SanDisk ReadyCache SDSSDRC-032G-G26

[sm625]

This drive is under $50 on newegg. It seems like a really basic question, but what stops you from simply using this drive as a boot drive? It is the only SSD that is priced even halfway decently yet I cannot find out if you can even use it as a boot drive.

 

[Coup27]

As far as I am aware there is no difference between a "cache" SSD and an SSD. The cache SSD is obviously smaller in capacity as nobody entertains 32GB drives as a boot volume and it comes with some caching software, but the actual SSD is still a normal SSD.

 

[groberts101]

the performance is also not that good compared to 2 gen's prior(small random writes are horrible). likely due to reduced channel count/die packages as it was only ever intended to be a cache based volume.

 

[LoveMachine]

For just a wee bit more cash, you can get a reasonably decent 64GB with better performance and double the capacity. If you are patient and can wait for a rebate, you're better off in the long run.

 

[lockh33d]

the performance is also not that good compared to 2 gen's prior(small random writes are horrible). likely due to reduced channel count/die packages as it was only ever intended to be a cache based volume.

Could you please elaborate on that a bit more? What is the actual difference and does it affect that particular drive?

EDIT:
Found it myself

Sequential Read : 458.895 MB/s
 Sequential Write : 117.186 MB/s
 Random Read 512KB : 238.234 MB/s
 Random Write 512KB : 43.509 MB/s
 Random Read 4KB (QD=1) : 19.176 MB/s [ 4681.6 IOPS]
 Random Write 4KB (QD=1) : 9.299 MB/s [ 2270.3 IOPS]
 Random Read 4KB (QD=32) : 30.670 MB/s [ 7487.8 IOPS]
 Random Write 4KB (QD=32) : 5.371 MB/s [ 1311.2 IOPS]

Which means pretty bad.

 

[0roo0roo]

Bit late, but the options aren't much better now so I ordered one to see.

Its a cache, so the point is to save you the trouble of reinstalling and managing windows on a smaller drive, you shouldn't be installing windows on it.
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2012/10/17/sandisk_readycache_32gb_ssd_review/7#.UmHqLErn-tU

I'm only curious if the sandisk cache is any smarter than the intel cache ssd tech. Or is it the same dumb copy every block accessed by the drive regardless of data as intel.