How to Use SSDs as a Cache for HDDs: Improve Your Computer’s Performance and Speed

Using PrimoCache

PrimoCache is a third-party application that can be used to use SSDs as caches for HDDs in Windows. The application can work with all types of SSDs and HDDs, as well as all versions of Windows from XP to 10. It also has advanced features, such as Defer-Write, Level-2 Cache, and Invisible Memory, which can improve your computer’s performance and speed even further.

To use PrimoCache, you need an SSD with a minimum capacity of 4 GB and an HDD with a capacity of at least 100 GB. You also need a Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, or 10 operating system, with BIOS mode set to IDE, AHCI, or RAID. The following are the steps to use PrimoCache:

1. Plug your SSD and HDD into your computer, and make sure they are detected by Windows.
2. Download and install PrimoCache from its official website. You can use the trial version for 30 days, or buy a license for the full version.
3. Open the PrimoCache app, and click Create Task. You’ll see your SSD and HDD listed under the Volume List.
4. Select the HDD you want to accelerate as the volume target, and click Next. Select the SSD you want to use as the volume cache, and click Next. Specify the cache size you want, and click Next. Select the cache mode you want, which is Read-Only, Read-Write, or Write-Only. Read-Only mode saves the data read from the HDD to the SSD, speeding up loading times. Read-Write mode saves the data read and written from the HDD to the SSD, speeding up loading and transfer times. Write-Only mode saves data written to the HDD to the SSD first, speeding up transfer times. Click Next to continue.
5. Select the Defer-Write option if you want to delay writing data from the SSD to the HDD, thereby increasing speed and reducing SSD usage. You can adjust the delay time and buffer size according to your needs. Click Next to continue.
6. Select the Level-2 Cache option if you want to use RAM memory as additional cache for the SSD, thereby increasing speed even further. You can adjust the cache size and cache mode according to your need. Click Next to continue.
7. Select the Invisible Memory option if you want to use memory not used by Windows as additional cache for the SSD, thereby increasing speed even further. You can adjust the cache size and cache mode according to your need. Click Next to continue.
8. Review your cache configuration, and click Finish to create the cache task. Wait for the cache initialization process to complete, and restart your computer. Now, your SSD has served as a cache for your HDD, and you can enjoy better performance and speed.

How to Use SSD as Cache for HDD on Linux

There are several ways to use an SSD as a cache for HDDs in Linux, depending on the Linux distribution and version you are using, as well as the type of SSD and HDD you are using. The following are some of the most common and easy ways to do this:

Using Bcache

Bcache is a feature available on Linux kernel version 3.10 or later, which allows you to use the SSD as a cache for HDDs. This feature can improve your computer’s performance and speed by using intelligent algorithms to learn your usage patterns and store the most frequently accessed data on the SSD.

To use Bcache, you need an SSD with a minimum capacity of 8 GB and an HDD with a capacity of at least 100 GB. You also need a Linux operating system with kernel version 3.10 or later, with BIOS mode set to AHCI or RAID. The following are the steps to use Bcache:

1. Plug your SSD and HDD into your computer, and make sure they are detected by Linux.
2. Install the bcache-tools package that corresponds to your Linux distribution. You can use commands like sudo apt install bcache-tools for Ubuntu, or sudo yum install bcache-tools for Fedora.
3. Format your SSD as a cache device by using the command sudo make-bcache -C /dev/sdX, where /dev/sdX is the name of your SSD. Make a note of the UUID generated by the command, as you’ll need it later.
4. Format your HDD as a backing device by using the command sudo make-bcache -B /dev/sdY, where /dev/sdY is the name of your HDD. You can adjust parameters like block size, bucket size, and cache mode according to your needs. Cache mode can be either writethrough, writeback, or writearound. Writethrough mode will store data on the SSD and HDD simultaneously, making it safer but slower. Writeback mode will store data only on the SSD, making it faster but more at risk of data loss if the SSD is damaged. Writearound mode will store data only on the HDD, making it more SSD efficient but slower.
5. Connect your SSD and HDD by using the command sudo echo UUID > /sys/block/bcache0/bcache/attach, where UUID is the UUID you noted earlier, and bcache0 is the name of the bcache device formed from your HDD. You can check the bcache status of your device by using the command sudo bcache-super-show /dev/sdY or sudo cat /sys/block/bcache0/bcache/state.
6. Create partitions and file systems on your bcache device by using commands such as sudo fdisk /dev/bcache0 and sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/bcache0p1, where bcache0p1 is the name of the partition you created. You can use the sudo blkid command to view the UUID of your partition, which you will use to install your device’s bcache.
7. Enter the following line into the /etc/fstab file to automatically bcache your device at boot:

UUID=UUID_partisi /mnt/bcache ext4 defaults 0 2

where UUID_partisi is the UUID of the partition you see with the sudo blkid command, and /mnt/bcache is the location you want to bcache your device. 8. Run the command sudo mount -a to bcache your device, or restart your computer. Now, your SSD has served as a cache for your HDD, and you can enjoy better performance and speed.