Which SSD ?

[budwozza]

Hi All,

I am about to get a new system (i7 O/C bundle with 5870) and I have some questions about SSD`s that I could do with some help with. I currently have a Raptor Raid 0 set up with partitions for Windows and games.
My data and documents are stored on a big old IDE drive. I have read up quite a bit of info and have got a little confused by it all, so need some advice.

My questions are:

1. Which Brand SSD - Intel or Crucial ? and why ?
2. One 160GB with two partions or 2 x 80GB in Raid 0 with two partitions or two 80GB single drives - and why ?
3. How are they powered ? normal molex connector or special lead ?
4. Is this TRIM malarky all sorted out now (will be using Win 7) ? or will I need to update firmware or use special software etc ?
5. Is it still neccesary to move page files etc to other drives and turn of Defrag etc ?
6. Please mention anything else you feel is relevant

Thanks, Wozza.

 

[CBJ]

1. Depends on your priorities. If your priority is lower total price then get the Crucial. If the priority is space then get the Intel. Other factors are fairly irrelevant as differences in things like performance and price/MB are not worth quibbling over.
2. Two partitions or two smaller drives not in RAID don't make much sense, but otherwise it depends on your priorities again. If you want ultimate speed then go for two smaller drives in RAID 0. If price is more important then one single larger drive is a little cheaper.
3. Standard SATA power connector.
4. It's built in to Windows 7. I believe the latest Intel firmware has full TRIM support, and Crucial are due to release their fixed version in the next couple of weeks.
5. You should leave page files where they are, on the SSD drive. You shouldn't need to turn off defrag in Windows 7 as it should do it automatically, but do turn it off that doesn't happen.
6. See the sticky threads at the top of the forum.

 

[PakJai]

"2. One 160GB with two partions or 2 x 80GB in Raid 0 with two partitions or two 80GB single drives - and why ?"

This is like comparing 1 raptor drive vs rapor raid 0.
It purely down to performance and afforability vs capacity