Cache Settings - ApertureViewer/Aperture-Viewer GitHub Wiki

Aperture Viewer Cache Settings: Optimizing Performance

This page explains the cache settings in Aperture Viewer and provides guidance on how to adjust them for optimal performance.

What is the Cache?

Aperture Viewer uses two types of caches to store downloaded content on your local computer:

  • Texture Cache: This cache stores textures (images applied to objects and surfaces in the virtual world). When the viewer needs to display a texture, it first checks this cache. If the texture is found here, it loads much faster from your local disk than downloading it again from the servers.
  • Asset Cache: This cache stores other types of assets, such as mesh models, sounds, animations, scripts, and more. Like the texture cache, it speeds up loading times by storing these assets locally.

Why are Caches Important?

Caches significantly improve your experience in Aperture Viewer by:

  • Reducing Loading Times: When you revisit locations or see objects you've encountered before, the viewer can load textures and assets from the cache instead of downloading them again. This makes world loading and re-rezzing much faster.
  • Lowering Bandwidth Usage: By reusing cached content, the viewer reduces the amount of data it needs to download, saving bandwidth. This is especially beneficial for users with limited data plans or slower internet connections.
  • Creating a Smoother Experience: Faster loading and reduced bandwidth usage contribute to a smoother and more responsive overall experience within the viewer.

Available Cache Settings in Aperture Viewer:

You can adjust the following cache settings in Aperture Viewer's Preferences:

  1. Texture Cache Size: This setting controls the maximum amount of disk space allocated to the Texture Cache.

    • Location in Preferences: Preferences > Network & Files > Directories > [Look for "Texture Cache Size" slider]
    • Default Value: 4096 MB (4 GB)
    • Adjusting this setting:
      • Increasing the size: A larger texture cache can store more textures, potentially leading to faster re-rezzing and less frequent texture downloading, especially if you explore many different regions or encounter a wide variety of content.
      • Decreasing the size: If you have limited disk space on your system drive, or if you rarely revisit the same locations, you might consider reducing the texture cache size. However, a smaller cache may result in more frequent texture downloads and slightly longer loading times.

  2. Asset Cache Size: This setting controls the maximum amount of disk space allocated to the Asset Cache (for meshes, sounds, animations, etc.).

    • Location in Preferences: Preferences > Network & Files > Directories > [Look for "Asset Cache Size" slider]
    • Default Value: 4096 MB (4 GB)
    • Adjusting this setting:
      • Increasing the size: A larger asset cache can store more non-texture assets, potentially improving loading times for objects, avatars, and other in-world elements, especially if you interact with a variety of content.
      • Decreasing the size: Similar to the texture cache, if disk space is a concern, you could reduce the asset cache size. However, this might lead to more frequent downloading of assets and slightly slower object loading.

Recommended Cache Sizes:

  • Default (4GB each for Texture and Asset Cache): The default setting of 4 GB for both Texture and Asset Cache is a good starting point for most users and systems. It provides a balance between performance benefits and disk space usage.
  • Systems with ample disk space (e.g., 1TB or larger SSD/HDD): You can consider increasing both cache sizes to 8GB or even 16GB each if you have plenty of free disk space and want to maximize caching potential. This can be especially beneficial for users who explore a lot and want to minimize loading times.
  • Systems with limited disk space (e.g., smaller SSD system drives): If disk space is a constraint, especially on your system drive where the cache is typically located by default, you might consider slightly reducing the cache sizes. However, avoid setting them too low (e.g., below 2GB each) as this can significantly impact performance.

Factors to Consider When Adjusting Cache Sizes:

  • Available Disk Space: Ensure you have enough free disk space on the drive where your cache is stored before increasing cache sizes. Check your disk space regularly.
  • System Performance: While larger caches generally improve loading times, excessively large caches might, in very rare cases, have a minor impact on startup time or very slightly increase disk activity. For most modern systems, this is negligible.
  • Usage Patterns:
    • Frequent World Exploration: If you frequently teleport to many different regions and encounter diverse content, larger caches will be more beneficial.
    • Staying in One Place: If you primarily stay in a limited number of locations or interact with the same set of objects, smaller caches might be sufficient.
  • SSD vs. HDD: SSDs (Solid State Drives) generally handle cache operations more efficiently than traditional HDDs (Hard Disk Drives). If your cache is located on an SSD, you might see slightly better performance benefits from larger caches.

Finding the Cache Settings in Preferences:

To adjust your cache settings:

  1. Open Aperture Viewer.
  2. Go to the menu: Edit > Preferences (or Aperture Viewer > Preferences on macOS).
  3. Navigate to the "Network & Files" tab.
  4. Select the "Directories" sub-tab.
  5. You will find the "Texture Cache Size" and "Asset Cache Size" sliders in this "Directories" section.

Important Notes:

  • Restart Required: After changing cache sizes, it's generally recommended to restart Aperture Viewer for the new settings to fully take effect.
  • Cache Location: Aperture Viewer typically stores the cache in a default location on your system drive. In future versions, there might be options to customize the cache location.
  • Purging the Cache: If you encounter issues with textures or assets not loading correctly, or if you want to free up disk space, you can clear (purge) your cache. There is usually a "Clear Cache" button in the Preferences panel, often in the same section as the cache size settings.

This page provides general guidance. Optimal cache settings may vary depending on individual usage patterns and system configurations. Experiment with different settings to find what works best for you!