Solid State Drive instead of hard drive...

[GobbleDog 815]

Have any of y'all made the switch? I recently learned about the power of SSD's being able to start up and load programs in a fraction of what hard drives do.

 

Nowadays, good quality 128 gb SSD is only $75. Between the OS and programs, 128 gb seems like more than enough. Plan on using old hard drive only for picture and song storage which take up most of the memory anyway.

 

Has anyone upgraded to SSD and have pointers? I've read it's easier to unplug old hard drive from mobo and only plug in SSD when reinstalling OS so you don't have to screw with bios.?.

[IGotWorms 3,302]

I have no idea what you're talking about

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

We have switched our new laptops to utilize SSD exclusively. It is significantly faster, but you have less space to work with. For home use, I would buy SSD and then look at either cloud storage or USB to address capacity.

[Saint Elistan 106]

The best thing to do is both - which is what it looks like you wanna do.

 

I installed Windows and all of my "protective" software on a 120GB SSD. There is enough storage left on the SSD for whatever game I'm currently playing the most. I use a 1TB HDD for storage of everything else. I didn't have to transition my OS from HDD to SSD as I just recently built the rig and started with the SSD, but the solution you proposed does sound like it would be the easiest.

 

I highly recommend the upgrade.

[GobbleDog 815]

I have no idea what you're talking about

I didn't either til friend recently told me. The old hard drives use the spinning disc system, but SSD's are just memory cards with no moving parts, which makes them much faster loading.

 

Only drawback is storage... $80 will buy 500 gb to 1 tb hard drive vs only 128 gb with a SSD. So I assume most people will do what I want to do which is buy new SSD for operating system and programs and keep old hard drive for music/picture storage.

 

I can't live knowing my computer could start up in 10 seconds instead of an eternity of waiting 90+ seconds like all the other poor scumbags on Earth.

[GobbleDog 815]

The best thing to do is both - which is what it looks like you wanna do.

 

I installed Windows and all of my "protective" software on a 120GB SSD. There is enough storage left on the SSD for whatever game I'm currently playing the most. I use a 1TB HDD for storage of everything else. I didn't have to transition my OS from HDD to SSD as I just recently built the rig and started with the SSD, but the solution you proposed does sound like it would be the easiest.

 

I highly recommend the upgrade.

Did you have to load the OS twice? One on SSD and on then hard drive or does it automatically install on both?

[Saint Elistan 106]

Did you have to load the OS twice? One on SSD and on then hard drive or does it automatically install on both?

 

I think I may be misunderstanding your question. My setup has absolutely no files related to the OS on my HDD. Everything is on the SSD.

 

I didn't attach the HDD until after the OS was successfully installed on the SSD.

 

Migrating the OS is a bit different though, so I'm not entirely sure what complications you're looking at.

[GobbleDog 815]

 

I think I may be misunderstanding your question. My setup has absolutely no files related to the OS on my HDD. Everything is on the SSD.

 

I didn't attach the HDD until after the OS was successfully installed on the SSD.

Right. And after you hooked up the hard drive you didn't have reinstall OS on it? I assumed you had to have an OS on the hard drive too in order to use it for music/photo storage or whatever... No???

 

I know my situation is different because I already have an OS installed on hard drive. Just wanted to know what you did.?.

 

ETA - friend at office says you don't need OS on hard drive to just use it for file storage. Didn't know that. I guess ill format old drive to clear up more space.

[Saint Elistan 106]

Right. And after you hooked up the hard drive you didn't have reinstall OS on it? I assumed you had to have an OS on the hard drive too in order to use it for music/photo storage or whatever... No???

 

I know my situation is different because I already have an OS installed on hard drive. Just wanted to know what you did.?.

 

ETA - friend at office says you don't need OS on hard drive to just use it for file storage. Didn't know that. I guess ill format old drive to clear up more space.

 

Yeah! That's why it's so awesome. Separates all the important stuff from the crap we like to save.

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

You want the OS on the SSD only. You could format the other drive (after you move stuff off of it) and use it as extra space. I would caution that you might end up with some files on the HDD that could slow down your apps. Make sure that all of your temp files and page files are on the SSD.

[naomi 343]

My laptop has one...I guess that's the only drive it has. I've had it for almost two years and it hasn't slowed yet.

[shovelheadt 60]

Right. And after you hooked up the hard drive you didn't have reinstall OS on it? I assumed you had to have an OS on the hard drive too in order to use it for music/photo storage or whatever... No???

 

I know my situation is different because I already have an OS installed on hard drive. Just wanted to know what you did.?.

