I take metrics by vmstat
_______
procs ----------------------memory--------------------- --swap- ----io--- system- -------cpu------- ----timestamp----
r b swpd free buff cache si so bi bo in cs us sy id wa st MSK
5 0 381436 342148 295464 896500 0 0 0 0 3144 4352 54 4 43 0 0 2017-12-13 18:06:26
2 0 381436 330304 295472 896500 0 0 0 96 2653 3444 70 3 27 0 0 2017-12-13 18:06:27
1 0 381436 262344 295472 896532 0 0 0 0 2490 3098 67 5 28 0 0 2017-12-13 18:06:28
3 0 381436 256340 295472 896544 0 0 0 0 1486 2671 10 2 88 0 0 2017-12-13 18:06:29

No processes that waits IO (column b) and No CPU waits (column wa). In theory ... it is optimal way.

Using RAM disk for testing and CI ... is it allowable way.
Optimizing start process ... it is task for Neo4J team. They not provide any methods for manage start process.