Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!munnari.oz.au!comp.vuw.ac.nz!windy!sramtrc
From: sramtrc@windy.dsir.govt.nz
Newsgroups: comp.unix.aux
Subject: Re: 4 Megg SIMMs. Should I or shouldn't I?
Keywords: SIMMS cache
Message-ID: <18741.2734aee5@windy.dsir.govt.nz>
Date: 5 Nov 90 00:14:29 GMT
References: <121667@tiger.oxy.edu>
Reply-To: sramtrc@albert.dsir.govt.nz
Organization: DSIR, Wellington, New Zealand
Lines: 13

Another factor to consider when using memory is the size of the disk cache
(by default 10% of available memory). Even if you are not running large
programs or not doing lots of paging activity the benefits of a larger disk
cache can still be had. With a cache of size S MB the last S MB of files
that you accessed remain in RAM and so are faster to access next time.
So even if you are not a heavy user, commands execute more quickly.

If you buy 1MB SIMMS and want to add more than 8MB in the future you will
have to remove those SIMMS. But if you buy 4MB SIMMS you won't have to
remove them till you go past 32MB. Fewer trashed SIMMS. 

Tony Cooper
sramtrc@albert.dsir.govt.nz