eli@spdcc.COM (Steve Elias) (11/13/88)
>In article <2663@orca.TEK.COM> mstevens@orca.TEK.COM (Mike Stevens) writes: >>QUESTION: What do I need to do to USE the extra 384K of memory? I >>tried to set up a ramdisk, but since it isn't extended memory (>1MB), >>the ramdisk was placed in "low" (<640K) memory. The DOS manuals aren't an extended memory ramdisk of 384k won't necessarily make your machine operate faster... you will gain something if your hard disk is really slow (or if you don't have a hard disk)... but the 286 has to reboot and jump through hoops to get at the above 1M cache. not a fast procedure... the application and the cache program you use will affect your results, too... if you do as much disk writing as you do reading (linking), you may actually get slower performance by using an extended memory cache.. -- harvard!spdcc!eli
I78BC@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU (Michael Polymenakos) (11/14/88)
I've found Ramdisks to be of little use in a real-life environment (unless is is a *BIG* ramdisk ). Steve Elias mentions: > > the application and the cache program you use will affect > your results, too... if you do as much disk writing as you > do reading (linking), you may actually get slower performance > by using an extended memory cache.. A disk-cache is the best thing to use this memory for. Even though a cashe may slower the machine in some occasions, in real life this is rarely the case, and the gains overweight the loses. If you own MS Windows I suggest you use the SMARTDRV utility that comes with it. Fast and compatible with anything i've used it with. Most well-written caches will also improve performance. What? Got a fast hard disk? Doing lotsa disk writes? A print-spooler might be a better use for it... One question. Can extended RAM be used as expanded? Sounds unlikely, i know...
psrc@poseidon.ATT.COM (Paul S. R. Chisholm) (11/21/88)
<"He seemed like such a nice man . . . and then he turned out to be a writer!"> In <1717I78BC@CUNYVM>, I78BC@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU (Michael Polymenakos) writes: > I've found Ramdisks to be of little use in a real-life environment (unless > it is a *BIG* ramdisk ). A RAM disk is better than a disk cache for temporary files, unless you've got a write-into cache (rare under MS-DOS). Using a RAM disk lets you specify what files you'd like cached (e.g., libraries, include files, programs you run frequently for short periods of time). > What? Got a fast hard disk? Doing lotsa disk writes? A print-spooler > might be a better use for it... Indeed. > One question. Can extended RAM be used as expanded? Sounds unlikely, > i know... It's possible (but slow) to simulate LIM EMS in 286 extended memory. It's easy (and fast) to simulate LIM EMS in 386 extended memory (e.g., 386-Max or QEMM), or for 286 extended memory cards with special hardware (e.g., QEMM for the PS/2-50 and -60). However, with the proliferation of 286 boxes, more and more software can now use extended memory in addition to expanded memory. Paul S. R. Chisholm, psrc@poseidon.att.com (formerly psc@lznv.att.com) AT&T Bell Laboratories, att!poseidon!psrc, AT&T Mail !psrchisholm I'm not speaking for the company, I'm just speaking my mind.