 

ETA - friend at office says you don't need OS on hard drive to just use it for file storage. Didn't know that. I guess ill format old drive to clear up more space.

It just shows up as the next drive letter, like when you plug in a USB stick.

[shovelheadt 60]

My laptop has one...I guess that's the only drive it has. I've had it for almost two years and it hasn't slowed yet.

It won't.

[GobbleDog 815]

I'm usually the last to learn and get new technology. But I'm frankly suprised how many people don't know about SSD's.

 

Considering how fast they work and reasonable prices, I'd expect company's will quit stocking computers with old hard drives in next 5 years. Reading and writing with a mechanical arm looks like something Thomas Edison invented.

[GobbleDog 815]

I would caution that you might end up with some files on the HDD that could slow down your apps. Make sure that all of your temp files and page files are on the SSD.

**nerd alert**

 

I have no idea how to "make sure all my temp files and page files are on the SSD" ?

[Mike Honcho 4,010]

My graphics computer(work) has 4 SDD's(2 x 256, 2 x 128). Wicked fast.

[GobbleDog 815]

My graphics computer(work) has 4 SDD's(2 x 256, 2 x 128). Wicked fast.

 

That's cool, but wouldn't it be cheaper to buy 1 SDD with 1 TB? What's the point in 4 drives?

 

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

**nerd alert**

 

I have no idea how to "make sure all my temp files and page files are on the SSD" ?

Then you won't notice the difference if they are there.

 

Paging file is a file that will almost always end up on the drive where you OS is loaded, so you should be fine. This is just some disk that acts as overflow for your machines RAM. Temp files are application-specific, but you will probably notice it as it relates to your browser. When you are accessing all of those porn sites, it may cache some pictures and other files locally so that it does not have to keep downloading them each time.

[edjr 5,547]

drobeski is whom you should ask

[IGotWorms 3,302]

drobeski is whom you should ask

Solid STATE not solid WASTE

[GobbleDog 815]

After some research I've learned my motherboard only has SATA 3.0 ports instead of SATA 6.0. Y'all didn't mention that little caveat.

 

I'm still gonna get an SSD but sucks knowing my pooter could be even faster. Is it worth it to spend $80 for a new motherboard with 6.0? How many seconds faster are we talking about?

[MTSkiBum 1,593]

I have a 256 gb solid state hard drive in my computer and I have incredibly fast start up and load times. It greatly increased the overall performance of my computer.

[Vikings4ever 496]

 

That's cool, but wouldn't it be cheaper to buy 1 SDD with 1 TB? What's the point in 4 drives?

 

Depends on how old those drives are. A 1 TD SSD for home computers is still fairly new, and costs in the neighborhood of 450 bucks.

 

There are 2 TB SSDs, but those look to cost 2K at the moment.

[GobbleDog 815]

Depends on how old those drives are. A 1 TD SSD for home computers is still fairly new, and costs in the neighborhood of 450 bucks.

 

There are 2 TB SSDs, but those look to cost 2K at the moment.

Gotcha. So what's the deal SATA 3.0 gb and SATA 6.0 gb motherboard ports? How much difference does it make?

 

Does your mobo have 3.0 or 6.0?

[Vikings4ever 496]

Gotcha. So what's the deal SATA 3.0 gb and SATA 6.0 gb motherboard ports? How much difference does it make?

 

Does your mobo have 3.0 or 6.0?

SATA2/SATA3 is how quickly the computer can transfer data. 2 transfers at a maximum of 3 GB/s, 3 at 6 GB/s. On anything but an SSD, the difference is minimal, if any.

 

Mine is SATA2, and I don't have any solid state drives (next computer I get will), so I don't have any first hand experience on how much of a difference there is.

[GobbleDog 815]

Mine is SATA2, and I don't have any solid state drives (next computer I get will), so I don't have any first hand experience on how much of a difference there is.

 

I also have SATA2, but for $75 I'm not gonna wait for my next computer build to buy an SSD.

 

I'm totaling guessing on these numbers but let's say my computer fully boots up in 60 seconds with my hard drive, then an SSD on SATA2 will do it in what... 30 seconds.?. How quick if I had SDD on SATA3... 15-20 seconds?

 

Trying to justify buying new motherboard for 15 seconds difference. All programs will load quicker. It'd be nice to know exactly how much quicker I'd be buying with new motherboard.

[MTSkiBum 1,593]

 

I also have SATA2, but for $75 I'm not gonna wait for my next computer build to buy an SSD.

 

I'm totaling guessing on these numbers but let's say my computer fully boots up in 60 seconds with my hard drive, then an SSD on SATA2 will do it in what... 30 seconds.?. How quick if I had SDD on SATA3... 15-20 seconds?

