Swap = "Virtual RAM", which is the context I used (and goes better with Microsoft's "Virtual Memory" designation).

But yeah, like BH said - you'd be better off spending the dosh on actual RAM.

 

Most hard disks are going to have a far faster transfer rate (SATA1.0 = 1.5Gbps) than a typical USB2 device (480Mbps) will have.  USB3 is supposed to have a theoretical transfer rate of 4.8Gbps but usually can do only 3. In systems with USB3 installed, you're likely going to have a SATA 3.0 disk,which can do 6Gbps theoretically, but hovers at around 3 with platter disks, and can get 5 with SSDs. This is why I mentioned USB3 specifically up there. :)