Really curious that such a modern and feature-rich browser like Google Chrome does not have a setting to change the path where temporary files are stored and, therefore, to move the browser cache . Firefox has this option in the internal configuration menu; a little hidden, but at least it's there.
Moving the cache of the web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome) could be a useless operation if you have a computer with a very large hard disk but, thanks to a trick, it can allow a significant increase in internet browsing speed and loading of web pages .
The trick is based on RAM disks, that is, on converting a part of RAM into virtual disk space.
RAM is the fastest memory of the computer which automatically empties itself when the PC is turned off while the hard disk is the physical memory where the data remains until they are manually deleted.
When data is stored on RAM, it is loaded much faster from the computer, therefore, moving the cache of Internet Explorer, Firefox or Chrome to RAM memory allows you to surf the internet faster .
Going in order, let's first see how to change the path to save the temporary files and cache of Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome.
Internet Explorer is very easy because the setting is found in the main options menu under the heading " browsing history ".
To move the cache on Firefox, instead, you need to open a new navigation tab and type in the address bar: about: config .
After accepting Mozilla's conditions, right-click on an empty spot and choose New -> String .
In the name box write browser.cache.disk.parent_directory while as value you have to write the new path which, for example, can be E: \ BrowserCache (where 'E' could be another letter) and press OK .
If the value already exists, just modify it giving it the new folder value.
Firefox automatically creates the folder where it will save temporary files, cookies and all the browsing cache.
Moving the internet cache in Google Chrome is more difficult.
There are two methods:
1) Using the symbolic links (read how to move folders from one disk to another) I mentioned some time ago, so as to move the cache folder without changing the browser settings.
In this case you have to find the cache folder that in Windows 7 is in C: \ Users \ {username} \ AppData \ Local \ Google \ Chrome \ User Data \ Default \ Cache .
To create a symbolic link in another path or on another computer disk you must open the command prompt ( Start -> Run -> cmd ) and give the following command (on Windows 7):
mklink / de: \ cache "C: \ Users \ pomhey \ AppData \ Local \ Google \ Chrome \ User Data \ Default \ Cache"
e: \ cache can be another path.
2) The second way instead plans to right-click on the link in the Google Chrome desktop, go to the Destination path and give the following startup parameter --disk-cache-dir = "E: \ BrowserCache" .
At the end, the destination line will be written (In Windows 7): C: \ Users \ username_ AppData \ Local \ Google \ Chrome \ Application \ chrome.exe --disk-cache-dir = "E: \ BrowserCache" .
In this case, however, the cache will be moved only if you open Chrome by starting the browser from this link, not therefore absolutely.
Now, if you want to speed up Firefox, Chrome or even Internet Explorer by moving the cache to the fastest RAM memory, you need to create and install a RAM Disk on your computer which, as seen from the guide, is a very easy operation.
As a program I can recommend installing RamDisk Dataram which automatically creates this new virtual disk (marked with the letter E or other) visible in My Computer, whose space is actually a part of RAM .
Inside the Ram Disk E, you can create a Browser_Cache folder to be used alternately for Firefox, Chorme, Internet Explorer or even for all three together.
By moving the cache of Firefox, Chrome or Internet Explorer with the methods seen above, to the RAM disk, Windows is deceived by telling the computer to store the files on the memory instead of on the disk.
This trick is recommended for all those who have computers with more than two or 3 Giga of Ram and allows you to dedicate part of memory to saving temporary web browser files .
Since browsers like Firefox and Chrome never take all the physical memory and as they continually write data and files on the hard disk, it could speed up internet browsing by dedicating some memory to the cache and preventing internet browsing programs from using the hard disk .
The browser starts in a flash, the transition between the tabs faster and the loading times of the web pages are reduced.
The side effect of this trick is that, by turning off the computer, the RAM is reset and the entire history, temporary files, cookies and passwords saved are lost as if the private, incognito or private browsing mode had been used anonymous.
If there are problems with the paths or with the meaning of these computer concepts more difficult to understand than to use, leave a comment.
