How to fix Google Chrome problems with SSD – move cache to ramdisk
If you’ve experienced SSD stuttering while using Google Chrome, you’re not alone. Here is the quick solution: change Chrome’s cache directory to another location (i.e. non-ssd harddrive, ramdisk)!
So, how can I do this? It’s simple, you can tweak Chrome with the following startup parameters:
- “…chrome.exe” –disk-cache-dir=<CACHE_DIR> –disk-cache-size=<SIZE_IN_BYTES>
Here is an example, pointing to a ramdisk drive (T:) and allocating a max of 500MB to it (which is nice to be able to control when you’re using ramdisk):
- chrome.exe –disk-cache-dir=T:\ChromeCache –disk-cache-size=524288000
Here is a discussion post about these new parameters for more info:
So far this has worked great for me, much better than reallocating the whole home dir using symlinks, junctions and the –user-data-dir parameter . If you still want to do this, follow these examples:
Optimizing Ubuntu Linux to minimize possible SSD problems
Here are other tips on optimizing your Ubuntu Linux to minimize possible SSD problems. I still have some concerns about SSD stuttering and limited life-span, but I hope that following the instructions below I will minimize these problems:
- Using noatime and nodiratime
UUID=da949f54-f6a5-4dd3-a293-8b2925834baf / ext4 noatime,nodiratime,errors=remount-ro0 1
- Setting up ramdisk on heavily used temp folder:
tmpfs /tmp tmpfs defaults,noatime,mode=1777 0 0
tmpfs /media/ramdisk tmpfs defaults,noatime,mode=1777 0 0
tmpfs /var/run tmpfs defaults,noatime,mode=1777 0 0
tmpfs /var/lock tmpfs defaults,noatime,mode=1777 0 0
- Changing I/O Schedule to “deadline”
Source: http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=54379
So far, no problems.
First impressions: Solid State Drive (SSD) vs 7500 rpm HDD
So, my first impressions on SSD? It’s damn fast! Let me say that again, IT’S DAMN FAST!
Seriously, I’m talking about at least 10x faster… Check it out:
- Boot time on Ubuntu 9.10 (disregarding BIOS initial checkup time)
- 7500 rpm HDD: ~160 sec
- OCZ Solid Series 60GB SSD: ~20 sec; (what?! yes, your read correctly)
- Copying Files (ex: typical video of 600 MB)
- Before, with a “fast” 7500 rpm HDD: a lot… no need to mention, it was pretty lame…
- OCZ SSD: 12 seconds!
- Firefox Browsing / Overall Impression:
- Opening tabs, clicking back and other things are now instantaneous with SSD.
Check out this vid to see a guy doing a boot time test on a Ubuntu with SSD: Booting Ubuntu 9 04 with SSD
Even if you’re on a budget,you can start with the entry-level OCZ Solid Series…
Nowadays you can get one for less than $150 bucks… Here is where I got mine:
Based on some Internet reviews I thought this one would be too slow compared to the other options (i.e. Vertex), but It’s like comparing a Porsche 911 to a Bugatti Veyron, both are extremely faster than my Honda Civic 
Happy shopping! 