OSX 10.5.7 Disabling virtual memory (SwapFile) Issue

Hi,
With OSX 10.5.6, disabling virtual memory (SwapFile) works very well using:
sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.dynamic_pager.plist

However, with OSX 10.5.7, I'm having weird issues like I can't repair permissions, BlueTooth does not start sometimes, is anyone else seeing this?

Thanks

MacBook Pro 17", Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on Jun 13, 2009 1:40 PM

19 replies

V.K.

Level 9

56,192 points

Jun 19, 2009 8:06 PM in response to William Lloyd

William Lloyd wrote:
I guess people have a fear that it is known that an SSD will wear out eventually.

IMO, that's like not driving your car for fear of wearing down its engine.

Dogcow-Moof

Level 8

36,833 points

Jun 21, 2009 5:52 AM in response to V.K.

Basically, yeah.

All SSDs have a finite life span, but then again so do regular hard drives.

The latest SSDs are rated in write cycles that meet or exceed those of regular magnetic hard drives.

So in short, having VM enabled can reduce the usable life of your SSD.

But it does the same for magnetic hard drives, and as I said earlier other uses of the system, like web browsing, cause far more writes and "wear out" your disks even more.

rdavo

Level 1

5 points

Jul 12, 2009 9:22 AM in response to Dogcow-Moof

Does anyone know how to select the drive for SwapFiles?
I would like to install an SSD and use that rather than the regular hard drive.
Faster and less "drive thrashing".
Probably a simple command, but I have not found it yet.
Thanks.

Network 23

Level 6

12,351 points

Jul 12, 2009 11:27 AM in response to TamrSukary

I wouldn't even worry about this. SSDs are so young and expensive you're all going to replace them for faster, cheaper, bigger SSDs in a couple years anyway, before you ever hit the write limit you're worried about.

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OSX 10.5.7 Disabling virtual memory (SwapFile) Issue