prevent frame rate shutter with out turning graphics down.

[Skuzzy]

Just because you do not see a benefit does not mean there is no benefit.  Logically, if you remove a program from a computer, which is always using computer cycles and other resources, then it stands to reason said computer cycles will be able to run other programs and use resources freed from terminating that program.

How much of a benefit will strictly depend on the computer and its configuration.

Superfetch has the potential of speeding up the first load of any given application and that is the end of its benefit.  After the first load, the application will be cached by the Windows OS thus negating any need for superfetch.

If it is more important that a program might load faster on its first execution, than having the freed resources for any other application to use, then leave superfetch running.  Simple.

However, on a resource limited computer, it would be borderline moronic to leave that process running.

If you want every cycle you can get to run a game, or any other system intense application, then disabling superfetch is a good thing.

I also disable "Themes" as it is a huge system resource hog.  Disbabling it gives me better transcoding times on my videos.  Just FYI.  I know having all the 'pretty stuff' is important to a lot of people, so I rarely bring up disabling that service as I get there are many who would be chastised for killing off the 'pretty, fluff stuff' in Windows.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Just because you do not see a benefit does not mean there is no benefit.  Logically, if you remove a program from a computer, which is always using computer cycles and other resources, then it stands to reason said computer cycles will be able to run other programs and use resources freed from terminating that program.

How much of a benefit will strictly depend on the computer and its configuration.

Superfetch has the potential of speeding up the first load of any given application and that is the end of its benefit.  After the first load, the application will be cached by the Windows OS thus negating any need for superfetch.

If it is more important that a program might load faster on its first execution, than having the freed resources for any other application to use, then leave superfetch running.  Simple.

However, on a resource limited computer, it would be borderline moronic to leave that process running.

If you want every cycle you can get to run a game, or any other system intense application, then disabling superfetch is a good thing.

I also disable "Themes" as it is a huge system resource hog.  Disbabling it gives me better transcoding times on my videos.  Just FYI.  I know having all the 'pretty stuff' is important to a lot of people, so I rarely bring up disabling that service as I get there are many who would be chastised for killing off the 'pretty, fluff stuff' in Windows.

I see your point. However the most efficient way to tune up a current computer is to add resources if they're lacking. Ram is dirt cheap and a 1 minute job to install. Disabling services is currently and even more so in the future, a double edged sword as more and more windows and application code is relying on sometimes surprising services to function properly.

Personally I would go through the route of expanding my current hardware to its limits before starting to strip off win7 - I've seen too many surprising effects caused by a missing service.

[gyrene81]

I see your point. However the most efficient way to tune up a current computer is to add resources if they're lacking. Ram is dirt cheap and a 1 minute job to install. Disabling services is currently and even more so in the future, a double edged sword as more and more windows and application code is relying on sometimes surprising services to function properly.

Personally I would go through the route of expanding my current hardware to its limits before starting to strip off win7 - I've seen too many surprising effects caused by a missing service.

adding memory to an existing set can cause issues as well, even if you buy the exact same within months of the original purchase. i know, just buy all new matching. but it's not always so easy, especially if you're system is using an older memory type. not everyone can afford what you can Ripley.

where i work, i get access to the latest craptastic microsoft applications from beta on, and i have yet to encounter anything that was adversely affected by the services i turned off on my systems. if you can read and exercise a little caution, you can prevent issues.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

adding memory to an existing set can cause issues as well, even if you buy the exact same within months of the original purchase. i know, just buy all new matching. but it's not always so easy, especially if you're system is using an older memory type. not everyone can afford what you can Ripley.

where i work, i get access to the latest craptastic microsoft applications from beta on, and i have yet to encounter anything that was adversely affected by the services i turned off on my systems. if you can read and exercise a little caution, you can prevent issues.

2 gb set of ram is like 10 bucks nowadays. If one can't afford that one can't afford to pay AH subscription either.

I have encountered several ill-effects from turning off services. Some apps would not function or functioned with extreme lag, some wouldn't install (most obvious was of course switching off MS installer service), some caused delays in bootup and/or shutdown times... Generally speaking disabling stuff just tends to create more problems than anything else in my experience.

The tweaks I listed earlyer I can recommend for now, that is untill ipv6 starts pushing ipv4 out at which point those old tweaks may bite you in the behind if you forget you did them.

[gyrene81]

i don't know where you're getting your prices but, i can't find any ddr or ddr2 2gb sets for $10...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007611%20600006040%20600006065&IsNodeId=1&name=2GB%20%282%20x%201GB%29

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007611%20600006042%20600006065&IsNodeId=1&name=2GB%20%282%20x%201GB%29

and 4gb sets of ddr2 are even worse...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007611%20600006042%20600006065&IsNodeId=1&name=2GB%20%282%20x%201GB%29


none of your theories hold water in real life. for instance, ms installer is set to manual by default in win7, no need to disable it because it doesn't run until you run a program installer that depends on it, then it self terminates.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

i don't know where you're getting your prices but, i can't find any ddr or ddr2 2gb sets for $10...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007611%20600006040%20600006065&IsNodeId=1&name=2GB%20%282%20x%201GB%29

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007611%20600006042%20600006065&IsNodeId=1&name=2GB%20%282%20x%201GB%29

and 4gb sets of ddr2 are even worse...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007611%20600006042%20600006065&IsNodeId=1&name=2GB%20%282%20x%201GB%29


none of your theories hold water in real life. for instance, ms installer is set to manual by default in win7, no need to disable it because it doesn't run until you run a program installer that depends on it, then it self terminates.

Well ok, they're like 20 bucks sorry for blowing your bank Down here even with our 23% VAT a kingston DDR2 2gb set is 22 euros, Kingston 4gb set of ddr3 27,90€, 8gb set a whopping 49,90

So upgrading the ram is extremely cost efficient. If someone who has no experience in computers starts to "tweak" and disable processes it soon amounts up to a malfunctioning OS and a high repair cost.

[gyrene81]

So upgrading the ram is extremely cost efficient. If someone who has no experience in computers starts to "tweak" and disable processes it soon amounts up to a malfunctioning OS and a high repair cost.

ok ya got me there... 

[Skuzzy]

Now you are off to talking about other services.  Disabling "superfetch" will not impact the function of any application in a negative manner.

System RAM is one resource.  Sometimes, it is not possible to add more RAM.  In those systems you would have to replace the RAM.  Replacing RAM can impact the entire system if the speed of the RAM is not identical to what you are replacing.  It is quite easy to slow a computer down by replacing 4GB of RAM with 8GB of RAM due to the potentially slower speed/cycles of the larger memory modules.

Also note, there are still CPU cycles lost on superfetch that you cannot get back.  You also lose when superfetch decides to read from the hard drive as that freezes the entire I/O and memory bus until that operation is completed.  Superfetch will fire off when you are running another application.

It does not hurt to disable superfetch.  It is easy enough for each person to try it and decide for themselves if it will help their particular configuration, or not.

[zack1234]

I have windows 7 where is this superfetch located?

[MrRiplEy[H]]

I have windows 7 where is this superfetch located?

run/cmd/services.msc although disabling it will only show as slower app load times, nothing else