What Is a Cache on a Hard Drive?
Computer hard drives are accessed on a constant basis by the system to access information and create new data for storage. These processes occur in large quantities, and accessing the hard drive can put stress on the system. The use of a hard-drive cache will aid in these processes by creating a section of memory that can be accessed when common processes are being completed.
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Function
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Hard drives use a cache to store data that will be reused. This can be anything from commands to files that need to be quickly accessed.
Effects
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Cache allows the hard drive to multitask; instead of waiting for read/write commands to occur one at a time, they can both be running multiple processes at once.
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Benefits
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Commands that are sent to the hard drive are cached, organized and reordered. When the same commands come through again, the response can be completed without having to access the drive.
Size
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Hard-drive caches are commonly found in 2MB and 8MB formats. Larger hard drives can use 16MB caches.
Need
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The greater the number of processes that are completed at a given time, the larger the cache on the hard drive should be. This will alleviate lag and stress on the hard drive.
Downsides
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A downside to a large cache is that files stored in the cache can be lost during a computer crash. This also leads to corrupt files that are difficult, if not impossible, to retrieve.
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