Can I setup a Ram Drive if I have too much ram?

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ToiletDuck

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So I use a HTPC at home for just about anything. I use the k400 keyboard and do everything from the couch. I've been using a 2014 mac mini that's 1.4ghz boosts to 2.7 on a dual core with 4GB memory and a 500GB 5400rpm drive. For HTPC and general usage it's been ok but lately it had been showing it's age so it's now sitting on ebay looking for a new home.

To replace it I've decided to go with the Intel Skull Canyon. I found one on ebay where for $850 it checks every box I wanted in a HTPC. Comes with the i7-6770HQ cpu with 500gb SSD and 32GB of DDR4.

Basically 32GB is a silly number for a general use PC/HTPC but it's what came with it. Is there a way to set up a ram drive on say 16GB then have the system boot and automatically load all the programs into the ram drive so everything is just wicked fast?
 
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USAFRet
Yes, there are probably methods to load and unload applications or parts of the OS to a RAMDisk automatically upon startup.
I'd have to look around for specifics, and it almost certainly depends on the particular RAMDisk implementation.

But since the SSD is already blindingly fast normally, doubtful you'd see any actual benefit with applications that might be living in an HTPC.

I tried a RAMDisk for a while, as cache space for photo and CAD work. I saw no perceivable speed bump over having that just on the SSD.
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Movies and music won't play any faster if the movie player lives in a RAMDisk.
Just being on the SSD it will be blazingly fast.

And 500GB is pretty slim for an HTPC.


But yes, you can designate some of that 32GB as a RAMDisk. Probably won't notice much difference, though.
 
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ToiletDuck

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Why do you say so? Again, I use it as general computer for whatever but also as my htpc. I do everything from the couch. I felt the same way about my mac mini base model when I first started with it. Few years later and here I am. This thing is future proofed to last a very long while. So long as I'm not gaming this system should be snappy quick on everything.

I'm not some person that's just trying to piece together the cheapest piece of junk they can. I wanted a system that can handle whatever I send to it, small form factor, look good as it's the only hardware sitting under my TV in view of everyone, etc. If I wanted to build my own system I could but building one with good performance is a small pkg was already approaching the same price point for what I wanted in it.

Thanks for you zero contribute though.
 
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ToiletDuck

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All you did was post a link to pcpartpicker. And again you don't know what I wanted for my machine, it's location,, etc. I looked plenty and wanted this one. I'm not in college trying to piece whatever together this is something I'll have to look at for significant time. It's a great machine.
 
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ToiletDuck

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**Basically 32GB is a silly number for a general use PC/HTPC but it's what came with it. Is there a way to set up a ram drive on say 16GB then have the system boot and automatically load all the programs into the ram drive so everything is just wicked fast?**

Not asking if it can play a movie faster. What I asked was if there was a means to have windows load all the programs onto the drive after bootup. Since it stays on for a month at a time or more that mean accessing any programs would be lightning fast.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Yes, there are probably methods to load and unload applications or parts of the OS to a RAMDisk automatically upon startup.
I'd have to look around for specifics, and it almost certainly depends on the particular RAMDisk implementation.

But since the SSD is already blindingly fast normally, doubtful you'd see any actual benefit with applications that might be living in an HTPC.

I tried a RAMDisk for a while, as cache space for photo and CAD work. I saw no perceivable speed bump over having that just on the SSD.
 
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