SSD Thoughts?

[Zero Hour]

So I've been using an X25-M G2 80GB for a few weeks now and I was wondering what everyone else thinks about the ssds.

PERSONALLY: Not worth it yet.
Yes, the system feels snappier, reboots are quick, installing anything takes 2 seconds and if you have your steam folder on the drive you get into games lightning quick (I crush everyone getting into our TF2 server (more on this later)).

I had an 'older', 320GB Seagate 7200.11 as my desktop hdd and honestly given the price different it really isn't worth it. It might get into windows quicker but I hardly ever reboot let alone turn off my computer. Second, even if you get into TF2 faster you still have to wait around for players to join. Even with my old drive I would get in and still have to wait.

$220 - 80GB X25-M = $2.75/GB
$100 - 1000GB WD Black = $0.10/GB

So, my advice. If you're thinking about getting an SSD and your loaded: do it. If you still a civic and live in your parents basemen or are on the fence about it: save your money (upgrade that video card first) and wait till the prices go down and capacity goes up.

What's everyone else feelin?

[Freaky_Angelus]

Well I agree however there are some things that come with the part..

SSD is mainly usefull if you do drive intensive stuff and you need quick loading etc. For me, without SSD, it would make sense to save for it as when I'm using my programs and stuff the difference between yes / no swap file is already noticeable. Do mind, this involves a lot of loading and other swap file intensive stuff with Adobe Photoshop, Premiere and SolidWorks. If you want it pure for gaming then no.. it makes no sense as it only helps you load quicker.

FYI, to give the SSD a much longer life you might wanna change the temp file dir's to a second HDD as well for the swap (if not done already).

[Brains]

I'd only use a SSD for my OS. don't need it for gaming/programs since you just load the program once then everything gets slapping in RAM/memory. 10k rpm velociraptors are what I use for gaming.

I've been looking into getting one (has to be SLC) but still too expensive for an ~120GB model.

[mullet]

Intel.

\thread.

[Zero Hour]

Yeah the intel is good/nice, there are better options BUT they are more expensive!

Games, yeah I would agree not on an ssd, but your applications/OS is exactly what you want on your ssd. Opening PS takes like 20seconds and if you work with the file locally, anything you run on it is pretty damn fast!

The Intel drives have enough writes before failure to run for about 20 years. I'm pretty sure I'll replace that drive before then. Why would I put my swap on a slower drive when I want it as fast as possible?

[Freaky_Angelus]

On the write errors:
It's statistics, not garantuees.. the mean time between faillure is an average and not garantueed. Hence, temp files mainly are not needed on your SSD, they don't slow down anything when on a different drive (as if your browser is limited by your drive) and it simply reduces writing stuff not needed which improves your mean time to faillure.

The swap file, if you want to keep it, means your memory is not large enough to handle everything. Using it means already your PC will be limited as it causes a lot more traffic between memory and drive simply to switch between what is needed. The main problem with this is that your drive (whether SSD or HDD) needs to be switching between read and write. A different drive means this switch will not occur and a direct load direction of data should go quicker. Agreed, ideally that second drive would be a 10k raptor to never suffer from write errors etc.

However, considering you have a SSD, disabling the swap will make your system a lot faster all together.

now.. ranting done on small stuff:

OCZ Vertex Turbo series.. how about taking a look at those ;)

[Sung]

I will prolly get one of those 60 or 80gb ssds for os and gaming only from ocz or intel when I rebuild my computer. By that time, those drives will be much affordable than nowdays I believe.

[Brains]

ya. just wait until the 6core i7s come out to mass production this fall ;)
then you'll be all set in the speed department :D

[[+Duracell-]]

I'd only use a SSD for my OS. don't need it for gaming/programs since you just load the program once then everything gets slapping in RAM/memory. 10k rpm velociraptors are what I use for gaming.

I've been looking into getting one (has to be SLC) but still too expensive for an ~120GB model.

Not necessarily. A lot of games pull data from the hard drives as you go, like textures, models, etc. Having an SSD can cut down on the stuttering that can occur.

Anandtech has a whole slew of SSD benchmarks if you guys are interested. I'll probably get one soon enough, but probably not till I start a new build.

[mullet]

I'd only use a SSD for my OS. don't need it for gaming/programs since you just load the program once then everything gets slapping in RAM/memory. 10k rpm velociraptors are what I use for gaming.

I've been looking into getting one (has to be SLC) but still too expensive for an ~120GB model.

+1 SSD=OS install, then install games on your secondary drive.

[Cosmic_Shame]

i still want one for free that is

[themuddaload]

my laptop has both
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp147/themuddaload/hdd.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp147/themuddaload/ssd.jpg

i'd rather have 2 hdd's.

[StarYoshi]

Got my first 80GB Intel G2 a few weeks back for $200. I used to use an OCZ Apex 60GB. I actually just got another 80GB G2 last night, it's on the way now. Going run them in raid 0 and install all apps/games on it. Looking forward to it :) They are expensive, but they are worth it if you can afford it and apply it effectively.

BTW Laptop motherboards usually have sucky SATA transfer rates. (their built-in controller is blerfy usually)

[netwalker]

Got the Corsair P128 (120Gb) a while back for about $250. Awesome purchase fer sure. Thing is blazing fast too.

[StarYoshi]

Intel G2 80GB Raid 0 results :)
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m304/staryoshi/Intel80GBSSDRaid0ASSSD.png

[stewlounse]

No TRIM support with raid, correct?

Is there a utility out there that will allow you to do manual TRIM?

[mountaindues]

From my limited understanding ssds in raid dont have trim support. Also if you have an early ssd or a cheaper ssd it might not have trim. I have the intel x-25 80gb gen. 1 and it has no trim. but I think I found a solution and its basically manual trim. I use perfect disk to consolidate the free space and then free space cleaner to overwrite the free blocks. My drive seemed to be getting slower after about 6 months of use but after I used manual trim I noticed a speed boost. Unfortunately I didnt think to do a before/after with hd tach. here is the guide for manual trim: http://bit.ly/9PIOtS