Software Implementation
Windows Vista and Windows 7 natively support the use of hybrid drives (ReadyDrive).
Hybrid drives may also be implemented in software, using other memory instead of a buffer built into the hard drive. Examples of such systems include the SuperCache caching software (implements hybrid RAM drive), and Windows ReadyBoost and ReadyDrive, which use separate flash memory (removable and non-removable, respectively) and hard disk to make a hybrid drive. Performance of the combined drive may be affected by the speed of the CPU and speed of the separate memory used, in addition to the speed of the hard drive interface.
The primary benefits of a hybrid drive may be created from a separate HDD and flash memory device, managed by software, such as ReadyDrive in Windows. A similar technology has been implemented by Diskeeper Corporation's ExpressCache software in Samsung laptops.
In fall 2011, OCZ Technology began selling versions of their Synapse Cache SSD. The drives are overprovisioned to provide 50% of their rated capacity, alongside NVELO Dataplex software caching, to accelerate existing drives.
Read more about this topic: Hybrid Drive