 

Trying to justify buying new motherboard for 15 seconds difference. All programs will load quicker. It'd be nice to know exactly how much quicker I'd be buying with new motherboard.

 

Loading windows won't be much faster with sata3 as opposed to sata2. Loading has more to do with seek times which is where solid state shines.

 

I would recommend getting the ssd now and reuse it in the next computer.

[hoytdwow 202]

Tubes > Solid State

 

HTH

[edjr 5,547]

That's the consensus I keep hearing: "SSD on SATA 2 and 3 is different, but compared to the hard drive it's like picking a Porsche or Lamborghini instead of riding a bicycle."

 

[GobbleDog 815]

I got my SSD on Friday! Here are a few tips for computer-morons like myself who decide to add an SSD drive to their pooter:

 

1. Unplug old hard-drive from mobo and plug in SSD. Install Windows disc. Now install the motherboard driver disc that came with your pooter. Otherwise, none of your stuff will work - particularly internet and after a few hours of tinkering you'll feel like a total idiot once you figure it out.

 

2. Don't install just any version of programs (like Dameon Lite) which open your illegaly pirated games. Otherwise, you might end up with a million adware/spyware/virus applications which you'll spend literally hours trying to get rid of, before realizing you should just reinstall Windows again.

 

3. After reinstalling Windows a second time and BF3 (which literally takes 3 hours), resist the urge to blow your brains out when you realize that since you didn't format the SSD beforehand, it completely filled up. Even with Custom Install - supposedly a clean installation.

 

4. Format SSD, install Windows a 3rd time. Reinstall all the other crap. Report back to FFToday and tell everyone you're stupid.

[Cloaca du jour 2,064]

I built a new one recently...256mb ssd for windows 7 install, 1 tb hdd for everything else.

 

If you go all ssd make sure you back your sh!t up. When the go, there is no recovery option. Its all gone.

[GobbleDog 815]

Ok, here's the skinny on SSD vs HD. Here's what you're buying time-wise with an SDD compared to a regular hard drive (I timed each one)... 28 seconds. That's how much faster the SDD was for me to go from ***turn-on pooter to surfing the internet*** vs the hard drive. Admittedly the hard drive was still loading stuff in the background when it allowed me surf the net. Programs load faster with the SDD too, but only by a few seconds or so. If that time is worth the money to you. Go for it.

 

Needless to say, I'm a bit disappointed. Now I only have a 3.0 Gb SATA mobo compared to 6.0 which would make it a little faster, but I still doubt it'd be the "blink of an eye" quickness that I envisioned before installing the SDD. It's quick, but only real nerds really need one. 90% of the population is fine with their old hard drive IMO.

[penultimatestraw 473]

Ok, here's the skinny on SSD vs HD. Here's what you're buying time-wise with an SDD compared to a regular hard drive (I timed each one)... 28 seconds. That's how much faster the SDD was for me to go from ***turn-on pooter to surfing the internet*** vs the hard drive. Admittedly the hard drive was still loading stuff in the background when it allowed me surf the net. Programs load faster with the SDD too, but only by a few seconds or so. If that time is worth the money to you. Go for it.

 

Needless to say, I'm a bit disappointed. Now I only have a 3.0 Gb SATA mobo compared to 6.0 which would make it a little faster, but I still doubt it'd be the "blink of an eye" quickness that I envisioned before installing the SDD. It's quick, but only real nerds really need one. 90% of the population is fine with their old hard drive IMO.

I never turn my computer off, saving a lot of time. Is there something wrong with this strategy?

[GobbleDog 815]

I never turn my computer off, saving a lot of time. Is there something wrong with this strategy?

 

Well, yes... If you're trying to rub in the faces of tech nerds who spent money to save 28 seconds. Turn off your pooter damnit so I can justify $80.

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

We have seen a drop for boot times from 2 minutes to 20 seconds for 250+ users that we upgraded this summer. Your I/O during normal operations will be faster and the SSD's fail less often.

 

If buying new, it is worth it. If you are replacing a functioning device, wait.

[GobbleDog 815]

Update.... If you get an SDD in the near future, it's probably worth it to spent the extra $40 to get the 240 gb instead of the 128 gb.

 

I've learned my 128 gb can fit Windows 7, a few small programs (Microsoft Essentials and various stuff) and a whopping THREE pc games (BF3, Crusader Kings II, and GTA IV)... that leaves me with just 15 gb's of free space (which you should have 15 gb free just to play those games).

 

I thought the 128 gb would be more than enough, but now I wish I wasn't such a cheap bastard.