Cache file & cache size for games?

[Galuf the Dwarf]

I ended up getting some help for Icewind Dale 2 from the Interplay gaming forums, but need some clarification on what these functions do. I was told to clear out the cache file to take care of a glitch, but then I saw the cache size function in the IWD2 configuration (after read the description) and got curious.

Can anyone provide any specifics as to how the cache size works, or how exactly to access the cache file to erase it?

[Xandax]

My bet is that to clear your IWD2 cache, then there simply is a "cache" folder in your IWD game directory, where you need to delete the contens of that folder.
That was how I recall it in BG/BG2, and would think it is the same.

The cache size in your IWD2 settings would simply tell the game how much storage space it can use for temporary files, before starting to clear out files on its own. Large cache usually means faster running, but larger storage usage.

[Galuf the Dwarf]

Originally posted by Xandax
My bet is that to clear your IWD2 cache, then there simply is a "cache" folder in your IWD game directory, where you need to delete the contens of that folder.
That was how I recall it in BG/BG2, and would think it is the same.

The cache size in your IWD2 settings would simply tell the game how much storage space it can use for temporary files, before starting to clear out files on its own. Large cache usually means faster running, but larger storage usage.

Hmmm... okay, so cache size really deals with the running speed of a game?

Anyways, I think I'm going to try clearning the cache file and see if it makes a difference.

[Xandax]

cache size deals with how much storagespace you will let the program use before it start deleting temporary files and replace them with new ones.

When the program runs, it will create temporary files, these often have to be saved on the harddrive, due to memory (RAM) reasons. The reason for this, is that the game can load new things into memory, but still have resonably fast access to these temporary files, because they are already created and the game "knows" where they are, and don't have to create the files again.
This for the user of the program/game will look like faster running, because it dosen't have to create the files over and over, but can read them more easily from the harddrive.


It is a little similar in function to the Windows swapfile, if you are familiar with that function in windows.

edit: note, you shouldn't mistake this for the hardware cache in for instance your CPU. These things arne't the same, although the usage is somewhat similar.

[Galuf the Dwarf]

Well, I cleared the cache file, and that didn't do a thing. That's not to say that it made it worse, but it just didn't help.

So, what should I do now?