HDD/SDD dilemma

MrPink · July 24th, 2012, 03:43

I'm putting together a wishlist of parts for a new build, and since SSDs are now at a price point I find acceptable, I'd like to include one or two in this new build.

Right now I'm thinking of getting two 256GB OCZ Vertex 4's, reading some of the benchmarks and reviews on Anandtech shows this particular drive as one of the top SSDs currently. Then I'd get a 1TB HDD for media and stuff.

The reason for two SSDs is to put the OS and programs on one, and games on the other. I'm currently doing that with two 750GB hard drives, but I don't play most of the games I have installed, so I could trim down to fit in the SSD I think. And since I don't use my computer much beyond gaming and browsing, my OS drive doesn't need to be that large either.

Anyone here add an SSD to their rig? Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks.

runawayprisoner · July 24th, 2012, 03:47

SSD is a huge step up from conventional HDD in terms of performance and noise. If it's within your budget, go for it. There's not much else that can be said.

**Yeloazndevil** · July 24th, 2012, 05:05

I recently built a new pc and I bought the Samsung 830 128GB SSD when it was on sale for $99.99 at amazon. Windows loads in around 11 seconds and all my apps load in 1 second. Photoshop loads in a mere 3 seconds compared to 18 seconds on my old hdd. Now games a ssd brings the biggest improvement the load times are great.

The vertex 4 is a Indilinx II controller which was actually made by marvel so at least this time from OCZ you will get a reliable SSD

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**SCHUMI_4EVER** · July 24th, 2012, 14:21

http://www.techradar.com/news/comput...ormance-943984
http://thessdreview.com/ssd-guides/o...ation-guide-2/

Is pretty much all I have to add.

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PsyMan · July 24th, 2012, 15:31

An ssd is good for loading stuff fast. It's even better if you load multiple stuff at the same time.

On the other hand, as soon as the stuff is loaded into ram having an ssd or not makes literally zero difference.

In any case, if you plan to multitask much then yeah an ssd is probably the best way to increase the performance of a system. Just be sure to get something with reliable flash chips and cache in order to avoid having the thing die on you after a couple of years (this means no sandforce based drives).

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**SCHUMI_4EVER** · July 24th, 2012, 15:34

Wait no Sandforce drives? I thought the SF-2200s were among the best?

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The Champ has retired but may his Legacy live on FOREVER !!!!

No$GBA DS FAQ 2.0

Get it right fools! The glass is HALF-EMPTY, not half-full!!!

!!! WARNING: Emulation requires a brain !!! WARNING: Emulation =/= Piracy !!!

PsyMan · July 24th, 2012, 15:47

Performance wise they are, but no caching means that the data will be written to the flash as soon as the system wants them to be written, even if the said data are actively edited and replaced numerous times within a few seconds. This degrades the lifespan of the flash chips. Properly implemented cache writes to flash only when necessary thus increasing the lifespan of the drive.

Also, this has nothing to do with sandforce based drives having bsod etc issues after a few months of use, that's a different issue (firmware one iirc, think that intel fixed it on their sandforce drives), unless you format the drive every day or something.

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**SCHUMI_4EVER** · July 24th, 2012, 15:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsyMan

Also, this has nothing to do with sandforce based drives having bsod etc issues after a few months of use, that's a different issue (firmware one iirc, think that intel fixed it on their sandforce drives), unless you format the drive every day or something.

Weren't all of those 1K issues that no longer exist on all 2K drives?

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Intel Core2Quad Q9550 (2.83Ghz stock) | ASUS P5Q | 2x2GB Transcend JetRam DDR2-800 | ASUS ENGTX260\HDTP\896M | Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit SP1

The Champ has retired but may his Legacy live on FOREVER !!!!

No$GBA DS FAQ 2.0

Get it right fools! The glass is HALF-EMPTY, not half-full!!!

!!! WARNING: Emulation requires a brain !!! WARNING: Emulation =/= Piracy !!!

PsyMan · July 24th, 2012, 15:57

I have no idea what those people do with their firmware so I can't tell.

In any case, using marvell controllers and intel flash on the vertex 4 drives will fix ocz's reputation, dunno about other vendors though.

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Princess Garnet · July 24th, 2012, 18:59

Before you buy two, maybe you can entertain setting up a RAM Disk (if you have the RAM) and seeing if any games run better that way? Besides load times and a few games that do benefit from them, having one dedicated to games may not be as essential right now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeloazndevil

Photoshop loads in a mere 3 seconds compared to 18 seconds on my old hdd.

It had to have been more than your HDD that was responsible for your 18 second load time before (that or your particular HDD was just that slow). I only have an HDD and mine loads Photoshop from a cold start in ~3 seconds, and it's less than a second afterwards (from RAM). It's been that way since I had a Core 2 Duo E8400.

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**Yeloazndevil** · July 24th, 2012, 19:42

It was my old pc holding everything back and the hdd was dying.

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Phil · July 25th, 2012, 00:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Princess Garnet

Before you buy two, maybe you can entertain setting up a RAM Disk (if you have the RAM) and seeing if any games run better that way? Besides load times and a few games that do benefit from them, having one dedicated to games may not be as essential right now.It had to have been more than your HDD that was responsible for your 18 second load time before (that or your particular HDD was just that slow). I only have an HDD and mine loads Photoshop from a cold start in ~3 seconds, and it's less than a second afterwards (from RAM). It's been that way since I had a Core 2 Duo E8400.

