MSata Page Pool

[tp95112]

What is the difference between a MSata and normal Sata? and what is page pool and what is it for?

[GoodBytes]

mSATA is a special connector designed for laptops originally. It's designed for allowing the usage of mini SATA SSDs, like this one:

The physical size of the SSD varies based on what the system support. It can be long.. or very short... but the connectors are the same.

What's so special about this over normal SATA? Nothing.. It's identical. It's just that the port has been modified to fit laptop card layouts, where you insert the card on the port dialognolly and you press down. If you let it go, it spring up, hence the hole on the tips of the cars that you see on the above picture, to put a screw.

The normla SATA cable is a more robust connector. It's deisgn to support more plug-in and outs, and not get out easily even if you touch a cable or something. mSATA is deisgned for internal use and no movement.

Why mSATA? The reaosn for the create of mSATA, is to allow not only small size SSDs, but also the connector is self is much smaller, allow to insert SSDs in a tablet and ultrabooks.

This converter board, picture bellow, shows the difference between the 2 connectors:

While it doesn't show really well, the mSATA connector is thinner. Every millimeter count.

[tp95112]

mSATA is a special connector designed for laptops originally. It's designed for allowing the usage of mini SATA SSDs, like this one:

The physical size of the SSD varies based on what the system support. It can be long.. or very short... but the connectors are the same.

What's so special about this over normal SATA? Nothing.. It's identical. It's just that the port has been modified to fit laptop card layouts, where you insert the card on the port dialognolly and you press down. If you let it go, it spring up, hence the hole on the tips of the cars that you see on the above picture, to put a screw.

The normla SATA cable is a more robust connector. It's deisgn to support more plug-in and outs, and not get out easily even if you touch a cable or something. mSATA is deisgned for internal use and no movement.

Why mSATA? The reaosn for the create of mSATA, is to allow not only small size SSDs, but also the connector is self is much smaller, allow to insert SSDs in a tablet and ultrabooks.

This converter board, picture bellow, shows the difference between the 2 connectors:

While it doesn't show really well, the mSATA connector is thinner. Every millimeter count.

What about page pool?

[GoodBytes]

mSATA is a special connector designed for laptops originally. It's designed for allowing the usage of mini SATA SSDs, like this one:

The physical size of the SSD varies based on what the system support. It can be long.. or very short... but the connectors are the same.

What's so special about this over normal SATA? Nothing.. It's identical. It's just that the port has been modified to fit laptop card layouts, where you insert the card on the port dialognolly and you press down. If you let it go, it spring up, hence the hole on the tips of the cars that you see on the above picture, to put a screw.

The normla SATA cable is a more robust connector. It's deisgn to support more plug-in and outs, and not get out easily even if you touch a cable or something. mSATA is deisgned for internal use and no movement.

Why mSATA? The reaosn for the create of mSATA, is to allow not only small size SSDs, but also the connector is self is much smaller, allow to insert SSDs in a tablet and ultrabooks.

This converter board, picture bellow, shows the difference between the 2 connectors:

While it doesn't show really well, the mSATA connector is thinner. Every millimeter count.

Ah sorry, forgot about your second question :)

Page pool is the real name of what Windows pagefile is ('cause Linux and MacOS, Unix dont' have a "pagefile.sys" file.. but they have the same system). That simple.

So what is pagefile/page pool?

It does 2 things:

-> Memory Extension. If your system RAM is fill or near full, it will use the pagefile (page pool) to extend it, so that your program requested can run and operate. It will be slow, as it need to move a program or some program that actually don't do anything to the page file, to have enough room for your program to fit in your RAM. And do the entire switch as you switch programs that is needed and on page file. Your CPU can't execute anything that is not on RAM.

-> Context Switch. This is a lesser known fact about page file, but it is a critical one, and that is why you don't want to disable it, ever. First, it must be noted that your page file/page pool is a continuous backup of your RAM content. This is needed for making Context Switch process. So what is Context Switch process? Context switch is a type of defragmentation process for your RAM.... but any kind of defragmentation... its on free space. Read bellow and you'll understand.

Unlike your HDD, data on your RAM is NEVER cut into parts. It's always in 1 block. Also, it DOES NOT move while a program is loaded. The only way to move the data, is to close the program, and re-open it. So what happens if you have let's say 4 programs, which consumes a lot of RAM.

Program 1 consumes 50% of your RAM

Program 2 consumes 10% of your RAM

Program 3 consumes 10% of your RAM

Program 4 consumes 20% of your RAM

You have 10% of free space.

Now, you close Program 2. Now, you have 20% of free space. REMEMBER, data on your RAM cannot move. so you have 2x 10% free block.

Now, you open a new program, and it takes 15% of your RAM. Oops! What does your computer do? You have the space... but it can't fit on either 10% free space block, as it takes 15%. And can't cut the block in 2, or move anything.

Your RAM is fragmented, but a different kind of fragmentation, where free space is separated into small blocks, not data. Normally, when this happens, Windows (or whatever the OS you use ) executes something called Context Switch. In other words, it clears the RAM, and copies the backup of your RAM (page file) over the RAM, prioritizing the OS, so that you don't feel that your system locked-up during this process. Remember, your CPU does not access directly your HDD/SSD. It can only access your RAM. Anything you open in a program, is fully loaded to RAM first to be accessed by the processor to do whatever the program asks for.

Why is the pagefile does a backup for your RAM. Even if you have an SSD, transferring 8, 16, or 32GB of data to an your SSD/HDD is very time consuming. Imagine waiting 15-20min, while your system is "frozen" while the process is taken place. And then once done, transfer it all back. No that's silly.

The best method is a continuous backup of your RAM, and when Context Switch takes place, it copies with prioritization to RAM. So it will copy Anything Windows needs for the interface, then itself, then your program that your try to run, so that you can use it now, and then the rest.

If page files/page pool is disabled, your programs will just crash on run, and the OS will tell you something like: "You are low in virtual free space".

Because of context switch, that is why 100% RAM defragenter programs, are 100% useless.. as all they do is force context switch... yay.. does that already... but instead of using the OS using a strategic method so that you don't feel it, the program forces it and you have a bad experience.

If you recall very old computer back in early XP days, and earlier, where you sometimes opens a big program, and the system just crawls like no tomorrow, for no reason, and your HDD is super active, and then resumes normally like if nothing happened? That's Context Switch that was occurring. However, back in the days it didn't work like now.. at least not on Windows side. In teh case fo Windows, since Vista its drastically smarter, faster, and priorities things so that your system doesn't freeze when it occurs (remember, CPU can't execute anything that is not on RAM.. so your system locks up temporarily while the process occurs).

[tp95112]

Thanks for the answer very quick response

[GoodBytes]

Glad I could help! :D