Fast Hard Drive & ssd cache or Slow HD and Big SSD

[LR6]

I am planing a new Ivy Bridge system and I am trying to decide how to partition my SSD/HD drives.

I currently have ~130GB(windows + programs + stuff that programs insist on installing in My Documents) on my system drive and loads of data on my data drive. I would like to get a ssd in my new system. I see two options.

1 - SSD cache + WD Black 2TB drive. HD is ~$250 at Newegg and Intel 24GB 313 is ~ $140. totat cost is ~$390.

2 - Big Crucial m4 256GB SSD for programs and Windows + WD Green 2TB for data. SSD is ~$300 and the WD green 2TB is ~$120. Total Cost is ~$420.

I do very little gaming and most of what I do is photo/video editing and I have a huge collection of Photos and Videos that I have created. The ~$30 difference does not matter to me. Which will be the best overall setup?

 

[moriz]

option 2 is the better one. SSD caching only makes sense if you have a very small budget and can only afford small SSDs. if you have the money and need for a big SSD, always go for it.

 

[Topweasel]

Couple of things. The 24GB Intel cache is too small. Go with a ~100 64GB MLC drive drive even a Sandforce based one. 2. One of the advantages of caching is getting SSD performance out of standard drives. You might as well get the Green if you are going that route. So that would be about $250.

But option 2 is the best performer by far and as long as you work with it 256GB is more then enough to run the data it will have the best impact on.

 

[Jman13]

You can probably even get by with a 128GB SSD, just move your user folder stuff to your HD. My user folder (downloads, my documents, my pictures, etc) are all on one of my HDDs, and my current install fills about 75GB of my SSD, and includes the OS, all my web browsing stuff and e-mail client, Photoshop (both CS5 and the CS6 beta), Lightroom, three Steam games, Open Office and a few other random programs. I've got 48 GB free right now, and I feel fine. If my user folder were on the SSD, it'd be more than full now, but without it, it's fine.

 

[LR6]

Jman13,

I have thought about that, but have not really found a good solution to moving the c:\users folder. I know that I can easily move the "My Documents" folder, but folders like "AppData" I can't find a good way to move. I just checked and AppData is one of the hogs and is taking up 17GB. If there was a good way to move the c:\users folder to the hard drive, it would be great.

 

[bryanW1995]

I like option 2 a lot. And if you want to take advantage of SRT + boot volume/data on a single ssd, there is a nice thread over in the motherboard forums that shows you how to do it. I'm currently using my x25m g2 80gb with SRT + boot volume, and it's fantastic. By the way, 18.6gb is just fine for a cache volume. In fact, I seem to remember reading that it is more effective in a smaller size like that. A 240gb m4 with an 18.6gb cache would give you the best of both worlds.

Here's the link to mobo forum thread:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2172381

Here's some info on z68 and larson creek. In the article they address the smallish size of the larson creek ssds:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4329/intel-z68-chipset-smart-response-technology-ssd-caching-review/2

 

[zuffy]

Defeat the purpose of a SSD for OS if you are going to move the Appdata folder to slow spindle. Also, not even sure you can redirect the appdata folder without screwing up the system.

 

[exdeath]

Spindles FTL.

 

[Topweasel]

Defeat the purpose of a SSD for OS if you are going to move the Appdata folder to slow spindle. Also, not even sure you can redirect the appdata folder without screwing up the system.

Exactly, you move My Docs/Music/Pictures/Video's/Downloads there because they can get large quickly and none of those files need quick load times.