Why the large SSDs now? Not just for OS & programs?

[Triggaaar]

I think I need a new SSD, and I was thinking of getting a 120 / 128Gb drive, for my OS and programs only.

Reading through some threads I see a lot of people are going for larger SSDs - is that because they're also using the drives for data that they want to access quickly? In the past it wasn't good to keep writing to the SSD over and over, as it could cause errors, so they weren't generally used for data. Has that changed?

I appreciate the drives are cheaper now, and they were perhaps too expensive to use for large date storage before, but as above, I didn't think that was the only reason.

Thanks

 

[Ian Evey]

I use a 128gb samsung for windows and all the crap that comes with it, I also have bf4 on there as the load times are way quicker.

I am now contemplating getting another 256gb ssd for apps and games only as in my opinion having an ssd with your operating system on it makes everything feel quicker as well as loading times are faster.

128gb is enough for windows and most things nowadays, but larger is always better if you dont mind paying a little more.

 

[wazza300]

my advise is to buy the largest capacity you can afford,you cen never have enough fast storage space,

you can soon fill it up with os/games/programs ect

 

[Triggaaar]

Thanks.

my advise is to buy the largest capacity you can afford,you cen never have enough fast storage space,

you can soon fill it up with os/games/programs ect

Is it still the case the regular writes to the drive cause problems? Should our page file be on our SSD, or should we move it?

My existing SSD is the Crucial M4. I'd like to run some tests on it to see if it's ok or not.

 

[wazza300]

It's up to you,ideally pagefile wants to be on a fast ssd but you can move it if you want,I doubt high writes would degrade a decent ssd

 

[TheVoice]

Thanks.

Is it still the case the regular writes to the drive cause problems? Should our page file be on our SSD, or should we move it?

My existing SSD is the Crucial M4. I'd like to run some tests on it to see if it's ok or not.

The whole point of an SSD is to improve performance, moving files off it to reduce its usage is pointless. By the time it's degraded enough for you to actually notice, you'll likely be in a position to be upgrading it anyway (if you haven't already).

In other words, just use the thing as you like, as long as you don't try defragging it'll be fine.

 

[Sasahara]

Certainly when they first came out the block write limit was around 10,000 times. So not ideal for a small drive with not much space left (say under 20GB) having those free block constantly being wiped and re-written. Though it would still take a hefty amount of use to wear one out.

With the larger drive and presumably more free space you shouldn't have much to worry about with normal usage.

 

[WuMyster]

I used to run a 120GB SSD. That got sold early on in its life because it just wasnt enough. Once you get fast storage, you want as much as you can get. Currently have a 240GB and im looking at some 480GB+ SSDs to replace a HDD.

In the past people didnt like constantly writing to the SSD but I dont think thats a problem anymore. Having seen some calculations, the SSD would be outdated by the time it would wear out.

Theres a great SSD optimisation guide on a different forum, not sure if i can link it. If someone can confirm whether or not i can, then I will.

 

[badbiddy]

I still have a OCZ vertex 2 60gb that boots nice and fast and runs the few apps on it like lightning (had it years with no thought to degredation based on writes). For the cost of ssd now I wouldn't bother getting less than 250gb. Well worth having all your main used programs on there.

 

[panyan]

I still have a OCZ vertex 2 60gb that boots nice and fast and runs the few apps on it like lightning (had it years with no thought to degredation based on writes). For the cost of ssd now I wouldn't bother getting less than 250gb. Well worth having all your main used programs on there.

+1

Ive got a 120gb ssd that is half empty and i probably wont be buying a new ones unless this breaks or my new mobo is sataexpress

 

[_Jimlad_]

Crucial m500 480gb for £160 is a no brained

Prices dropping.

 

[Triggaaar]

Thank you for all the replies, very helpful.

+1

Ive got a 120gb ssd that is half empty and i probably wont be buying a new ones unless this breaks or my new mobo is sataexpress

When my current SSD is working, I'm using 90 of the 120 Gb. And that's all of my programs (although I've got a couple more things to install). I don't game on the PC much.

