Metropol

Can someone tell me what a Cache is on a Hard Drive is please?

Cache is a temporary storage area which is quicker than it would be getting the data raw.

So basically you access a file on your computer, let's call it "textfile.txt" for this example.

You tell Windows to load textfile.txt, the hard drive looks for it. You modify it and save it and it goes in the cache.

You then decide you want to edit it again. So instead of getting the file off the drive, we look in the cache for it and if its there, load it from there.

When you shut the system down, the contents of the cache are written to the hard drive and the computer switches off. Stuff stored in the cache is emptied out as needs arise, so your textfile.txt is pushed out of the cache if something else needs the space. To load it again you'd have to go to where its physically stored on the drive.

It works in the same way as system memory, which explains why you can load MS Word, shut it down and load it up again in half a second.

Neil Jones wrote:Cache is a temporary storage area which is quicker than it would be getting the data raw.

So basically you access a file on your computer, let's call it "textfile.txt" for this example.

You tell Windows to load textfile.txt, the hard drive looks for it. You modify it and save it and it goes in the cache.

You then decide you want to edit it again. So instead of getting the file off the drive, we look in the cache for it and if its there, load it from there.

When you shut the system down, the contents of the cache are written to the hard drive and the computer switches off. Stuff stored in the cache is emptied out as needs arise, so your textfile.txt is pushed out of the cache if something else needs the space. To load it again you'd have to go to where its physically stored on the drive.

It works in the same way as system memory, which explains why you can load MS Word, shut it down and load it up again in half a second.

Sorry?

Oh you idiot fuck off. Why ask a question then go "Sorry?" when you get the answer, in full, and in depth. Idiot.

Bail wrote:Oh you idiot fuck off. Why ask a question then go "Sorry?" when you get the answer, in full, and in depth. Idiot.

Shut up you son of a bitch!

I mean I don't understand. Don't take it out on me if I'm not as smart as he is, dickhead!

Okay, think of cache as a sort of secondary storage area.

Compare it to retrieving something from a cupboard. The cupboard is the raw source I spoke about earlier. The cache is any area outside the cupboard.

You want something from in the cupboard. So you get it out and put it on the floor. The item you've just got out is now in the "cache", ie the surrounding area.

Therefore if you want that item again, you look for it in the cache (in the room). If you can't find it, you go to the raw storage area - ie look in the cupboard, as you've put it away for something else.

When the computer shuts down, think of it as putting everything back in the cupboard - ie clearing the cache.

Neil Jones wrote:Okay, think of cache as a sort of secondary storage area.

Compare it to retrieving something from a cupboard. The cupboard is the raw source I spoke about earlier. The cache is any area outside the cupboard.

You want something from in the cupboard. So you get it out and put it on the floor. The item you've just got out is now in the "cache", ie the surrounding area.

Therefore if you want that item again, you look for it in the cache (in the room). If you can't find it, you go to the raw storage area - ie look in the cupboard, as you've put it away for something else.

When the computer shuts down, think of it as putting everything back in the cupboard - ie clearing the cache.

Oh, now I understand. Thanks mate!