question about RAM - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Sion · 07-01-2003, 10:14 PM

does everything a comp does go through the ram?

for example: right now Im copying a folder from my c drive to the d drive - does all that data go into ram first, before being put on the d drive? or does it bypass the ram. I ask because it is taking a LONG time. Im transfering 400mb of data and it is taking longer than I can download (on a cable connection) the same amount of data. But, I have less ram than Id like (224mb) and I am also running a couple of other processes (ZoneAlarm, Norton Pro 2003, browsing the TFP, a newsgroup d/l). So Im guessing that its going through the ram and that is why its taking so long (10 mins so far).

am I right?

R_one · 07-01-2003, 10:16 PM

Slow hardrives

Sata Barracuda 7200RPM 120G's. Even makes breakfast for you.

Sion · 07-01-2003, 10:23 PM

DOH! there was another folder in the folder I was copying that holds ALL my porn pics (several thousand) so THAT is why it was taking so long. I wish I had noticed that BEFORE I started the copy process. lol, oh well.

as for my drive speeds, I was copying from a 5400 rpm WD to a 7200 rpm Maxtor.

but, I do still want to know the answer to the question:

does EVERYTHING a comp does go through the ram?

does copying from HD to HD involve ram? if so, is there a way to bypass and transfer directly?

juanvaldes · 07-01-2003, 10:24 PM

no. Applications and other stuff goes into RAM. But since you are just copying from one drive to the other it does not goto RAM (as no app needs to quickly access the data)

R_one · 07-01-2003, 10:40 PM

Also if you are using both drives on the same ribbon, the ATA will be of the slowest drive. For instance, if your 7200 Maxtor is a Ultra 133 and your slaved 5400 WD is a Ultra 100, then you'll only get 100 for BOTH drives. But since you've already figured out your problem, you now know.

poof · 07-01-2003, 10:43 PM

Well, at some point your data/porn is going to go through your random access memory via dma or udma. If you are afraid of leaving tracks, all bytes and bits are lost from ram when electrical power is removed from the system.

However, there are tracks left behind to help your system fix itself that you, or anybody can access.

As far as your data transfer rate, well, that depends on many variables.

Give us more info on the bus/drives you are transferring data, and we can help with why the slowdown. Data swaps qiuickly, images (porn) takes a bit longer. But, yeah, most likely it goes through your ram before it is transferred. That is why you have a buffer and want more ram.

whale · 07-02-2003, 03:54 AM

*nods at poof*

Every damn operation goes through the o/s layer. requires a bit of ram & cpu time. it doesn't suck up all of your ram, unless it's on it's monthly thing and starts leaking.

I don't get it. even if it's on the same EIDE bus. 400MB shouldn't be taking 10! minutes.

human · 07-02-2003, 05:25 AM

Keep in mind though, access time for hard drives is orders of magnitude slower than access time for ram. I'm not totally up to date on what hard drives do right now, but a couple of years ago it was something like 50-70 thousandths of a second. Access in RAM on the other hand is a few nanoseconds, billionths. The moral is, doing things in ram is not slow, it's the hard drives that are slowing you down.

07-01-2003, 10:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sion Dumb all over...a little ugly on the side Location: In the room where the giant fire puffer works, and the torture never stops.	question about RAM does everything a comp does go through the ram? for example: right now Im copying a folder from my c drive to the d drive - does all that data go into ram first, before being put on the d drive? or does it bypass the ram. I ask because it is taking a LONG time. Im transfering 400mb of data and it is taking longer than I can download (on a cable connection) the same amount of data. But, I have less ram than Id like (224mb) and I am also running a couple of other processes (ZoneAlarm, Norton Pro 2003, browsing the TFP, a newsgroup d/l). So Im guessing that its going through the ram and that is why its taking so long (10 mins so far). am I right? __________________ He's the best, of course, of all the worst. Some wrong been done, he done it first. -fz I jus' want ta thank you...falettinme...be mice elf...agin...

07-01-2003, 10:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
Sion Dumb all over...a little ugly on the side Location: In the room where the giant fire puffer works, and the torture never stops.	DOH! there was another folder in the folder I was copying that holds ALL my porn pics (several thousand) so THAT is why it was taking so long. I wish I had noticed that BEFORE I started the copy process. lol, oh well. as for my drive speeds, I was copying from a 5400 rpm WD to a 7200 rpm Maxtor. but, I do still want to know the answer to the question: does EVERYTHING a comp does go through the ram? does copying from HD to HD involve ram? if so, is there a way to bypass and transfer directly? __________________ He's the best, of course, of all the worst. Some wrong been done, he done it first. -fz I jus' want ta thank you...falettinme...be mice elf...agin...

07-01-2003, 10:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
poof Psycho	Well, at some point your data/porn is going to go through your random access memory via dma or udma. If you are afraid of leaving tracks, all bytes and bits are lost from ram when electrical power is removed from the system. However, there are tracks left behind to help your system fix itself that you, or anybody can access. As far as your data transfer rate, well, that depends on many variables. Give us more info on the bus/drives you are transferring data, and we can help with why the slowdown. Data swaps qiuickly, images (porn) takes a bit longer. But, yeah, most likely it goes through your ram before it is transferred. That is why you have a buffer and want more ram. Last edited by poof; 07-01-2003 at 10:45 PM..

07-01-2003, 10:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
R_one Crazy	Slow hardrives Sata Barracuda 7200RPM 120G's. Even makes breakfast for you.

07-01-2003, 10:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
juanvaldes Banned Location: shittown, CA	no. Applications and other stuff goes into RAM. But since you are just copying from one drive to the other it does not goto RAM (as no app needs to quickly access the data)

07-01-2003, 10:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
R_one Crazy	Also if you are using both drives on the same ribbon, the ATA will be of the slowest drive. For instance, if your 7200 Maxtor is a Ultra 133 and your slaved 5400 WD is a Ultra 100, then you'll only get 100 for BOTH drives. But since you've already figured out your problem, you now know.

07-02-2003, 03:54 AM	#7 (permalink)
whale Tilted	nods at poof Every damn operation goes through the o/s layer. requires a bit of ram & cpu time. it doesn't suck up all of your ram, unless it's on it's monthly thing and starts leaking. I don't get it. even if it's on the same EIDE bus. 400MB shouldn't be taking 10! minutes.

07-02-2003, 05:25 AM	#8 (permalink)
human Tilted Location: Ottawa, ON, Canada	Keep in mind though, access time for hard drives is orders of magnitude slower than access time for ram. I'm not totally up to date on what hard drives do right now, but a couple of years ago it was something like 50-70 thousandths of a second. Access in RAM on the other hand is a few nanoseconds, billionths. The moral is, doing things in ram is not slow, it's the hard drives that are slowing you down.