george@shumv1.ncsu.edu (George Browning) (07/31/90)
Has anyone tried Hyperdisk -- the new shareware Smartdrive replacement? I downloaded a benchmarks file from Compuserve and it looks like Hyperdisk is a much better product. Hyperdisk can use an optional write cache (Smartdrive doesn't have this) which speeds up disk access considerably. The benchmarks were done by Frank Reidelberger (CIS: 73230,650). The PC Mag Benchmark Version 5.1 tests had the following summary for small and large records (SD=Smartdrive 3.03, HD=Hyperdisk 4.01): Cache used: none SD SD HD HD HD HD Cache size (kb): 0 1024 2048 1024 2048 1024 2048 DOS memory used (kb): 0 14 16 21 23 21 23 Write cache: n/a n/a n/a no no yes yes Overall results: 87.45 47.73 48.01 49.48 49.38 6.97 7.14 ^^^^^^^^^^ WOW!!! Has anyone tried this program out? How does it work with Windows 3.0? Is it available via ftp? george -- _____________________________________________________________________ | George Browning North Carolina State University | | george@shumv1.ncsu.edu Raleigh, NC | |___________________________________________________________________|
tom@mims-iris.waterloo.edu (Tom Haapanen) (07/31/90)
George Browning <george@shumv1.ncsu.edu> writes: > I downloaded a benchmarks file from Compuserve and it looks like > Hyperdisk is a much better product. Hyperdisk can use an optional write > cache which speeds up disk access considerably. > > Cache used: none SD SD HD HD HD HD > Cache size (kb): 0 1024 2048 1024 2048 1024 2048 > DOS memory used (kb): 0 14 16 21 23 21 23 > Write cache: n/a n/a n/a no no yes yes > Overall results: 87.45 47.73 48.01 49.48 49.38 6.97 7.14 Well, to me it lloks like Hyperdisk is slower than SamrtDrive unless you enable write caching, and it takes another 7K of DOS memory, too --- which matters when you're running non-Windows apps. Also, I find that in real life, my disk ends up doing *MUCH* more reading than writing, reducing the improvement available from write caching. Personally I wouldn't take a chance by caching writes; a power failure or a system crash might wipe out what you thought had already been written to disk. If you want higher disk performance, consider a disk controller with a built-in cache. [ \tom haapanen --- university of waterloo --- tom@mims-iris.waterloo.edu ] [ "i don't even know what street canada is on" -- al capone ]
morris@dms.UUCP (Jim Morris) (07/31/90)
From article <1990Jul30.203704.13570@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu>, by george@shumv1.ncsu.edu (George Browning): > > Has anyone tried Hyperdisk -- the new shareware Smartdrive replacement? > I've been using Hyperdisk for over a year now, it is definitely faster than PC-Kwik, smartdrive and V-cache. I really like the Write-back (or staged-write), it will also do background writes. Everything is configurable, also there are hot-keys that will enable/disable cache, enable/disable staged-write etc. Also the tech support is VERY responsive, they keep a BBS where they post any updates to the program. It is well worth the registration fee!!! Plus it works better than the commercial ones. -- Jim Morris. {motcsd|weitek}!dms!morris or morris@dms.UUCP Voice (408) 434-3798 Atari Games Corporation, 675 Sycamore Drive, Milpitas CA 95035 USA (Arcade Video Game Manufacturer, NOT Atari Corp. ST manufacturer).
rm@dx.sei.cmu.edu (Roger Moos) (08/01/90)
It's great to hear about hyperdrive - but could someone post where it can be ftp'd from or a bbs to download from. Also has been running with Win3 okay !! +*****************************************************************************+ ____ ______ _____ _____===== Roger Moos - CSC / __ \ | _____| |_ _| _____========= Resident Affiliate to the SEI | |__|_| | |__ | | _____============= rm@sei.cmu.edu _\___ \ | __| | | _____================= Software Engineering Institute | |__| | | |____ _| |_ _____============= Carnegie-Mellon University \____/ |______| |_____| _____========= Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890 +*****************************************************************************+ thanks to keith h. for the logo design
morris@dms.UUCP (Jim Morris) (08/02/90)
From article <1990Jul31.133423.19743@watserv1.waterloo.edu>, by tom@mims-iris.waterloo.edu (Tom Haapanen): > > Well, to me it lloks like Hyperdisk is slower than SamrtDrive unless you > enable write caching, and it takes another 7K of DOS memory, too --- which Hyperdisk will load itself into Shadow-Ram on some 386 systems, especially if you run qemm or 386^max, this saves your valuable lo memory. > Personally I wouldn't take a chance by caching writes; a power failure or > a system crash might wipe out what you thought had already been written > to disk. > A power failure will probably wipe out your disk anyway, an extra 500ms wait before the data writes out is unlikely to increase the risk by much. Unix systems all do write-back caching, I usually put them on UPS's if I am really paranoid, but my system at home is not on a UPS, and I have not had a problem yet!!. Of course according to Murphy, the power-out will hit before you have even saved the 2 hour editing session!! (I like to use editors with timed back-up, just to annoy Murphy). > If you want higher disk performance, consider a disk controller with a > built-in cache. > Actually I believe you will find that a disk cache running on a 386 in 32-bit memory will outperform a H/W disk cache. The memory read and write to a disk cache on a pc bus is subject to the 16 bit 8Mhz bus speed, whereas a disk cache stored in 32-bit memory has much faster access time. Of course using both (If you have the money!!) would be the best solution. -- Jim Morris. {motcsd|weitek}!dms!morris or morris@dms.UUCP Voice (408) 434-3798 Atari Games Corporation, 675 Sycamore Drive, Milpitas CA 95035 USA (Arcade Video Game Manufacturer, NOT Atari Corp. ST manufacturer).
morris@dms.UUCP (Jim Morris) (08/02/90)
From article <8064@fy.sei.cmu.edu>, by rm@dx.sei.cmu.edu (Roger Moos): > It's great to hear about hyperdrive - but could someone post where it > can be ftp'd from > or a bbs to download from. The hyperdisk BBS is on (408) 683-4988. Hyperdisk is also available on Compuserve in MSWIN. The latest version is on the BBS. > > Also has been running with Win3 okay !! > I have used it with win3 in enhanced mode for a week now with no problems, and increased performance. Also Hyperdisk overcomes the problems with 3rd party partitioning that smartdrive has. The registration fee is $35. (Non-commercial licence). BTW I am just a happy Hyperdisk user, I have no connection with Hyperdisk, although I have had excellent Tech Support from them. -- Jim Morris. {motcsd|weitek}!dms!morris or morris@dms.UUCP Voice (408) 434-3798 Atari Games Corporation, 675 Sycamore Drive, Milpitas CA 95035 USA (Arcade Video Game Manufacturer, NOT Atari Corp. ST manufacturer).
abukarb@mist.CS.ORST.EDU (Bassam A. Abu-Karroum) (08/02/90)
From article <1990Jul30.203704.13570@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu>, by george@shumv1.ncsu.edu (George Browning): >> >> Has anyone tried Hyperdisk -- the new shareware Smartdrive replacement? >> ^^^^^^^^^ This the first time I read about this. Can somebody please send me more info about it and how to get a copy. Thanx in advance. Sam