Author Topic: So who's made the leap to SSD? (Read 4643 times)

iindigo · « **on:** May 28, 2010, 12:59:40 AM »

After using a decently modern machine for a three or four months (quad 2.66 core i5), it's become quite clear to me that the main bottleneck in the system is the stupid old mechanical hard drive. Its high capacity is nice (1TB) but damn, when the rest of your system is decent it really makes the HD's slowness stick out like a sore thumb.

Because of this, I'd like to upgrade to an SSD, at least for the main system and most-used software, at some point in the future. How many of you have already done something similar, and how has it worked out for you?

mgz · « **Reply #1 on:** May 28, 2010, 01:00:59 AM »

Quote from: iindigo on May 28, 2010, 12:59:40 AM

After using a decently modern machine for a three or four months (2.66 core i5), it's become quite clear to me that the main bottleneck in the system is the stupid old mechanical hard drive. Its high capacity is nice (1TB) but damn, when the rest of your system is decent it really makes the HD's slowness stick out like a sore thumb.

Because of this, I'd like to upgrade to an SSD, at least for the main system and most-used software, at some point in the future. How many of you have already done something similar, and how has it worked out for you?

... get a raptor, shits on slower HDDs and is mechanical thus more reliable atm then the currently overpriced SSD market

iindigo · « **Reply #2 on:** May 28, 2010, 01:13:10 AM »

Quote from: mgz on May 28, 2010, 01:00:59 AM

Quote from: iindigo on May 28, 2010, 12:59:40 AM
After using a decently modern machine for a three or four months (2.66 core i5), it's become quite clear to me that the main bottleneck in the system is the stupid old mechanical hard drive. Its high capacity is nice (1TB) but damn, when the rest of your system is decent it really makes the HD's slowness stick out like a sore thumb.

Because of this, I'd like to upgrade to an SSD, at least for the main system and most-used software, at some point in the future. How many of you have already done something similar, and how has it worked out for you?

... get a raptor, shits on slower HDDs and is mechanical thus more reliable atm then the currently overpriced SSD market

Well I'd agree, but from everything I've seen, SSDs completely outclass any type of mechanical HD (yes, even the 10,000RPM ones) in speed - as in, there's simply no comparison.

kureshii · « **Reply #3 on:** May 28, 2010, 01:13:23 AM »

Quote from: iindigo on May 28, 2010, 12:59:40 AM

Because of this, I'd like to upgrade to an SSD, at least for the main system and most-used software, at some point in the future. How many of you have already done something similar, and how has it worked out for you?

There's a bunch of us (~5) on #bakabt with Intel X25-M SSDs, and we're all loving it so far. Much faster booting and app-loading. Can't speak for the OSX experience though, since we're all either on Windows or Linux.

If you want names and more details, drop by the channel and ask!

Mag-X · « **Reply #4 on:** May 28, 2010, 01:44:36 AM »

Meh... I'd love to have one, but their capacities are just too low. Until I can get 250GB+, I'm not interested.

relic2279 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 28, 2010, 02:09:03 AM »

This makes me want a SSD bad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96dWOEa4Djs

fohfoh · « **Reply #6 on:** May 28, 2010, 02:43:05 AM »

X25 is SAHWEET. Hands down. No idea about OSX support though, but I truly have not really heard any news about Mac users on OSX.

But fuck, SSDs are way better than the jump from 5400-7200rpm drives. Easily. You think, "Holy shit, my application opens instantly instead of 10-20 seconds..." no... life crawls to a halt.

Proin Drakenzol · « **Reply #7 on:** May 28, 2010, 03:08:26 AM »

I bought a pair of Intel X25s (40GB) and will be installing them in a striped configuration this weekend.

newy · « **Reply #8 on:** May 28, 2010, 03:42:22 AM »

As long as the capacity isn't bigger and at the same time the price per GB lower I can patiently wait and tolerate the slower access times.

mechanical: ~0.1 €/GB
SSD: ~1-2 €/GB

Natheria · « **Reply #9 on:** May 28, 2010, 03:54:28 AM »

As much as I'd like an SSD there still just way too expensive for what you get. I'm not looking for a terabyte but i'd at least like 1 gigabyte for every dollar i throw at the damn thing. Then again if i was a poor ass college student I'd probably buy one anyway...

