Slowdown after a memory expansion

Support knowledgebase (ram_cache)
Applies to

SuSE Linux: All versions

Symptom:

The computer is slower after a memory expansion.

Cause:

Some old boards or their cache controller can only cache an specific memory area. Mostly it is limited to 16MB. Since Linux uses the entire available memory area, memory accesses outside the cacheable area are really slow.

Solution:

Should your board e.g. only have available 128kB cache and you can expand this to 256 kB, this can be the solution. Unfortunately not always, because some cache controllers are buggy and a cache too big causes problems.
Keywords: RAM, CACHE

SDB-ram_cache, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany - Version: 02. Apr 1997
SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 10. Mai 2002 by sdb (sdb_gen 1.40.0)