Crunching on an SSD?

Berserker · 1 Oct 2010 at 23:24

So what are the general thoughts on this?

BOINC tends not to be kind on laptop hard disks (I've had two laptops, and both of them have ended up with huge numbers of load/unload cycles, which will eventually kill the drive).

I'm thinking of replacing one of those drives with an SSD and don't want to kill it before I even start.

miniyazz · 1 Oct 2010 at 23:44

Large numbers of write-erase operations are bad for MLC (most) SSDs. However, current generation SSDs have sophisticated write-levelling software to negate this, such that Intel publicised its X25-M drive to be estimated to last for at least 5 years with "much more than" 100GB of write-erases per day. This will be increased if you leave more space unused on the drive.
I don't know how this compares to other modern SSDs, but it really shouldn't be an issue. If you're very worried about it then a modern SLC SSD is the way to go as due to the way the different types of SSD store and erase data, SLC SSDs can support more write-erase cycles (a factor of ten more was one estimate a few years ago, not sure any more)

Berserker · 2 Oct 2010 at 00:08

I'm not *that* worried. I've just heard of people not wanting to put BOINC on an SSD and wondered why.

I'll wager it'll last longer than this hard disk will if BOINC keeps at it! 3 years would do me (which is what the Vertex 2E drives are warrantied for anyway). Just deciding whether I'm happy to lose 200GB :eek:

Biffa · 2 Oct 2010 at 00:12

Not running boinc, but running f@h on an SSD, and also on one rig running f@h on a usb memory stick! :eek:

shadowscotland · 2 Oct 2010 at 20:58

With Cpu units moving from a standard HHD to a raptor makes a differance,
and moving from a raptor to a single SLC SSD made a differance for me.

Not paired a gpu with a SSD as yet

I get the intel or slc if doing any type of high data DC project.
I'm guessing that the uber cpu units make less frequent, but larger saves so mlc drives look a better option

The newer 3.5 ssd look like very good value

joeyjojo · 3 Oct 2010 at 20:59

What will they do with all those defunct SSD's in 5 years time?

shadowscotland · 3 Oct 2010 at 21:12

Same as you do with a low Gb, five year old HDD - hammer it.

Berserker · 3 Oct 2010 at 22:36

Hammer time?

Sounds like a plan to me!

Grimgoth · 5 Oct 2010 at 17:56

well, i can only add that my oldest SSD, an OCZ core v2 30GB purchased (and installed very shortly after) on the 29th Aug 2008, used primarily in a work laptop running BOINC close to 24/7, replaced and moved sometime early 2010 to a mITX machine running BOINC 24/7 (or close to), is indeed still up and functional as we speak. ask again in 3 years time I guess.

Berserker · 5 Oct 2010 at 18:43

I'll know in due course too as there's a 120GB OCZ Vertex 2E waiting for me at work. The 320GB drive being replaced will go into the CD/HDD caddy I've already got (the laptop doesn't have an optical drive).