Pages: 1 :: [one page] |
|
Author |
Thread Statistics | Show CCP posts - 0 post(s) |
Katana Seiko
Gallente
|
Posted - 2008.12.10 10:36:00 -
[1]
I tried some experiment that I'd like to share with you. First of all, I have a 64bit OS with 8 GB RAM - with a normal XP installation you don't have to try to repeat this, there's nowhere enough RAM...
Well, I have tried this program, called "Cenatek RAMDiskVE". It allows you to set up a virtual Hard Disk in your Computer Memory. The people remembering MS DOS will know what I'm talking about. This RAM Drive has an I/O rate of about 7000 MB/s with just about 1ns access time. I wondered what you can do with that Device in these days, and I remembered that we used to use RAM Disks to speed up games. So I tried to do the same with EVE and a RAMDisk of 4 GB size:
First, I copied all files from my HDD to the RAMDisk (that took a few seconds, maybe 30), then I added a shortcut with the parameters /end and /LUA:OFF. Those settings would keep all file access from EVE on the RAMDisk. The result was interesting. Usually, the FPS display (Ctrl+F) showed some kind of curve with allmost 20% between highest and lowest FPS. With the RAMDisk the line was allmost straight, at the maximum of FPS I've seen so far.. Even in Jita!
Maybe someone of CCP can tell why this happens... At some point, the HDD has to be a bottleneck. --- "Multiple exclamation marks are a sure sign for a diseased mind." -Terry Pratchett |
Rivqua
Caldari Omega Wing R.E.P.O.
|
Posted - 2008.12.10 10:53:00 -
[2]
Interesting you get those results.
Although, something seems to be flawed with your base system prior to RamDrive, as those fluctuations shouldn't be fixed by a ramdrive, you shouldn't have them even on the normal HDD.
Secondly, those parameters still leave alot of stuff in other folders that EVE accesses, so your test is kinda flawed.
Finally, I run EVE fully from the RamDrive, and it's obviously a very very smooth experience. Most likely because eve does alot of small disk accesses, and those are removed with the ram drive.
Vista has also alot better caching logic, and you will see less of a benefit on Vista wih 8GB then on XP/XP64 with 8GB, which are not really well cached systems.
/Riv
|
RedClaws
Amarr Dragon's Rage KIA Alliance
|
Posted - 2008.12.10 12:35:00 -
[3]
Does the type of RAM matter a lot here? Should i invest in 4 gigs more DDR2 ram and try this or is it just not worth the 80Ç?
|
Grarr Dexx
Amarr Paxton Industries Paxton Federation
|
Posted - 2008.12.10 13:21:00 -
[4]
Quote: At some point, the HDD has to be a bottleneck.
Durrrr.
-----
|
Talaan Stardrifter
|
Posted - 2008.12.10 13:47:00 -
[5]
If you are loading everything, including your game cache, from the ramdisk, then you eliminate the seek/read/write delays from HDD (relatively LONG time).
Loading stuff from disk always takes time, and will slow your game a bit depending on the seek time. Also, seek times vary on a HDD, this is why you the FPS variations when using the HDD, and not with the ramdisk.
Most likely explanation, anyway, assuming all other factors being constant.
|
Adreenalina Villak
Malevolent Emo Herders
|
Posted - 2008.12.10 14:09:00 -
[6]
Hello
Its was nice to see another trying the good old RAM disk, it certainly speed up some operations. But many programs do have a hardcoding to write cashe information to drive C: I once had a computer with a ram disk and did make it without any C-drive at all, it worked except for dowloading from certain sites who were hellbent to send the patch or driver to the C drive. :D Anyhow I do find it likely that you have found that also Eve do attempt to send cashing of images and other things to C here. That since you installed to the C drive originally. Only one installation to the RAM disk each time you start your system might be able to counter that.
Ok I could be completely wrong about this, only some thinking from my own experience of using a RAM disk some years ago.
Don't bother, I already pressed the report thing for my own post. :P |
Chi Quan
Perkone
|
Posted - 2008.12.10 23:18:00 -
[7]
what happens if you set the cache size ingame to extreme with/without ramdrive? ---- Ceterum censeo blasters need some tracking love |
Grarr Dexx
Amarr Paxton Industries Paxton Federation
|
Posted - 2008.12.10 23:49:00 -
[8]
Without a ramdisk, you need a pretty up-to-date computer, say maybe at most six months to a year old. With, you need to have atleast minimal specs.
Unfortunately, specialized SSD's are very expensive and are usually used for servers / repeated ensured behaviour so it pays off.
-----
|
Writ Insand
|
Posted - 2008.12.11 01:00:00 -
[9]
I thought that Windows was supposed to be very agressive in caching recent HD reads/writes to memory. So why would using a RAM disk help so much?
|
Dasfry
Caldari Demio's Corporation 101010 Alliance
|
Posted - 2008.12.11 01:04:00 -
[10]
Originally by: Writ Insand I thought that Windows was supposed to be very agressive in caching recent HD reads/writes to memory. So why would using a RAM disk help so much?
Because Hard Drives are slow no matter how well you manage them. But we use them because they hold a lot of space, and are relatively inexpensive in comparison to other forms of data storage. *********** Dasfry, Director Demio's Corporation
Military Tactics |
|
Rivqua
Caldari Omega Wing R.E.P.O.
|
Posted - 2008.12.11 11:08:00 -
[11]
Originally by: Adreenalina Villak Hello
Its was nice to see another trying the good old RAM disk, it certainly speed up some operations. But many programs do have a hardcoding to write cashe information to drive C: I once had a computer with a ram disk and did make it without any C-drive at all, it worked except for dowloading from certain sites who were hellbent to send the patch or driver to the C drive. :D Anyhow I do find it likely that you have found that also Eve do attempt to send cashing of images and other things to C here. That since you installed to the C drive originally. Only one installation to the RAM disk each time you start your system might be able to counter that.
Ok I could be completely wrong about this, only some thinking from my own experience of using a RAM disk some years ago.
You are doing it wrong tho. You are not supposed to move EVE from C:\, you are just supposed to mount the ramdrive into the folder locations that eve uses (3 of them afaik).
Then it's transparent to the game and works.
/Riv
|
sliver 0xD
exiles. The Kadeshi
|
Posted - 2008.12.11 12:37:00 -
[12]
Originally by: Rivqua
Originally by: Adreenalina Villak Hello
Its was nice to see another trying the good old RAM disk, it certainly speed up some operations. But many programs do have a hardcoding to write cashe information to drive C: I once had a computer with a ram disk and did make it without any C-drive at all, it worked except for dowloading from certain sites who were hellbent to send the patch or driver to the C drive. :D Anyhow I do find it likely that you have found that also Eve do attempt to send cashing of images and other things to C here. That since you installed to the C drive originally. Only one installation to the RAM disk each time you start your system might be able to counter that.
Ok I could be completely wrong about this, only some thinking from my own experience of using a RAM disk some years ago.
You are doing it wrong tho. You are not supposed to move EVE from C:\, you are just supposed to mount the ramdrive into the folder locations that eve uses (3 of them afaik).
Then it's transparent to the game and works.
/Riv
so u got your cache, game binarys and ...?
Anyway i think this great idea ram costs jack sh*t these days. But i fear that the memory becomes full or starts to conflict and fight over memory space. this will effect the operations that eve does not want to cache.
just a tought.
--- Somebody needs a hug! |
|
|
|
Pages: 1 :: [one page] |