Awards: 4 (more» ...) Realname: Nick Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: UK Posts: 2,284	The only way to get better than harddrive performance for virtual memory is to use a compact flash card with a CF to IDE adaptor. It's still not as quick as actual memory though and never could be

10-08-2007, 01:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
Comco Administrator Realname: Tim Join Date: May 2006 Location: ACT, Australia Posts: 2,781	Bio - It is possible, but only in Windows Vista, as far as Microsoft OS's go. The term you want to look up is "ReadyBoost" (link). It is also dependant on a few factors such as the speed of your USB / flash device...

10-08-2007, 01:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
Nadesico SFM Obsessed Realname: Matt Join Date: May 2006 Location: Australia Age: 23 Posts: 1,128	Wait for USB3, the bus speed will be comparable to RAM at that point.
	Current WIPS: None 'cause I'm a lazy bastard. "With 5,000,000 models being destroyed a week, who's going to miss another one?"

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