Migrating to SSD for the first time?

Terrier_Jimlad · 11 Jun 2009 at 11:03

Hi guys,

Currently use 1 x VelociRaptor hard disk for OS/Programs and then 2 x 1TB disks for storage RAID'd.

The Raptor is good but I was considering going to SSD. I dont need anything too big as with everything install i'm only touching 30GB so thinking of getting one of these:

OCZ Solid Series 60GB 2.5" SATA-II Solid State Hard Drive (OCZSSD2-1SLD60G) - £154.99

Also, would i need a 2.5" to 3.5" bracket to fit in my normal PC?

Is this something you'd agree with? I tend to use the machine for general use, and then adobe cs4 suite and then COD4 and COD5 ... it'll be running Vista Enterprise x64 SP2

Think it would be worth it considering it wont cost me anything?

Microwave · 11 Jun 2009 at 11:05

It's a good idea.

You will need the bracket too...

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-000-SR

sambo_joseph · 11 Jun 2009 at 11:06

Personally I think you should go for the samsung 64gb. It has more space, it's faster, it's cheaper and it's not jmicron so it won't stutter. I'm sure many on the forum will agree with this!

Duke · 11 Jun 2009 at 11:11

As above

chris.dante · 11 Jun 2009 at 11:21

yep get one

FaceplantSi · 11 Jun 2009 at 13:08

Avoid the Solid series as iirc they had the stuttering issue. Go for the Samsung as others have linked to.

Terrier_Jimlad · 11 Jun 2009 at 13:09

Do you mean this one?

Samsung 64GB 2.5" SATA-II Solid State Hard Drive - £90.99

Do you treat SSD drives as normal drives when it comes to things like formatting/installing OS's etc ... I read you dont need to defrag SSD and you need to run some other tool?

Thanks for the replies so far

Stuarts · 11 Jun 2009 at 13:55

You should avoiding running a full format on the samsungs. Some reviews have had problems with it (slows up the disk)

FaceplantSi · 11 Jun 2009 at 14:05

Just hook it up and load your OS, no need to format. Once loaded there are various tweaks that can be applied for SSD's and opinion varies as to which make a difference, so really a case of try them and see what works for you. They are (in no particular order): disable superfetch and prefetch; disable scheduled defrag; disable indexing; disable pagefile; enable write-back cache.

There is a little app you can download called SSDTweaker from here which will do this for you if you are not confident making the changes manually.

Theguy · 11 Jun 2009 at 14:36

Why would you disable superfetch / prefectching for? - wouldnt that slow down the comp in general?

Terrier_Jimlad · 11 Jun 2009 at 15:08

I'm going to order one of these (when they come back instock - or will use another supplier)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-079-SA&groupid=701&catid=14&subcat=910

There seems to be two 64GB Samsung drives, one seems to have quite slow read/write speeds which is priced at £90 and then the one above priced at £140

Think i'm going to place the order ...

JimAroo · 11 Jun 2009 at 16:42

These are starting to look like very good investments.. Anyone got any idea of the life span on these things?

FaceplantSi · 11 Jun 2009 at 19:55

Theguy said:
Why would you disable superfetch / prefectching for? - wouldnt that slow down the comp in general?

Like I said - try them and see what works best for you - these are general tweaks after all.
Superfetch and Prefetch are generally pretty redundant really as the access speed of SSD's is so fast.

miniyazz · 11 Jun 2009 at 19:58

Theguy said:
Why would you disable superfetch / prefectching for? - wouldnt that slow down the comp in general?

SSDs are fast anyway, no point in attempting to guess what you're going to use next and load it into RAM. Anything you open will open in tenths of a second anyway.

Stonedofmoo · 11 Jun 2009 at 20:14

Theguy said:
Why would you disable superfetch / prefectching for? - wouldnt that slow down the comp in general?

In Windows 7 they are automatically disabled if Win 7 detects a fast SSD device as the OS drive. This is because Windows 7 is 'SSD aware' and these technologies are designed for slow mechanical hard disks.

Unfortunately XP/Vista aren't SSD aware so you need to do the tweaks manually.

Stuarts · 11 Jun 2009 at 21:47

There is a little app you can download called SSDTweaker from here which will do this for you if you are not confident making the changes manually.

That utility looks nice.

I thought Windows 7 was 'SSD Aware'? And made all neccessary settings automatically?

Is that not the case then? Or does this utility apply other tweaks that Windows 7 doesn't?

Terrier_Jimlad · 11 Jun 2009 at 22:28

Which of the two would you go for:

Samsung PB22-J 64GB @ £140 approx which offers:

- Read Speed of 220MB/s
- Write Speed of 120MB/s
- Onboard 128MB Cache

Or

G.Skill Falcon 64GB @ £165 approx which offers:

- Sequential Read Rate 230MB/sec
- Sequential Write Rate 135MB/sec
- Access Time >0.2ms

The specs are pretty much the same, just a case of choosing Samsung or G.Skill ... i'm currently using 2 x Sammy F1's too

Opinions?

Stuarts · 11 Jun 2009 at 22:30

I would probably go for the Samsungs, but I doubt there is much in it for those 64gb ones.

I think the Samsungs are much clearer winners at 128gb.

Theguy · 11 Jun 2009 at 23:02

thanks chaps.

FaceplantSi · 12 Jun 2009 at 07:31

Stuarts said:
I thought Windows 7 was 'SSD Aware'? And made all neccessary settings automatically?

Is that not the case then? Or does this utility apply other tweaks that Windows 7 doesn't?

I would advise keeping an eye on what tweaks Win7 does or does not do as it is after all still a beta release atm, that utility can poss help (although I've not run it on Win7 myself, preferring to do the tweaks and checks manually)