SSD Cache: What is It and is It Worth It? – Data Management Mechanism

Today we take a look at another often confusing computing term that promises to improve performance through the judicious use of a small SSD as a cache. A helping hand or a profitable investment? We dived into the subject to shed some light on everything there is to know about SSD caching.

What is SSD cache?

SSD caching, or as it’s correctly called flash caching, is a data management mechanism developed by Intel in the early 2010s that uses a small hard drive as a cache for a typically larger hard drive.

A cache is hardware or software memory designed to store commonly used data for easy and quick access. In the case of processors, the cache is made up of flash memory that can be accessed faster than standard system RAM, while browser caches store components of frequently visited sites so that they can be accessed. load faster, eliminating the need to retrieve internet data from the hosting server.

Thus, a cache memory allows the system to access data much faster than if it were retrieved and read from its final resting place on a hard drive, improving the performance of memory-dependent tasks.

For SSD caching, the basic concept is to provide a much faster and more responsive SSD as a temporary storage unit for frequently requested data such as basic operating system operational scripts and files that are stored. on a slower conventional hard drive.

The speed of an SSD is about ten times that of a hard drive for most tasks, with the SSD inherently performing better for reads of small random access drives that define the bulk of the day-to-day tasks within a computer. ‘an operating system such as Windows.

In real terms, caching an SSD would involve a small size SSD, say 40GB, in tandem with a larger traditional hard drive with, say, 1TB of storage.

Different Types

There are three main types of SSD caching:

1. Write-back 

This is the most common type of SSD caching, and it works by storing data in the cache until it can be written back to the main storage drive. This can speed up write operations, but it can also lead to data loss if the power is cut before the data is written back.

2. Write-through 

This type of SSD caching writes data to both the cache and the main storage drive simultaneously. This offers a lower risk of data loss, but it can slow down write operations.

3. Read-only 

This cashing type only stores data that is read from the main storage drive. It can’t speed up write operations, but it can improve read performance.

4. Write-Around

A write-around is a type of SSD caching where writes are first stored in the cache, and then asynchronously written to the main storage. This can improve write performance, but may require more complex management than other types of caching.

SSD Caching Compatibility

Intel invented SSD caching technology, Smart Response Technology (SRT), and the proprietary iteration of this mechanism is only available on out-of-the-box SRT motherboards with Intel chipsets.

To make matters worse, Intel is not using technology in all of its chipsets, which limits the hardware configurations the user can expect to have while still being able to perform SSD caching.

Systems with AMD chipsets require the user to use third-party software to emulate SSD caching because AMD has not yet developed or integrated competing technology into its chipsets.

Fortunately, there are many software solutions such as FancyCache and PrimoCache. They are, however, notoriously unreliable and pose a litany of problems.

Limitations

SSD caching only offers a tangible benefit when a system is in a state we call “clean”, such as starting a PC after it has been shut down, restarting Windows, or performing an initial operation. application after restart or power off.

There is a memory hierarchy that goes from the CPU cache to RAM, to SSD cache, and then to hard drive. A restart cleans the CPU cache and RAM, making the SSD cache the starting location for data.

The reason for this is that in all other cases there is a good chance that crucial and frequently accessed data is already stored by the system RAM and since RAM is incredibly faster than any hard drive storage, Whether on SSD or HDD, SSD caching does nothing to improve speed as data is already available much faster from RAM.

As you can see, the main benefit of SSD caching is most obvious when starting Windows: the operating system is in a usable state much earlier than on a cached non-SSD system.

Likewise, launching Steam and your favorite game after a restart will be much faster with SSD caching.

If you have been running without restarting for several hours and have opened and then closed various programs and decided to open them again, the SSD will do nothing to speed up the process.

To continue on the topic of limiting factors, the inner workings of SRT are a well-kept secret and Intel does not provide any details on how the technology verifies what data is worth caching, although noticeable trends suggest that There is a set cap on the size of data that can be cached, weighing a handful of MB at most.

For anything heavier, the system will revert to the slowest data source on the hard drive. From a user perspective, this means that programs that depend on small packets of data work well, while those that depend on capacitive media like high-quality video and audio files do not.

If you run a multitude of applications simultaneously, the benefits will be obvious, while if you run the same program day after day while processing large format files, the benefits will be marginal.

Is SSD Caching Worth It?

Once SSD caching is up and running, it takes care of itself with virtually no user intervention. The benefits, if any, are produced passively, making it a hassle-free solution.

However, setting up caching even with an Intel SRT chipset is a daunting task that involves using the right drivers , configuring the BIOS properly and running it as a RAID configuration, installing Windows and fast storage technology drivers, mode management, etc.

In the end, this is a much bigger task than using a large-capacity SSD and just installing Windows.

Historically, caching SSDs has cost much less than installing a reasonably sized SSD, but as technology becomes more ubiquitous, the price of SSDs, even 100GB or more, is exponentially. more affordable over time.

Therefore, the combination of cache and SSD hard drives is replaced with larger, more economical SSDs to house the operating system, while a larger hard drive is used for storing rarely accessed media.

Likewise, the advent of hybrid SSDs or SSHDs has also put a damper on the popularity of SSD caching. An SSHD is nothing other than a classic hard drive equipped with a part of flash memory, called NAND.

These two parts are integrated and are part of the same data storage solution. In practice, flash memory monitors user activity to determine which applications, data, startup items, etc. are the most frequently accessed and then stores them to dramatically speed up system performance.

FAQ

Is SSD cache important for gaming?

SSD cache can help improve your gaming experience in several ways. SSDs have much faster read and write speeds than traditional hard drives. This means that game data can be loaded onto your system much faster, resulting in shorter load times and smoother gameplay.

What is the minimum recommended size for my SSD cache?

The table below shows the minimum recommended SSD cache size for various volume sizes.

Can you clear the SSD cache?

Yes, you can clear SSD cache. In order to do so, you will need to access the disk management tool within your operating system. Once you have accessed the disk management tool, you will need to select the SSD that you wish to clear the cache for.

After selecting the SSD, you will need to choose the “Clear Cache” option from the menu. Once you have chosen this option, the process of clearing the SSD cache will begin.

Conclusion

In our opinion, the basic concept of SSD caching is worth considering. In practice, the results are not pronounced enough to opt for SSD caching rather than spending a little more on a larger SSD and running everything from Windows to your favorite shooters from the same drive and from letting the RAM do its magic undisturbed.