Going back to a more technical discussion, on this occasion we are talking about the RAM-DISK, a software technology that allows you to create a virtual hard disk using a part of RAM . Aware that the definition given above remains very obscure to most, let's try to explain, in a very concise way, what Ram is and what it means to create a virtual hard disk using ram.
So, let's start by saying that ram is the memory used by the computer to store information quickly.
You have to imagine the ram (which is a piece of computer hardware) as if it were a CD or a disk, inside which data and files are written.
For example, when you open a window or an image on the screen, it is copied to the Ram and becomes visible.
When you run a program, the loaded data is copied to the Ram (the fastest memory there is) and the process that makes the program work remains running.
When you open a website with the browser, the PC receives the data from the internet, copies it to a folder of temporary files on the disk (cached copy) but also on the Ram memory.
Basically, therefore, ram memory is a kind of physical storage whose reading and writing is very fast, where the running files reside, from when they are started up to the moment the program is closed.
When you turn off the computer all the data is deleted from the ram which empties itself completely.
Ram is something that is in all computers and also in mobile phones and all devices using software.
Having a lot of ram memory does not mean much having a faster computer (that depends on the processor) but gives the possibility to run multiple programs at the same time until the memory runs out .
The Windows operating system, when the available ram ends, is not that it stops (otherwise it would be a drama) but uses another memory called virtual or paging file, using a part of disk as if it were Ram.
Unfortunately, the management of this paging file, as seen, is very poor and the computer, every time it uses it, slows down operations terribly.
In another article we have seen some programs to optimize and speed up RAM memory for greater performance and a faster PC.
Returning to the topic of this article then, if we are clear about the concept (ask questions), the goal is to do the opposite of what the paging file does or create a virtual hard disk, using a part of Ram as its space available.
Virtual hard drive is a concept already seen in another post where, instead, it is explained how to create a hidden virtual partition using the real hard disk in a way to protect files.
Virtual, in computer science, it means making the PC believe that it has an extra piece that does not actually exist and in many other articles (use the search field at the top right) there has been talk of CD roms, network cards, hard drives, operating systems and entire PCs.
Now that all the pieces have been put together it should be clear what it means to use ram memory as if it were a hard disk : it means that in computer resources, next to disk C: another disk appears whose available space is optional and derives from Ram . The end result is to use this virtual hard disk to store data whose read and write access is much faster than normal but which are automatically deleted when the computer is turned off.
When you turn on the PC again, this RAM disk will always be empty .
Since RAM is the fastest storage medium of all, a file on a RAM disk is accessible much faster.
Today, unless you have an old computer, the Ram is in the order of 4GB or 8GB, a quantity that is never fully used .
In addition, buying 4 GB of additional ram costs a maximum of 30 Euros, an absolutely accessible figure.
Basically, by installing a program on the RAM disk, it will run much faster because the real hard disk is not used.
The most classic use of a RAM disk is to move the Firefox or Chrome cache to RAM to make them faster .
Although the explanation has been quite long, so far, I can assure you that creating a Ram-disk is very easy.
You just have to install a software that does it all by itself and that allows you to create a RAMDisk, deciding the letter of the new virtual disk and the amount of Ram to dedicate (if you have 4 GB you can also set 500 MB and more).
There are several, but I want to report only the best, citing both free and paid programs whose differences are related to performance, therefore at a lower or higher speed of writing and reading files on the RAM disk.
The best free ram disk creators for Windows 10, 8 and 7 are :
- AMD Radeon RAM Disk to create a RAM disk with up to 4 GB of space.
- Dataram RAMDisk, creates a RAM disk of maximum one GB.
- VSuite Ramdisk Free Edition, to create multiple Ram disks of maximum 4 GB.
- ImDisk, simple to use, allows you to create a dynamic RAM disk that automatically grows in case of need.
- Gavotte Ramdisk, historical and easy to use, creates a disk as large as RAM, but does not support Windows 10 and 8.
- SoftPerfect RAM Disk, limited only by the amount of RAM in the computer, really easy and ideal for daily use.
- StarWind RAM Disk
- Gizmo Central
All these programs can only create FAT and FAT32 virtual partitions (NTFS is not possible).
Then consider that if you copy files to the virtual hard disk that uses the Ram, they are deleted when you turn off the PC .
The RAM-Disk is very useful and you can experiment with different uses; for example it becomes perfect, where possible, to store temporary files of some software or to run portable programs (those that are not installed) or even to install software whose execution you want it very fast and here you will also tell me.
