Conclusion

Microsoft's ReadyBoost is an interesting technology. It is designed to complement the hard drive-based virtual memory by caching its data and allowing the operating system to access them at faster speeds. Windows Vista is intelligent enough to only use it for small, random transfers while leaving the large, sequential transfers to the hard drive which is more suitable for the job.

Of course, flash memory devices are not exactly cheap. They cost a lot more per GB than hard drives. They also have a limited life cycle based on the number of writes. However, Microsoft have taken steps to meet those challenges.

To store more data without requiring larger and more expensive flash drives, ReadyBoost compresses the data at a ratio of approximately 2:1 which doubles the storage capacity. The data is also encrypted to ensure data security should someone steal the flash memory device. ReadyBoost also implements selective write logic that determines where and when they write data to the flash memory device. They claim that ReadyBoost devices will have a flash life cycle of 10 years or more.

However, before you run out and buy a flash memory device to enable ReadyBoost, you need to be sure that the flash device you buy will actually support ReadyBoost's requirements. Our research has shown that random 4 KB read speed is the key issue affecting any flash memory device's eligibility for use as a ReadyBoost device.

Many flash memory devices have a very poor random read speed. Even expensive, high-speed USB flash drives like the OCZ Rally drives and the Corsair Flash Voyager do not meet ReadyBoost's random read requirements. It does not mean that there is something wrong with those devices. They are designed for very fast sequential reads. However, ReadyBoost focuses more on random access and therefore, only devices that support fast random accesses will be able to support ReadyBoost.

If you are looking to buy a ReadyBoost-capable flash device, it pays to do a little research. Microsoft is doing something about this by working with flash memory companies to identify ReadyBoost-capable devices. However, it remains to be seen whether this will turn out to be nothing more than a marketing exercise like Microsoft's Certified for Windows Vista program.

At Tech ARP, we have already started testing flash memory devices for their ability to support ReadyBoost. Our first review to do so is the recently-released review of the Kingston DataTraveler ReadyFlash drives.

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