SSD - Is there a major difference in regards to read/write speed

[choliscott]

Hi Everyone,

I was looking at SSD's & two I was looking at show the following for read/write:


Sata 3
Write up to 190 MB/Sec
Read UP to 300 MB/Sec

the second one is

Sata 3
Write up to 550 MB
Read Up to 550 MB

I've been seeing drives like this listed on Newegg with anywhere from a $20-$30 difference & more capacity on the lower speed drive.

The couple of questions I had: Can you tell there is a speed difference or would it mainly come from installing large sized software (Windows, games, etc)?

Thanks

 

[Lonyo]

It depends on what you are doing with the drive.

More useful than sequential read and write speeds are knowledge of the controller, and random read/write performance.

90% of the time any large files will be copied to or from a MUCH slower device, such as a mechanical drive (which can hit maybe 120MB/s sequential), so even a 190MB/s SSD will be able to handle it with ease.

If you are doing lots of "stuff", then random performance is more useful to look at, and comparing two drives using AT's bench tool is also useful to see how performance changes in different applications/situations.

http://www.anandtech.com/Bench/SSD

A drive with higher sequential read and write speeds is also likely to have superior random performance though.

 

[razel]

No... What they are stating is maximum speed. If one is doing 550MB/s while the other is 300MB/s and you want only 100MB it doesn't mean that the 550 is going to get that 100MB of data you want in half the time as the 300.

It also doesn't mean that they are lying. You will see that difference when are processing VAST amounts of data. Unfortunately the only time you will be hitting such 300MB+ speed is when you clone from one SSD to another or if you run benchmarks all day.

In my opinion the main things to watch for in SSDs now is warranty, real-world READ benchmarks (like Anand's light disk READ bench) and low queue (1 to 4) random benchmarks. All other benches is advertising.

 

[choliscott]

It would mainly be used for a HTPC & possibly lite computer work (video stream capturing), where an regular Sata drive would be used.

The only writing I would see if software install, anti virus updates & browser cache.

It depends on what you are doing with the drive.

More useful than sequential read and write speeds are knowledge of the controller, and random read/write performance.

90% of the time any large files will be copied to or from a MUCH slower device, such as a mechanical drive (which can hit maybe 120MB/s sequential), so even a 190MB/s SSD will be able to handle it with ease.

If you are doing lots of "stuff", then random performance is more useful to look at, and comparing two drives using AT's bench tool is also useful to see how performance changes in different applications/situations.

http://www.anandtech.com/Bench/SSD

A drive with higher sequential read and write speeds is also likely to have superior random performance though.

 

[blastingcap]

No... What they are stating is maximum speed. If one is doing 550MB/s while the other is 300MB/s and you want only 100MB it doesn't mean that the 550 is going to get that 100MB of data you want in half the time as the 300.

It also doesn't mean that they are lying. You will see that difference when are processing VAST amounts of data. Unfortunately the only time you will be hitting such 300MB+ speed is when you clone from one SSD to another or if you run benchmarks all day.

In my opinion the main things to watch for in SSDs now is warranty, real-world READ benchmarks (like Anand's light disk READ bench) and low queue (1 to 4) random benchmarks. All other benches is advertising.

This, AND I would also look at STEADY STATE read/write speeds of both COMPRESSIBLE and INCOMPRESSIBLE data as well. As a rule of thumb, avoid anything with a Sandforce controller. Stick to Samsung 830, Crucial M4, and (maybe, if you are willing to bet Intel fixed the Sandforce problems), Intel's Sandforce SSDs like the 330.

Further, unless you are sloshing a ton of data around, a lot of that speed is wasted. The power of the SSD is the low-latency read times which makes booting and small file transfers much faster. You aren't really using SSDs very economically if you are doing things like storing videos and photos on them. This is why any decently fast SSD as an OS drive, plus a good hard drive for photo/video/audio storage, will get you virtually the same performance as one huge and fast SSD for most typical household workloads.

 

[pandemonium]

It would mainly be used for a HTPC & possibly lite computer work (video stream capturing), where an regular Sata drive would be used.

The only writing I would see if software install, anti virus updates & browser cache.

I honestly don't see a reason to bother with an SSD for these functions. Spend your money elsewhere, like a bigger spindle drive.

 

[choliscott]

I originally tried a spindle drive, & when I scheduled a show, it took 5 minutes to show it was set to record. I picked up a 32 gig SSD which solved the problem. With SSD drive prices coming down, I wanted to get something bigger for it.

As far as purchasing bigger spindle drives, I have plenty that If I bought another people will ask me what the h*** am I smoking

I honestly don't see a reason to bother with an SSD for these functions. Spend your money elsewhere, like a bigger spindle drive.

 

[pandemonium]

That is interesting...I've never had super delaying issues like that with any of my mechanical drives. I'd say there was a conflict going on between that HDD and MoBo, software/caching issues, internet issues, or that was simply a one time instance?

In all seriousness, an HTPC really doesn't need an SSD. It's your money though, do what you want with it.

 

[imusorka]

Comparing Samsung 830 128GB to 256GB with the AT bench, the latter wins in many tests but is the difference going to be noticeable in regular day-to-day use? I just don't really need 256GB.

 

[choliscott]

It wasn't only a time time thing. However from what I could tell it was on shows that broadcasted a bunch of times (i.e. Big Bang Theory, Simpsons, Spongebob, almost any show on the disney channel).

Also if there was a bunch of shows scheduled to record (which we do have a bunch)

That is interesting...I've never had super delaying issues like that with any of my mechanical drives. I'd say there was a conflict going on between that HDD and MoBo, software/caching issues, internet issues, or that was simply a one time instance?

In all seriousness, an HTPC really doesn't need an SSD. It's your money though, do what you want with it.

 

[kmmatney]

You really can't go wrong with any current (or even last) generation SSD. I normally go with Crucial, Samsung or Intel, but you could probably get something cheaper, since this doesn't sound like a critical application.

My official recommendation would be to just look at Intel, Samsung, Plextor or Crucial, and buy whatever is on sale. Can't go wrong with any of those.