SDD or Raptor?

Pawnless Endgame · 13 Dec 2008 at 19:31

Hi guys

I'm looking to build my next PC from OcUK in March 2009. So far, I'm very tempted by the sexy Antec Skeleton case!

Okay, dilemma time. I can either keep my WD Raptor 10,000 rpm 16MB cache or go solid state. As the SDDs are based on RAM, surely this will be an improvement over motor-based drives, evan at 10,000 rpm? Secondly, I see that all the ones offered here are for smaller smaller fittings that you get for laptop computers. Is there an adapter to allow an SDD to fit a 3.5" desktop bay?

Many thanks!

Duff-Man · 13 Dec 2008 at 19:59

There's a great review of the intel MLC SSD drive here:

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/intel/showdoc.aspx?i=3403

It also gives a nice summary of SSD technology and performance in general.

Anyway, my feeling is that SS drives are definitely the wave of the future, and I don't think I'll be buying another 'fast' boot HDD. That said I think they're only just starting to enter the mainstream market, and that they're still incredibly over priced. Prices are dropping rapidly, so if I were you I would hang on to that raptor for now. When you build your system in March take a look at the market and see what the prices are like. It seems like some of the MLC drives can have problems in certain multi-tasking scenarios, so the more expensive SLC drives might be the way to go for a really big improvement over HDDs. Unfortunately the SLC drives are quite a lot more expensive.

OcUK sell a 2.5" to 3.5" drive bay adaptor for about a fiver which will allow you to install into a 3.5" bay: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-000-SR

Pawnless Endgame · 13 Dec 2008 at 20:38

That's brilliant Mr Duff-Man. Thanks for your input and the link!

Strife212 · 13 Dec 2008 at 20:41

Would rather have a fast HDD at the minute instead of an SSD. SSD tech is still in progress.

Duff-Man · 13 Dec 2008 at 21:00

Strife212 said:
Would rather have a fast HDD at the minute instead of an SSD. SSD tech is still in progress.

With money as no object, I think the 80Gb intel MLC drive would be the thing to have right now. That said, at £400+ they aren't exactly viable for those of us getting a modest pay cheque every month