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The BIG differences between the original Intel® Turbo Memory w/1GB and the New Turbo Memory 2.0 w/2GB or 4GB
16 August, 2008 in
Intel® Turbo Memory (code named Robson) uses NAND Flash Memory to work with the Microsoft Windows Vista ReadyBoost and ReadyDrive technologies. It is a new low-latency, non-volatile memory cache between your system memory and your hard drive. It was designed to enable fast access to critical data and applications.
Well, that was the idea anyway.
Turbo Memory w/1GB (Ver. 1.0) on the original Centrino® systems was divided into 2 512MB slices with 512MB dedicated to Vista ReadyDrive, and 512MB dedicated to Vista ReadyBoost. It had its minor performance boosts under Vista if it was used to specifications, but for anyone with 2GB system memory or more its benefit was negligible…and disappointing.
With the launch of Intel® Centrino® 2, Turbo Memory got upgraded from Ver. 1.0 to Ver. 2.0 in 2GB or 4GB modules.
With the new driver version 1.7 you will see a great improvement in user control and performance. This new version now has the Intel Turbo Memory Dashboard. While 512MB will still be dedicated to Vista ReadyDrive the new Dashboard will give the user the option to select how the remaining 1.5 to 3.5GB of space should be allocated between Vista ReadyBoost and Intel® Pinning.
Intel® Pinning will allow you to drag and drop your most used applications or files into the Turbo Memory (e.g. the whole Office 2007 suite will only take up about 600MB) which will allow your pinned files or applications snap open much faster. It will remain in the module until removed from the Dashboard by the user.
This will make the remaining 1.5 to 3.5GB of space an internal Mini SSD for Vista ReadyDrive and the applications that you have chosen to “Pin” to Turbo Memory. Internal testing has shown this will provide a great performance boost in the application load time for the applications that have been pinned.
It’s quite a great alternate internal Mini SSD drive for a very affordable price of around $45 for 2GB or $90 for 4GB, without the hassle of using an external USB flash memory drive.
I love it when a plan comes together!