SSD noob looking for advice regarding 64GB SSD

[Borealis7]

Hello,
i have an option to get a Crucial m4 64GB SSD slightly cheaper than MSRP (around 70$) for my new rig.

http://www.crucial.com/store/partspe...LE=CT064M4SSD2

it will serve as a an OS drive (win7 ultimate) + Visual Studio .NET + one game at all
times.

my VS projects aren't very big, but the install itself takes several GBs, traditionally i calculated an OS install+apps at 20GBs, and game installs can get upto 10-15GBs these days.

my second HDD will be a 500GB Seagate 7200RPM.

is 64GB enough? will the drive get choked?

 

[Coup27]

I think you will be sailing close to the wind by the time you have finished. Even with a reduced page file, system restore and hibernation disabled you will be looking at 20-25GB just for Windows and your programs (minus VS).

Budget 15GB for a game, and whatever your VS install takes.

Also remember that 64GB will come out nearer to 60GB formatted capacity. It's also never wise to fill your SSD 100%.

 

[Borealis7]

i know, that's why i'm asking...i think its too small for me.

(That's what She said! oh wait...)

 

[Coup27]

Plus 128GB drives are a fair bit faster than their 64GB counterparts, where as the difference between 64GB and 128GB is nowhere near as much.

 

[beginner99]

yes 128 GB drives are faster but only in sequential writes and for the normal user the difference is negligible.

Get the drive for that price and put the game on the hdd. Games don't really profit that much from an SSD. Yes, you get shorter level load times but in-game, no difference.

 

[sequoia464]

Get the largest drive you can afford - you will be glad later on. Especially with Windows 7.

 

[Coup27]

yes 128 GB drives are faster but only in sequential writes and for the normal user the difference is negligible.

Not really. According to the m4 datasheet, sequential read and random read stay the same regardless of size. Sequential write and random write both nearly double between 64GB and 128GB.

 

[Borealis7]

Well, i'm playing Deus Ex : HR now and the loading times are horrendous. sometimes upto 30 seconds. fast loading times for windows and games is one of the reasons i want an SSD.

 

[Charlie98]

Get the largest drive you can afford - you will be glad later on. Especially with Windows 7.

fast loading times for windows and games is one of the reasons i want an SSD.

I got a 60GB SSD and I've already outgrown it. Don't settle, just pony up the coin for a 128GB, you'll be glad you did.

Even the Crucial M4's are getting down there in price, while your deal is not bad, it's not a reason to compromise.

 

[Topweasel]

I got a 60GB SSD and I've already outgrown it. Don't settle, just pony up the coin for a 128GB, you'll be glad you did.

Even the Crucial M4's are getting down there in price, while your deal is not bad, it's not a reason to compromise.

Yeah got a 128GB M4 for my laptop, and with Windows 7 I think it is the sweet spot. I got a 256GB for my desktop, but I don't have that up and running yet. The lesson I have learned with the 128, is that it is too easy to push up to 50GB, and through off loading of programs to my HDD along with my library folders, that I regularly find myself at about 75-80GB. With Windows nearly taking a third of the drive right away, I think 64GB is too small unless you are willing to really watch over it.

 

[Charlie98]

.... I think 64GB is too small unless you are willing to really watch over it.

I've found myself micromanaging my SSD to make sure I keep it below 80% or so... it's a pain. The SSD is supposed to make life easier, not more tedious.

 

[beginner99]

I've found myself micromanaging my SSD to make sure I keep it below 80% or so... it's a pain. The SSD is supposed to make life easier, not more tedious.

64 GB is enough for win 7 and basic applications. However I agree that micromanaging would be a pain. Oen thign to save a ton of space is to limit the page file, per default it is as big as your have RAM and if you have 16 GB of RAM...