Increasing HDD Cache Memory?

amit_talkin · May 3, 2018

I was wondering if its possible to replace cache memory on HDD with higher amount one. For example I have WD Black 4TB HDD with 64mb DDR2 cache memory. Is it possible to just de-solder it from PCB and solder a new one with high capacity one? lets say 128? I remembered my old TPLink router had 32mb ram and I had upgraded it to 64mb like this. Any clues?

Here You can see 64mb DDR2 memory from samsung on this PCB. Its WD Black 4TB HDD.

RejZoR · May 10, 2018

That's not how things work. You can't just stick more memory on it. Reason for this is that I'm pretty sure controller is mapped to only utilize 64MB. Sticking more on it wouldn't do anything. It would still only see 64MB.

cucker tarlson · May 10, 2018

Just use intel smart response.

R-T-B · May 10, 2018

RejZoR said:
That's not how things work. You can't just stick more memory on it. Reason for this is that I'm pretty sure controller is mapped to only utilize 64MB. Sticking more on it wouldn't do anything. It would still only see 64MB.

Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if it recognized it (given these are pretty much general 32-bit arm cores these days) but it would even in that best case scenario completely suck at utilizing it in any meaningful way, because the firmware isn't optimized to use it.

So yeah, what he said.

cucker tarlson · May 10, 2018

I wonder if Intel smart response could be used to cache a HDD with a samsung SSD while rapid mode is enabled.

Whew, I almost broke my W10 installation trying to check that. I got nothing. I can't use smart response on my old RST installation (ver. 14.xxx from 2015). I can't update it either cause newer rst versions won't install on my PC when I'm in achi mode in bios, it only installs when I'm in raid mode in bios. I tried to change it but it won't post, got stuck in a restart loop. Reverting back to achi brought me to windows repair screen, but fortunately after restarting it booted to windows. And even if I managed to get new rts installled and enable smart response, rapid mode will only work in achi mode, so that leads me nowhere.

I guess it should technically be possible, but my Z97 platform just plain refuses to do that.

If anyone can pull that off tho, I'd be very insterested to see it actually work.

eidairaman1 · May 10, 2018

It won't work, you would need the same specified chip in larger capacity but then also reprogram the firmware controller to read and write the larger cache.

Just buy a new drive or get a SSHD or SSD.

silentbogo · May 10, 2018

amit_talkin said:
I was wondering if its possible to replace cache memory on HDD with higher amount one. For example I have WD Black 4TB HDD with 64mb DDR2 cache memory. Is it possible to just de-solder it from PCB and solder a new one with high capacity one? lets say 128? I remembered my old TPLink router had 32mb ram and I had upgraded it to 64mb like this. Any clues?

It's different on routers. There you are replacing an SPI ROM which contains the firmware. On HDDs you have RAM, which in turn also requires firmware modification (pretty sure that it goes beyond just replacing the SPD profile for cache memory).
If it was possible, we would see at least some info on this topic on badcaps, vinafix, radiokot, or vlabs... So far I haven't seen any.

Plus, there is very limited info on the built-in controller, so we don't even know if it can support higher DRAM capacity.

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Increasing HDD Cache Memory?

amit_talkin

RejZoR

cucker tarlson

R-T-B

cucker tarlson

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

silentbogo

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