I agree with this. With my raptor hot (platters engaged) it's very hard to tell a difference between the SSD and a normal drive, even though Crystalmark shows my SSD is reading nearly 05 times as fast.

The only difference I feel when I use the SSD is opening huge files. I used to have a small 1-2 second wait and all the half the files appears then another second, then all files. With the SSD its 1 second and everything's there.

July 24th, 2012, 03:43	#1
MrPink Pink Poney Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Big Sky Country Posts: 727	HDD/SDD dilemma I'm putting together a wishlist of parts for a new build, and since SSDs are now at a price point I find acceptable, I'd like to include one or two in this new build. Right now I'm thinking of getting two 256GB OCZ Vertex 4's, reading some of the benchmarks and reviews on Anandtech shows this particular drive as one of the top SSDs currently. Then I'd get a 1TB HDD for media and stuff. The reason for two SSDs is to put the OS and programs on one, and games on the other. I'm currently doing that with two 750GB hard drives, but I don't play most of the games I have installed, so I could trim down to fit in the SSD I think. And since I don't use my computer much beyond gaming and browsing, my OS drive doesn't need to be that large either. Anyone here add an SSD to their rig? Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks.

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July 24th, 2012, 03:47	#2
runawayprisoner Level 9998 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Java Posts: 9,377	SSD is a huge step up from conventional HDD in terms of performance and noise. If it's within your budget, go for it. There's not much else that can be said.

July 24th, 2012, 05:05	#3
Yeloazndevil Touka <3 Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 11,870	I recently built a new pc and I bought the Samsung 830 128GB SSD when it was on sale for $99.99 at amazon. Windows loads in around 11 seconds and all my apps load in 1 second. Photoshop loads in a mere 3 seconds compared to 18 seconds on my old hdd. Now games a ssd brings the biggest improvement the load times are great. The vertex 4 is a Indilinx II controller which was actually made by marvel so at least this time from OCZ you will get a reliable SSD __________________ Nintendo Network ID: Yeloazndevil

July 24th, 2012, 14:21	#4
SCHUMI_4EVER Hackin 'n Slashin Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Most-expensive-Internet-on-the-Planet Land : South Africa Posts: 26,428	http://www.techradar.com/news/comput...ormance-943984 http://thessdreview.com/ssd-guides/o...ation-guide-2/ Is pretty much all I have to add. __________________ Intel Core2Quad Q9550 (2.83Ghz stock) \| ASUS P5Q \| 2x2GB Transcend JetRam DDR2-800 \| ASUS ENGTX260\HDTP\896M \| Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit SP1 The Champ has retired but may his Legacy live on FOREVER !!!! No$GBA DS FAQ 2.0 Get it right fools! The glass is HALF-EMPTY, not half-full!!! !!! WARNING: Emulation requires a brain !!! WARNING: Emulation =/= Piracy !!!

July 24th, 2012, 15:31	#5
PsyMan Bannҽd Join Date: May 2004 Location: Where banned people go Posts: 2,158	An ssd is good for loading stuff fast. It's even better if you load multiple stuff at the same time. On the other hand, as soon as the stuff is loaded into ram having an ssd or not makes literally zero difference. In any case, if you plan to multitask much then yeah an ssd is probably the best way to increase the performance of a system. Just be sure to get something with reliable flash chips and cache in order to avoid having the thing die on you after a couple of years (this means no sandforce based drives). __________________ I'm not insane. YOU are insane... You are all insane! Click Here to Visit my Blog Page

July 24th, 2012, 15:34	#6
SCHUMI_4EVER Hackin 'n Slashin Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Most-expensive-Internet-on-the-Planet Land : South Africa Posts: 26,428	Wait no Sandforce drives? I thought the SF-2200s were among the best? __________________ Intel Core2Quad Q9550 (2.83Ghz stock) \| ASUS P5Q \| 2x2GB Transcend JetRam DDR2-800 \| ASUS ENGTX260\HDTP\896M \| Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit SP1 The Champ has retired but may his Legacy live on FOREVER !!!! No$GBA DS FAQ 2.0 Get it right fools! The glass is HALF-EMPTY, not half-full!!! !!! WARNING: Emulation requires a brain !!! WARNING: Emulation =/= Piracy !!!

July 24th, 2012, 15:47	#7
PsyMan Bannҽd Join Date: May 2004 Location: Where banned people go Posts: 2,158	Performance wise they are, but no caching means that the data will be written to the flash as soon as the system wants them to be written, even if the said data are actively edited and replaced numerous times within a few seconds. This degrades the lifespan of the flash chips. Properly implemented cache writes to flash only when necessary thus increasing the lifespan of the drive. Also, this has nothing to do with sandforce based drives having bsod etc issues after a few months of use, that's a different issue (firmware one iirc, think that intel fixed it on their sandforce drives), unless you format the drive every day or something. __________________ I'm not insane. YOU are insane... You are all insane! Click Here to Visit my Blog Page

July 24th, 2012, 15:57	#9
PsyMan Bannҽd Join Date: May 2004 Location: Where banned people go Posts: 2,158	I have no idea what those people do with their firmware so I can't tell. In any case, using marvell controllers and intel flash on the vertex 4 drives will fix ocz's reputation, dunno about other vendors though. __________________ I'm not insane. YOU are insane... You are all insane! Click Here to Visit my Blog Page

July 24th, 2012, 19:42	#11
Yeloazndevil Touka <3 Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 11,870	It was my old pc holding everything back and the hdd was dying. __________________ Nintendo Network ID: Yeloazndevil