Does defining the cache help in load time?

[Renegade]

If I go by this guide http://xenforo.com/help/cache/ and put the following in the config.php, will it help in reducing the page load time of the forum?

Can I do this without installing APC or memcache?

$config['cache']['enabled'] = true;
$config['cache']['frontend'] = 'Core';
$config['cache']['frontendOptions']['cache_id_prefix'] = 'xf_';

$config['cache']['backend'] = 'File';

The reason I am going after this is because I noticed that the xenforo forum time-to-first-byte is at least a second better than my forum and I have no clue where to start to match those times.

 

[Paul B]

I had simple cache implemented when I was on shared hosting.
I never actually did any A - B testing though so can't really say whether it improved anything.

The server here has been set up by Mike, which may account for some of the difference.

We are now on a decidated server but it is quite modest, how does it compare to yours?
http://cliptheapex.com/community/

 

[Renegade]

Though not as good as that of XF, your TTFB is much better than ours. Which part of the world are your servers hosted?

And did you use front end and backend cache both? Will try it today and measure.

BTW it seems you are not caching everything at the browser end and you can use the other thread I started about xenforo.js
http://www.webpagetest.org/result/130404_09_5SB/

 

[Paul B]

My server is in the UK, XenForo's is in the US.
We currently use frontend and backend caching.

I'm not interested in optimising - I used to spend hours tweaking my PC and AV systems and then realised I was spending more time tweaking than using

As long as it works and it's reasonably quick, that's good enough for me.

 

[Renegade]

I'm not interested in optimising - I used to spend hours tweaking my PC and AV systems and then realised I was spending more time tweaking than using

I know what you mean and I do not like tinkering between +1dB/+2dB or 8m/10m either, but this is different. Its not for you its for the visitors and it does create an impression. To each his own though.