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shanel30820161
Participating Frequently
March 16, 2018
Answered

Media & Disk Cache Filling Up Faster than it Should?

  • March 16, 2018
  • 1 reply
  • 6117 views

There are two computers we have at the office that use After Effects on a daily basis. Both have 32gb of RAM but one has 46gb for the maximum disk cache size, the other is set to 24gb.

For reasons I cant figure out the computer that has 46gb saved for the disk cache is constantly filling up and giving messages that the disk cache is full and there isn't enough room and it suggests clearing it out. The part I cant figure out is that both computers are working on the same projects and one isn't doing more heavy lifting than the other. It feels like these messages are becoming more common and are at the point we're getting the message once a week on this specific computer. I would think 46gb would be enough space and if anything the computer with 24gb would be the one filling up and giving messages about emptying the cache.

Is there something i'm missing here?

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Correct answer Roland Kahlenberg

You are confusing RAM and Disk Cache. RAM is where rendered frames are stored for the current Preview and this includes what you see in your Comp Panel, as you work. Disk Cache is an area on one of your hard disks where AE stores previously rendered frames. These rendered frames, in the disk cache, were moved from RAM after a Preview was completed and you went on doing something else in AE. Instead of deleting these frames, from RAM, AE moves these frames in the disk cache - just in case you initiate another Preview, later on, and these frames are required for the Preview.

As to why one computer requires more purging of the disk cache, it likely has to do with the Preview Settings. One computer may have a higher quality setting for Previews than the other. One computer may have set a longer Preview Range than the other. And one computer may have a larger storage area set aside for its disk cache. Go to Preferences > Media & Disk Cache to check/set your disk cache location and size. Choose the fastest hard disk you have for storing your cache files.

1 reply

Roland Kahlenberg
Roland KahlenbergCorrect answer
Brainiac
March 16, 2018

You are confusing RAM and Disk Cache. RAM is where rendered frames are stored for the current Preview and this includes what you see in your Comp Panel, as you work. Disk Cache is an area on one of your hard disks where AE stores previously rendered frames. These rendered frames, in the disk cache, were moved from RAM after a Preview was completed and you went on doing something else in AE. Instead of deleting these frames, from RAM, AE moves these frames in the disk cache - just in case you initiate another Preview, later on, and these frames are required for the Preview.

As to why one computer requires more purging of the disk cache, it likely has to do with the Preview Settings. One computer may have a higher quality setting for Previews than the other. One computer may have set a longer Preview Range than the other. And one computer may have a larger storage area set aside for its disk cache. Go to Preferences > Media & Disk Cache to check/set your disk cache location and size. Choose the fastest hard disk you have for storing your cache files.

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    shanel30820161Author
    Participating Frequently
    March 19, 2018

    Well regardless of what RAM does and what the disk cache does it doesn't change the issue. Both computers preview settings are set to "Computer Monitor Only" and the computer thats filling up faster has more space set aside for the disk cache (46GB) than the computer that doesn't give errors about being full. But both computers work on the same projects so one computer isn't handling heavier files than another.

    Just to clarify

    Computer A has max disk cache set to 46GB. Preview settings "Computer Monitor Only". It gives errors about the cache being full anywhere from several times a day to once a week.

    Computer B has Max Disk Cache set to 24GB. Preview settings "Computer Monitor Only". It very rarely gives errors about the cache being full.

    Roland Kahlenberg
    Roland Kahlenberg
    Brainiac
    March 19, 2018

    What about these  -

    As to why one computer requires more purging of the disk cache, it likely has to do with the Preview Settings. One computer may have a higher quality setting for Previews than the other. One computer may have set a longer Preview Range than the other. And one computer may have a larger storage area set aside for its disk cache. Go to Preferences > Media & Disk Cache to check/set your disk cache location and size. Choose the fastest hard disk you have for storing your cache files.

    In short, the settings that related to quality, for a Preview, are very relevant.

    The duration for a Preview too.

    The number of layers involved is relevant too - one user may Solo one or more layers prior to initiating a Preview while the other leaves all layers switched on.

    You're comparing two quite different things even though there are similarities - in this case, the differences may override the similarities. I would check on how each user goes about their daily routines; to get a better idea of the situation. In short, I doubt this is an AE issue but simply a matter of how different users go about performing their tasks, differently.

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