Intel Z68 SSD Caching

john_x3 said:
I thought the Intel caching solution only worked if you didn't use AHCI.
If your existing setup was
1. SSD for windows
2. HD for apps etc

and you added a msata cache drive, would you need to switch of AHCI, and could you exclude the SSD from the msata caching?
Click to expand...

You have to set it to RAID in the BIOS for Z68 caching but any single drives (e.g. the OS SSD) are treated as AHCI anyway with this setting (with TRIM); so you don't lose out on anything.
 
Been using this for a while and have to say i really like it, however in a quest for silence i was considering using a laptop hdd, in order to keep some capacity i was thinking about using a samsung 1tb 5400 2.5" drive just wondering if anyone has tried cachine a laptop drive such as that and how well it works?
 
I am considering using this when windows 8 beta comes out later in the year.

What is a good drive to use this with? I was looking at the following:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-023-CS&groupid=701&catid=2104&subcat=910

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-145-SA&groupid=701&catid=2104&subcat=910

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-008-CR&groupid=701&catid=2104&subcat=910

Not entirely clued up as to what you need to look for. Going by advertised numbers :rolleyes: the corsair looks the best
 
Just a thought does power saving still work on the spinner? i.e. will it spin down if not in use? If you set up a pair of drives in a normal raid array they will not spin down.
 
Sorry if this ones answered but the thought just occurred to me while sat wasting an hr with only my phone for net access:

If u use a bigger ssd like say a 120/128 then can u use 64gb for the caching and the rest of the drive as boot? That would be a rather nice solution if so, buy a single, decent sized ssd stick windows on a smallish partition on it then once in windows make cache partition and point it at the games/productivity raid leaving a big fast disk for bulk storage. Is this possible?
 
Mercutio said:
Sorry if this ones answered but the thought just occurred to me while sat wasting an hr with only my phone for net access:

If u use a bigger ssd like say a 120/128 then can u use 64gb for the caching and the rest of the drive as boot? That would be a rather nice solution if so, buy a single, decent sized ssd stick windows on a smallish partition on it then once in windows make cache partition and point it at the games/productivity raid leaving a big fast disk for bulk storage. Is this possible?
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure you can't do it mate. You need to use IST to create the cache partition which would probably kill your OS.
 
Just thought I'd revive this thread to share my experience 30mins after installing the SSD & enabling SRT:

Decided to go with SRT over having windows on the SSD & programs on the HDD because that would give me no actual benefit when playing games etc & I need the larger storage of the HDD anyway.Chose the Intel 520 60GB drive. Went with Intel due to reliability & 5yr warranty to back it. Also bit on an Intel fanboy :p


Basically, at boot I notice some decrease in the time it takes to get to the login screen - not much because my Win7 install was pretty fast as it stood. Once I type in my password I'm on the desktop as soon as I hit enter. No more waiting around for programs & services to load off the disk. Just straight in & fire up IE9 which loads instantly.

I am currently using 'Enhanced Mode' just to cover me until I get a Sata3 WD Black 1TB drive & set up Windows 7 properly.

Overall, very impressed :D
 
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