SSD caching with 32GB RAM

[Nostremitus]

If I have 32GB of RAM, would I get any benefit from pairing a 120GB SSD with my 3TB HDD as NAND cache? I was told that with Windows 10 any extra RAM is automatically used as RAM cache for the HDD and I wouldn't see a benefit...

 

Edit: I'm running my OS from a 512GB M.2 SSD and have a 500GB SSD as a gaming drive. The 3TB HDD is a storage drive. I have a spare 120GB SSD, but would need to buy a PCIe SSD adaptor to install it and check to see if it's better or not.

[Oshino Shinobu]

I do this with my server (Windows Server 2016, which operates similar to Windows 10 in terms of memory management) and it definitely helps with caching for reading data and absorbing random writes and improving I/O performance. I have 128GB of RAM in my server and notice the difference between having the cache and not. 

 

Don't expect much in terms of sequential read/write performance, but I'd say it's worth it if you have no other use for the SSD. I have mine setup as tiered storage in storage spaces.

[Nostremitus]

27 minutes ago, Oshino Shinobu said:

I do this with my server (Windows Server 2016, which operates similar to Windows 10 in terms of memory management) and it definitely helps with caching for reading data and absorbing random writes and improving I/O performance. I have 128GB of RAM in my server and notice the difference between having the cache and not. 

 

Don't expect much in terms of sequential read/write performance, but I'd say it's worth it if you have no other use for the SSD. I have mine setup as tiered storage in storage spaces.

Thanks, with game sizes blowing up my 500GB game drive, I'm needing to start using the HDD for games I play less often. I'm hoping it makes an improvement.

[AOforever1]

58 minutes ago, Nostremitus said:

I was told that with Windows 10 any extra RAM is automatically used as RAM cache for the HDD and I wouldn't see a benefit...

Does windows automatically release this memory if I open a program that demands more RAM?

Sorry I came to see if I could help, but ended up with more questions lol

[Oshino Shinobu]

15 minutes ago, Nostremitus said:

Thanks, with game sizes blowing up my 500GB game drive, I'm needing to start using the HDD for games I play less often. I'm hoping it makes an improvement.

Depending on how often you use them, you may not see much benefit for games. Might make loading faster once you've been playing for a little bit.

 

3 minutes ago, AOforever1 said:

Does windows automatically release this memory if I open a program that demands more RAM?

Sorry I came to see if I could help, but ended up with more questions lol

Yes. It keeps frequently used or what it thinks you'll be using soon in memory, but it's marked as standby. If something else needs to use more RAM and there's no unallocated RAM, or not enough, it will clear out items that are in standby to free up space. 

[ewitte]

And that is s

2 hours ago, Nostremitus said:

Thanks, with game sizes blowing up my 500GB game drive, I'm needing to start using the HDD for games I play less often. I'm hoping it makes an improvement.

TBH I tried that then just went full SSD.  I'm currently at 5TB of NVME storage I got a hot swap PCIe bay so the 3rd can use another 2TB drive when needed (7TB).  And a storage case so I can add 3 more if needed.

EDIT: ICY DOCK "ToughArmor MB840M2P-B"