Edit: After watching that video i now want an SSD boot drive more than ever... Hurry up and become more affordable!! :'(

xShadow · « **Reply #10 on:** May 28, 2010, 04:16:45 AM »

I'm gonna wait until I can get around 200GB or 320GB for somewhere near 100-200 bucks. As it is now, it's just not worth it. My programs and OS loads just fine on my drive, and even if I did get an SSD for anywhere near a reasonable price; wtf is the point when the max it can hold is an OS and then like 5 games or so? Doesn't even leave any room for any other programs.

kyanwan · « **Reply #11 on:** May 28, 2010, 04:28:58 AM »

Quote from: relic2279 on May 28, 2010, 02:09:03 AM

This makes me want a SSD bad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96dWOEa4Djs

But will it blend?

While the speed aspect of the striped is cool - the stability aspect I fear.

1 drive out of X fails - and your whole system is teh fuck. They should mention that.

Quote from: xShadow on May 28, 2010, 04:16:45 AM

I'm gonna wait until I can get around 200GB or 320GB for somewhere near 100-200 bucks. As it is now, it's just not worth it. My programs and OS loads just fine on my drive, and even if I did get an SSD for anywhere near a reasonable price; wtf is the point when the max it can hold is an OS and then like 5 games or so? Doesn't even leave any room for any other programs.

* kyanwan points.

iindigo · « **Reply #12 on:** May 28, 2010, 06:08:27 AM »

Well, those who have SSDs currently typically only have the OS and the most file-intensive applications on it. Everything else, where access time doesn't matter as much, can be thrown onto old-fashioned HDs.

If I were to upgrade, I'd probably keep the OS, Adobe apps, and WoW on the SSD. Maybe my photoshop projects too. Nothing else really needs drive access as badly as those do...

Proin Drakenzol · « **Reply #13 on:** May 28, 2010, 07:48:35 AM »

Quote from: kyanwan on May 28, 2010, 04:28:58 AM

While the speed aspect of the striped is cool - the stability aspect I fear.

1 drive out of X fails - and your whole system is teh fuck. They should mention that.

they're solid state =/ the odds of one SSD going is less than that of two HDDs.

and iindigo, you don't even need to put games on it. the relevant data is preloaded onto the boot drive's cache. all it saves is maybe half a second initial boot.

vuzedome · « **Reply #14 on:** May 28, 2010, 08:09:47 AM »

SSD, just for that e-peen and bragging rights, sounds just right.

fohfoh · « **Reply #15 on:** May 28, 2010, 11:14:16 AM »

AFAIK, OS and Apps are the only useful stuff to go on an SSD. Torrenting? That's a dumb use of an SSD.

Proin Drakenzol · « **Reply #16 on:** May 28, 2010, 12:32:41 PM »

Just installed my striped 40GB SSDs and have put Windows 7 on it.

Next is the processor. Upgrading my 940 to a 980X.

nstgc · « **Reply #17 on:** May 28, 2010, 01:43:22 PM »

Before I get a SSD, I'll be getting a new video card, a new HDD (need another 2 TB), a new monitor, and a power supply in that order. I'l probably get an SSD in a year or two.

kyanwan · « **Reply #18 on:** May 28, 2010, 07:33:59 PM »

Seeing the performance going on here - they're tempting me to adopt a new technology - and even - gasp - go with a striped.

Tempting. Oh so tempting.

I do know if I striped - I'd need a reliable automatic backup before I'd be remotely comfortable with my system.

K7IA · « **Reply #19 on:** May 28, 2010, 08:24:54 PM »

The most important thing that currently prevents me from buying an SSD is that the laptop I am currently using (VPCS116FG) has only one bay for a 2.5" drive and it is 320GB. I can neither justify the price for a 100GB SSD nor I am willing to demote to a 60GB capacity. Not to mention that I am unable to comprehend how an SSD can last long enough (in terms of performance and write cycles etc) to justify the money I paid for it.

But I end up spending that money on something else anyway