SOLUTION (Windows 7 or Vista):

1) You will need (minimum) 16GB USB flash drive (or 16GB SD card). An 8GB flash drive will not work because it will translate to 7.45GB under windows, which is smaller than needed (7.7GB).

2) Copy the entire "MPQs" folder (7.7GB) from:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Diablo III\Data_D3\PC\MPQs"
to your USB/SD drive. For me, it was "D:\" drive, so the final result was "D:\MPQs". It might be a different drive name for you, so just use what you get.

3) Rename the original "MPQs" ( located on your HDD) to anything you want.

now the tricky part ...ready ?

4) Go to windows start > and type the following in the search box:
cmd
and hit (CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER), which will prompt you to run command line in administrator mode.

5) Once in command prompt, type the following (make sure you have the right letter drive):
cd "C:\Program Files (x86)\Diablo III\Data_D3\PC"
mklink /j "C:\Program Files (x86)\Diablo III\Data_D3\PC\MPQs" "D:\MPQs"

***Note: you cannot "CTRL+V" in command prompt, but you can right click "paste" instead.
***if you don't like this command-line stuff (step 4 and 5) you can jump to windows XP solution, but you have to install an extra program.

If you get a message that says something like: "a symbolic link has been created .." then you did it right. Your done!

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SOLUTION (Windows XP) also works for windows 7/Vista (no command-line involved):

=========================================================

Basically, we faked the location of the MPQs directory and relocated it to a flash drive with faster read response than your HDD.

Now, you should have read response times (RRT) around 5ms !

ENJOY "stutter-free" Diablo 3 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dafuq? read usb data is faster than read hdd data? O_O

Yeap, amazing isn't it
BTW, this has been tested by me and a friend personally.
It works and it isn't a hack or exploit.

So safe to use (unless you go deleting stuff by accident, I won't guarantee that )

Is this regarding the problem where diablo 3's fps slows to to a crawl all of a sudden? Ever since the 1.0.3 update, sometimes when I play d3 the fps suddenly slows down to like maybe 10fps and it will remain so even after I restart D3. The only way to fix it is to reboot windows. I installed D3 in my SSD btw.

Which format to use for the pendrive? FAT32 or NTFS?

Either one works bro.
If you are using the thumbdrive for storing the MPQ files only that is.

If you use the USB drive for other reasons, format it to suit ur usage then

might do this on my 64gb usb3 drive

Does this work with a WD Passport?

Does this work with a WD Passport?

Awww looks like I'll have to get a cheap 16 gig USB. Thanks

wow thanks!
will try this out later!
read in forums that some people said playing windowed screen worked for them has anyone tried it yet?

i only have the stutter/lag when the game 1st loads a map and comes into contact with the enemy. otherwise i'm good throughout. don't need this right?

Good job on the new LemonT. Tried and works.

Thumbs up.

i dont have a 16GB thumb drive.. but i do have multiple 4GB thumb drive....
i wonder if i spread all the mpq files onto different thumb drives.. and create symbolic links for each mpq file... will it further improve the performance?

btw i wanna ask.
if i link it to my usb, and i forgot my usb with my laptop.
can i still play d3 without it?

TS, i got msg "Junction created for F:\Diablo III\Data_D3\PC\MPQs  <<==>> i:\MPQs"

mean fail and success lol?

good to go

Doubt that'll work with Windows 7 itself (it could be possible with other application but I don't know )
This was the error when you attempt to link the same source to 2 different destination folder (in your case USB)

TLDR: 1 folder -> 1 USB (destination) only

Which format to use for the pendrive? FAT32 or NTFS?

i only have the stutter/lag when the game 1st loads a map and comes into contact with the enemy. otherwise i'm good throughout. don't need this right?

bro u also got this issue ah?? u using wat lappy? how ur sis N5010??

my n53sv ler bro. my sis where got n5010 lol.

anyway its always when start a fresh game. after awhile ok ledi.

NTFS, because you cant store some MPQ files on FAT32

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Added on June 26, 2012, 12:14 am
btw got any high speed thumb drive recommendations? i wanna get this, link the shit for my D3, then delete the original files because i dont have enough space for max payne 3 (yes got the collector's edition LOL!)

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Added on June 26, 2012, 12:41 am
looks like Kingston DT Ultimate 3.0 is the best value for money, any other suggestions?

how much does a Kingston DT ultimate 3.0 cost? I dont think you will feel any significant differences with it. I believe it is the random access time that matter most.
One of my thumb drive is kinda aged and only have about 4MB/s transfer speed at maximum speed, however the loading screen just took about 1~2 seconds.

Can I use an external HDD instead?

going to find a cheapo 16GB USB liao... LOL

I installed D3 to SSD, but still getting 1-3 seconds freeze sometime.

Any can recommend USB3 thumbdrive ? Post the performance if possible. I know some brands just add USB3 interface to the thumbdrive, but the performance still the same as USB2 (the flash memory inside still the same).