Crucial m500 480gb for £160 is a no brained

So you'd recommend using the SSD for a lot of data too?

The m500 240Gb is £90, compared with the m550 at £120 and the Samsung 840 evo at £126.

Is the m500 likely to be just as reliable as the m550 and evo 840? I don't feel the need for the fastest fastest SSD, I just want it to work. My current SSD is causing me a lot of pain.

Can I take my thread off topic?
My current PC often can't see my SSD when I boot up. I took it out a few months ago, and have worked without problems since. I also put a new power supply in during that time. Yesterday I put the SSD back in. It started, then Blue Screened after a while, and when I rebooted, the Bios couldn't even see the drive. Sometimes it sees it, sometimes not. I assume it's a drive problem?

 

[WuMyster]

The M500 gained popularity for being a reliable sand force based SSD. Also, yes, use the SSD for writing a lot of data.

 

[Triggaaar]

The M500 gained popularity for being a reliable sand force based SSD. Also, yes, use the SSD for writing a lot of data.

Thanks. This forum could do with some 'thanks' buttons.

Are the M550 and Evo 840 sand force based too?
Is it possible my existing issue is due to a SandForce issue (as I believe there have been some compatibility issues)?
My MB is the Asus p6x58d-e which was one of the early adopters of 6Gb/s SATA, and not that reliable (when my SSD problems started, I switched to the 3Gb/s connectors).
It's a Marvell SATA 6Gb/s, not an Intel 6Gb/s port.

A summary of what I'd like to do:
1) Find a way of testing my Crucial M4 SSD, or
2) Return my Crucial M4 SSD to Overclockers and ask them to check it out
3) If my SSD can't work reliably, replace it with an alternative SSD (and I wonder if I should get something other than a sand force based drive)

 

[wazza300]

what model is the current ssd?

be sure to run latest motherboard bios,if its a crucial m4 then flash to latest firmware

i think crucial have always been marvell controlled? the Samsung uses its own tri arm controller

use the intel ports on that board,if your using the marvell ports then try uninstalling the marvell driver and just use what Microsoft installs

 

[Randomface74]

if you install a few games you'll easily fill a 120GB

250GB makes things a lot easier

I guess you'd really be installing a lot to need more.

 

[Triggaaar]

Just typed a massive reply, and as I was about to post it, got a Blue Screen

what model is the current ssd?

Crucial M4 128Gb.

be sure to run latest motherboard bios,if its a crucial m4 then flash to latest firmware

I spent a lot of time getting the latest stable MB firmware some time back - I think it's the most suitable one. 0701 I think. I haven't changed the M4 firmware for a long time, but the one I had was said to be stable (2 years ago). I used the 6Gb/s port (Marvel controller) successfully for over a year. When I started getting problems, I switched it to a 3Gb/s port, but it didn't help.

i think crucial have always been marvell controlled? the Samsung uses its own tri arm controller

I'd just been reading up on the Samsung, and I see they do it all themselves (so not sandforce). I don't know if that would be good for me or not, but I may need to use a Sata 3Gb/s port anyway.

use the intel ports on that board,if your using the marvell ports then try uninstalling the marvell driver and just use what Microsoft installs

I'd like to check that. I've googled for help, and I don't know what drivers I'm using, or how to change them (I think I'm getting old and the brain is going). What's the easiest way to check what I'm using?

But I assume my current problem isn't due to a driver, because when it's failed and I reboot, my Bios often can't even see the SSD (and the drivers are loaded by Windows at a later stage).

 

[dom99]

The M500 gained popularity for being a reliable sand force based SSD. Also, yes, use the SSD for writing a lot of data.

I didn't think the m500 was sand force, thought it used the Marvell controller

 

[wazza300]

the m4 has a freeze bug 5400 hour use,look in ssdlife and see if the hours usage is around that time you need latest fw

 

[Twirlywoos]

I use a larger SSD as I install some games on it too. BF4, DayZ, Insurgency loading times are significantly less running from it.