what is cache?

[Lilninjsways]

my mom asked what about this drive to upgrade her pc and it has 64mb cache usually I don't care but I wanna know now what is it?

[Oshino Shinobu]

Cache is essentially a (usually) small portion of fast storage that loads in the most frequently used or active data. It can provide a performance improvement, particularly with access times if the data being accessed is in the cache. Something like an SSHD drive takes this concept and scales it up to 8GB of flash NAND cache. 

 

This is quite a good article to read on it http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/definition/cache

[Lilninjsways]

3 minutes ago, Oshino Shinobu said:

Cache is essentially a (usually) small portion of fast storage that loads in the most frequently used or active data. It can provide a performance improvement, particularly with access times if the data being accessed is in the cache. Something like an SSHD drive takes this concept and scales it up to 8GB of flash NAND cache. 

 

This is quite a good article to read on it http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/definition/cache

 I'm also making a new build for my lil bro should I buy this for his build also?

[Oshino Shinobu]

1 minute ago, Lilninjsways said:

 I'm also making a new build for my lil bro should I buy this for his build also?

What drive is it? 

 

For most storage drives, the cache doesn't make a huge difference. Depending on their storage uses, a small SSD may be better than a HDD. 

[Lilninjsways]

1 minute ago, Oshino Shinobu said:

What drive is it? 

 

For most storage drives, the cache doesn't make a huge difference. Depending on their storage uses, a small SSD may be better than a HDD. 

I might get an ssd for him though cause the rpm is 5900 but 64 mb cache

[Oshino Shinobu]

1 minute ago, Lilninjsways said:

I might get an ssd for him though cause the rpm is 5900 but 64 mb cache

Well, RPM doesn't affect transfer speeds, only access times. For storing media 5900RPM is enough, but if it's for running the OS, either a dedicated SSD for the OS or a 7200RPM drive could help (the SSD being the faster option, of course). Then again, if they're not too fussed about load times, any HDD will do really. In terms of noticeable upgrades, an SSD would probably be the best if you install the OS on it, it makes a world of difference for the responsiveness of the system. 

[rjfaber91]

What is cache? Baby, don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more... Sorry, just had to.  

 

On more ontopic matters though: We've seen a resurgence of 5500rpm and 5900rpm drives in recent years because NASs becoming a thing, and access times being rather moot if the data has to travel over an ethernet cable first anyway. For putting a HDD in your actual system however, I wouldn't go with anything below 7200rpm. As for cache, I'd be surprised if it's ever made much of a difference to anybody's life. If you've got two drives of equal price, equal storage size and equal projected reliability, you might then go for the one with a greater amount of cache, but I wouldn't put it too high on your priority list.

[Lilninjsways]

2 minutes ago, rjfaber91 said:

What is cache? Baby, don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more... Sorry, just had to.  

 

On more ontopic matters though: We've seen a resurgence of 5500rpm and 5900rpm drives in recent years because NASs becoming a thing, and access times being rather moot if the data has to travel over an ethernet cable first anyway. For putting a HDD in your actual system however, I wouldn't go with anything below 7200rpm. As for cache, I'd be surprised if it's ever made much of a difference to anybody's life. If you've got two drives of equal price, equal storage size and equal projected reliability, you might then go for the one with a greater amount of cache, but I wouldn't put it too high on your priority list.

this is the drive I realized after telling my mom to buy it and watched her buy them (2 of them) it's for dvr's http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=n82e16822148913
 can I use this for my pc or no?

[rjfaber91]

3 minutes ago, Lilninjsways said:

this is the drive I realized after telling my mom to buy it and watched her buy them (2 of them) it's for dvr's http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=n82e16822148913
 can I use this for my pc or no?

Of course you can, if you want to. I see it's on sale now, which changes things somewhat, I suppose. For the price that it's currently going for, you've got yourself a decent deal. For the regular, non-sale price, you could do a whole lot better.