Anyone using z68 SSD caching?

[superccs]

I just built a system with a Gigabyte and saw the SSD slot on the z68 mobo.

Couldn't really find any reviews which compared a systems performance on a SSD cache setup vs a stand alone SATA 6 SSD.

Have you guys setup the SSD cache on your Z68 or just used a real SSD?

Thanks, interested to hear your responses... happy thursday.

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

We did some testing on the SSD caching that is offered by the Intel® SRT (Smart Response Technology) before we released it; on a SSD 64GB and lower the Intel SRT is thought to be the best performance option since it will allow you to cache a number of applications giving you solid performance at a budget price. Now if the SSD that you have is larger than 64GB then you are going want to use it as a boot drive and you will better overall performance from that.

 

[fixbsod]

Yeah, I just installed an intel 313 20GB Hawley Creek SSD the other day in my Gigabyte Z68 system. About $120 shipped from newegg but it's SLC chips and will last forever so no worrying about anything. Boot times dropped drastically and other frequently used programs are much faster too. Cinch to install with Gigabyte's software utility :

http://www.gigabyte.com/MicroSite/282/ez-smart-response.html

 

[Mem]

I just built a system with a Gigabyte and saw the SSD slot on the z68 mobo.

Couldn't really find any reviews which compared a systems performance on a SSD cache setup vs a stand alone SATA 6 SSD.

Have you guys setup the SSD cache on your Z68 or just used a real SSD?

Thanks, interested to hear your responses... happy thursday.

I use my Crucial M4 64GB SSD as cache drive for my Samsung 1TB HD,more then happy with the performance.

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

Yeah, I just installed an intel 313 20GB Hawley Creek SSD the other day in my Gigabyte Z68 system. About $120 shipped from newegg but it's SLC chips and will last forever so no worrying about anything. Boot times dropped drastically and other frequently used programs are much faster too. Cinch to install with Gigabyte's software utility :

Glad to hear that you like the Intel® SSD 313. You are the first person that I have heard from has used it since its release last week.


I think that one of the most important things to understand about Intel SRT is that you won't see the performance increase right away but will take a some time to see your commonly used applications and then cache them (maybe a week or so). Also with the Intel SRT you really don't need to worry about managing it as the system will watch your usage and see what needs to be cached.

 

[WT]

Yeah, I just installed an intel 313 20GB Hawley Creek SSD the other day in my Gigabyte Z68 system. About $120 shipped from newegg but it's SLC chips and will last forever so no worrying about anything. Boot times dropped drastically and other frequently used programs are much faster too. Cinch to install with Gigabyte's software utility :

http://www.gigabyte.com/MicroSite/282/ez-smart-response.html

Using the 311 20G Larsen Creek SSD with my Gigabyte board and my experience matches yours. 22 seconds from hitting the power button til when I'm at the desktop ready to go.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

never used just SRT, but I have used it in combination with another SSD

128GB Crucial M4 SSD for OS and primary apps
64GB Crucial M4 SSD for caching a 1TB Samsung F3 primarily for my Steam collection (over 500GB in size)

worked out very well

 

[superccs]

never used just SRT, but I have used it in combination with another SSD

128GB Crucial M4 SSD for OS and primary apps
64GB Crucial M4 SSD for caching a 1TB Samsung F3 primarily for my Steam collection (over 500GB in size)

worked out very well

That sounds like a fun configuration, I wonder what is ending up on the cache drive since you have a SSD as your primary...?

My primary OS is on a 60Gb agility + 1Tb F3 (steam games) and it, like everyone knows, works well together.

 

[michal1980]

I use a 64gb Crucial M4 for SRT caching. Works just like it should. Would a full blown SSD setup work better? Yes.

But I get a good chunk of the performance benefit, without any work (moving files around, installing/uninstalling things) for a fraction of the cost it would take to have my programs on an SSD.

 

[WT]

I use a 64gb Crucial M4 for SRT caching. Works just like it should. Would a full blown SSD setup work better? Yes.

Undoubtedly it would work better. There is no question an SSD with the OS installed is faster than a cache SSD setup. The cache only benefits you if the app is on the cache, meaning the first time you use the app, it has to load from the HD. Subsequent loads of the app then maintain that SSD speed as long as it fits in the cache.

But I get a good chunk of the performance benefit, without any work (moving files around, installing/uninstalling things) for a fraction of the cost it would take to have my programs on an SSD.

You got it !!! That's why I love my setup. The old rig had a 100GB boot partition, and I've already filled it with NO GAMES installed on it. Check out your C:\Windows\Winsxs folder sometimes for a real surprise - mine weighs in at 13.4GB. The new rig has a 200GB boot partition. so now I have room to spare.

 

[chimaxi83]

I'm using it. I have a 64GB Crucial M4 that is split. 20GB goes towards cache, the other ~40GB is for my Windows 7 install. This way, I'm able to have full SSD responsiveness in OS and all small apps (everything I use minus games, essentially), and still cache my larger apps drive. It's been working fine for me.

 

[Cythreill]

I'm using it. I have a 64GB Crucial M4 that is split. 20GB goes towards cache, the other ~40GB is for my Windows 7 install. This way, I'm able to have full SSD responsiveness in OS and all small apps (everything I use minus games, essentially), and still cache my larger apps drive. It's been working fine for me.

Aren't you suppose to leave ~15% space free for perfomance/durability sake?

 

[chimaxi83]

The drive does that on its own. It's a 64GB drive, but only able to utilize ~60GB of it. That's why I said 20GB + 40GB

 

[Cythreill]

The drive does that on its own. It's a 64GB drive, but only able to utilize ~60GB of it. That's why I said 20GB + 40GB

Ah, thanks. I think I will be doing the same as you as I just bought a 64 GB M4 drive.