Using SRT on Z68 mobo with SSD.

[Keysplayr]

Has anybody used this feature? And more importantly, is it worth the effort performance-wise?

I have a 1TB HDD and Windows 7 Ultimate. I have a 30GB SSD. Was interested in trying this and needed to pick up a Z68 board and CPU first.

Any input appreciated.

-Keys

 

[BrightCandle]

I don't think its a feature worth replacing your CPU and motherboard for. I am not convinced by SRT, because it doesn't give you the write speed improvements that you also see from the SSD. But a 30GB SSD is quite small and it could be tricky to manage that manually so SRT might be the only choice.

 

[Belegost]

Before spending a couple hundred on a new board and CPU, maybe try something like fancycache

 

[Keysplayr]

The new board and CPU are being purchased regardless of the use of SRT. I just thought I'd take advantage of the feature and get a board that supports it. Googling Fancycache now.

 

[gpse]

if you're getting a new mobo/cpu and are thinking of Z68 then it's a great feature. But as others mentioned, to change your current setup strictly for SSD caching it's not worth it.

 

[bryanW1995]

Dude, it's totally, absolutely, 100% worth it. It was a bit of PITA for me b/c I wanted to install my OS + SRT on the same (80gb) ssd, and even now it's a bit cramped on there, but overall I'm still extremely pleased by it. Performance is somewhere btwn a standard hdd and an ssd, with it generally being closer to the ssd on your most used programs. I've been planning to upgrade to 2x256gb ssd's on BF 2012, but honestly I'm so happy with my SRT setup that I might wait another year.

edit: I've heard conflicting reports on the usefulness of larger cache sizes, but with such a small ssd I'd just use the entire volume for cache when it asks you how you want it set up.

 

[sep]

I agree with bryan1995. One of the things I've noticed is that the load times for BF3 are fast...I'm ususally the first or one of the first players in the game. This is an advantage when you want to get a vehicle/air ; )

 

[suklee]

I didn't realize you can dedicate a portion of the SSD to SRT cache. I have a 120GB Intel SSD as my boot drive, with 70GB free. (nothing but Vista and BF3 on it :awe Can I and should I set up SRT now without reinstalling Windows??

 

[blackened23]

Very much worth it, but its a PITA to setup sometimes.

Usually, SRT forces you to install the OS to a platter HDD...there's a workaround though - Here's a good thread on how to install the SSD as your boot driver with SRT: (VERY BIG PITA)

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2203951

 

[GotNoRice]

I am not convinced by SRT, because it doesn't give you the write speed improvements that you also see from the SSD.

There are two modes, Enhanced and Maximized. Enhanced only accelerates read performance, but Maximized enhances write performance also. The downside to Maximized being that if you lose power or have a BSOD or something, any data written to the SSD that hasn't been flushed to the mechanical drive yet will likely be lost.