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Computing Storage Devices

Sandisk ReadyCache SSD Review

Do you own a desktop PC that’s lagging behind? Maybe you’ve already been considering a replacement for it but don’t have the cash to splash out. If that sounds familiar – I feel your pain.

Over the years, as software has become more and more advanced, the components in our machines have inevitably become obsolete by not being able to keep up. Fortunately though, technology has been improving by leaps and bounds and now more than ever we have the means to maintain and even improve our computers with a little research and the right components.

So, if you own a desktop PC and are willing to spend a little time upgrading it instead of spending hundreds on a replacement – pay attention because the 32GB Sandisk ReadyCache SSD could be the budget solution for you.

What Is The ReadyCache SSD?

Where Solid State Drives are direct replacements for the common hard drives you’ll find in computers, the ReadyCache SSD works together with your existing hard drive to optimise your machine’s performance.

For a fraction of the price you would pay for an SSD you can outfit your old machine with Sandisk’s ReadyCache and it does exactly what the name says – it stores data about actions you take and keeps it readily available to be accessed quicker next time you need it, increasing performance and optimising your computing experience.

What’s convenient is that you get these performance benefits without having to go through the taxing process of re-installing your operating system or going through other major modifications. That’s because the ReadyCache SSD works in tandem with your existing hard drive to speed up boot up times and makes the response times of applications up to 12x faster.

The Installation Process

To install the ReadyCache SSD you need to be running Windows 7 or 8, which unfortunately rules out older operating systems like Windows XP. It is not plug & play and it isn’t meant to be formatted for storage – or the cache function won’t work. Installing it mainly involves connecting the SSD using the SATA III port alongside your spinning storage and then you run SanDisk’s ExpressCache software to do the rest.

All in all, I’d have to classify the difficulty of the installation process as intermediate since it involves a little tinkering but with this video below, you can see how to pull it off in three straight forward steps.

Sandisk ReadyCache SSD: The Bottom Line

When you consider that a decent 120GB SSD can cost anywhere between £90-110, the ReadyCache’s £30 price tag isn’t going to be a hefty investment that’ll make you lose any sleep. I’d recommend looking in to a full SSD to really get the full performance benefits, but for a budget solution the ReadyCache is a good product that does what it claims to do and will definitely improve the performance of a machine that you may have considered getting rid of initially.

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By Joseph Silva

A major gaming enthusiast and very possibly addicted to coffee, Joseph mainly covers the world of gaming and computer hardware here at Let's Talk Tech. Connect with him over on Google+.