Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!haven!umbc3!battle
From: battle@umbc3.UMBC.EDU (Rick)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: buffers vs cache
Keywords: buffers cache mace harddisk
Message-ID: <1793@umbc3.UMBC.EDU>
Date: 13 Mar 89 20:29:41 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Univ of Maryland Baltimore County
Lines: 21


PC question for the net concerning disk buffers and disk
cache programs.
 
1. Disk buffers in DOS allow temporary storage of disk data
during disk activity.
 
2. Disk cache programs, such as MACE VCache, monitor all
hard disk activity and automatically caches (retains a copy
in cache memory) of all data transfered to or from the disk.
 
The question is;
 
Since DOS defaults 2 buffers for the PC and XT and 3 for the
AT (and obviously you can set more) is there a need for a
cache program?  Don't they do just about the same thing?
And if you use both is that a poor use of ram?
 
Thanks in advance.

Rick