Few noob Q's

arc@css

arc@css

arc@css

Caporegime
Joined
8 Nov 2008
Posts
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The last time I upgraded my hard drive was like six years ago so I could use a little advice here please.

I've got my eye on getting a new additional drive, been saying this for ages but most likely will quite soon. Is it still worth considering the Western Digital 10,000rpm Velociraptors or are the SSD the way to go now?

There was, iirc, a Samsung 15,000rpm drive but I remember someone mentioning that you'd need a controller which then cost around three to four hundred squid.

Any advice or pointers would be very helpful and much appreciated. Thanks. :D
 
If you can afford it then SSD is the way to go, failing that a VRaptor.

15krpm SCSI/SAS drives aren't worth considering unless you're getting them and the controller for free, you'll get better bang for the buck with SSD.
 
Cheers dude, I've noticed that the SSD have lower capacity like 32gb or maybe around 120gb. Is there a reason, just too expensive if they were like 250gb plus?
 
Its still pretty new technology and pretty expensive. Dont know what the limits are regarding the size, but you'll be paying around £300 for a 120GB Vertex or over £600 for the 250GB, doubt they'd sell an awful lot of £1200 500GB drives :p

If I was you, I'd go for 2 60GB vertex drives in RAID 0, gives 120GB in total which should be enough for OS and a good few apps and games, then save all your media onto a standard hard disk
 
Yep, it's a cost v demand thing, 250Gb SSDs are available but they're £500+.

It's more economical to go with a smaller SSD for the OS & key apps then have a large mechanical HDD for bulk storage. Interestingly we're almost going full circle to the early days of mechanical disks when bulk storage was still on tape reels.
 
I'd like to correct a misconception about SCSI/SAS drives here!! The Host Controllers are expensive if they support hardware RAID. Just google for PCIe SAS Controller.
Price there starts at 60.00 GBP.

Googling for 15K rpm drives:
15K RPM SAS drive
Some good deals there on Ebay. Like 85.00 for 150Gb SAS drive (used) I can see today. Don't forget that these are Enterprise drives (and therefore quite rugged). Just run Spinrite over them and as a good as new!!

If you want a fast 150Gb boot drive it won't break the bank to get a SAS drive (that's a misconception). You have to assess whether it offers better performance than a Velociraptor plus hunt around for the best price/performance deals!! I am not saying it's the best (/ a good) idea but don't completely rule it out as an option!! People will be ditching their unwanted SAS drives to get SSDs after all... :D

BTW I should state that I personally would go for an Intel / OCZ Vertex (or 2) SSD these days (I am not biased in anyway - honest guv'). :cool:

Bob
 
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SSD it is then. Have read more than once something about they are going to be updated or outdated soom. (reviews on purchases on this site).
 
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