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What size SSD for just Windows 7 and barely anything else?

M

ManBearPig

Diamond Member
My moms hard drive just died and I figured I'd replace it with a cheap SSD (small size). She plays like...bejeweled, zuma, freecell, and surfs the web.

What size SSD would be sufficient for her? I was thinking 60gb just to play it safe.
 
If it is only for what you have said, go for 64GB. I would also get the cheapest 64GB from either an m4 or 830 series. They're the cheapest 64GB current gen drives on the market which you would feel safe installing for a family member and leaving them to it.
 
It's all down to what software you install, so in your mums case 60GB will be just fine.

Just checked mine and I'm at 67GB and that’s with Users directory on D:\ drive. AppData from Users alone would add another 9GB.

Also, as it's for your mum, I'd steer clear of any performance SSD's. I treated myself to an SSD, amongst other upgrades, for Christmas. Haven't had chance to install them yet but did a far bit of research before choosing one. PC is a work tool for me so needed performance and reliability. No such thing (maybe the new Intel 520 will change that) so opted for the Crucial M4 which sits on the middle of the fence. Samsung are the most reliable of the current generation but pretty poor performance. Still much faster than your old spinner though.
 
I have a Win7 x64 install on my HTPC under 20GB (no hibernate, 4GB swap file, no restore images). Plenty of space with a 32GB SSD. More is better, I personally have a 96GB in my desktop with a 1.5TB HDD for storage.
 
Thanks guys! I was gonna go Intel 320 on sale, because the M4s are a bit more than I'd like to pay for her...but I'm finding myself considering the sand force controller SSDs mores and more since they're pretty damn cheap. Are they still really unreliable?
 
I'm running the 64GB M4 for Win7 Ultimate and a few apps; all profile folders and other apps on my storage spinner. Still have about 40% of the SSD available.
 
kazaam said:
Thanks guys! I was gonna go Intel 320 on sale, because the M4s are a bit more than I'd like to pay for her...but I'm finding myself considering the sand force controller SSDs mores and more since they're pretty damn cheap. Are they still really unreliable?
Click to expand...

I think they pretty much have a handle on the reliability issues with the SandForce-based controllers (that is my opinion.) I think if you get a new unit with up-to-date firmware, you'll be OK. There is a risk of failure just like with any mechanical or electrical devise.

In hindsight, I would have put more on my 60GB SSD, I still have plenty of room, rather than break it up between the SSD and my storage HDD, but, someday, when a 120GB SSD is $59 on sale I'll get one and do that. 😛

If you don't mind waiting for a sale, I've seen other SSD's (non-SF) for some pretty decent prices. I think as the capacity of the SSD's increase, you will see better prices on the small ones (60GB, et al.)
 
I would never recommend a first gen SF controlled drive to anyone looking to purchase a drive in the current SSD market regardless of price.

Well?.. maybe to a few guys that I don't particularly like. lol
 
Charlie98 said:
I think they pretty much have a handle on the reliability issues with the SandForce-based controllers (that is my opinion.) I think if you get a new unit with up-to-date firmware, you'll be OK. There is a risk of failure just like with any mechanical or electrical devise.

In hindsight, I would have put more on my 60GB SSD, I still have plenty of room, rather than break it up between the SSD and my storage HDD, but, someday, when a 120GB SSD is $59 on sale I'll get one and do that. 😛

If you don't mind waiting for a sale, I've seen other SSD's (non-SF) for some pretty decent prices. I think as the capacity of the SSD's increase, you will see better prices on the small ones (60GB, et al.)
Click to expand...

How can you tell though if the firmware is updated? Pretty much all you can go by is the series number, or no?
 
janas19 said:
How can you tell though if the firmware is updated? Pretty much all you can go by is the series number, or no?
Click to expand...

IIRC, the firmware is right on the unit label, and probably on the box, somewhere, too. (I'd have to go up in the attic to check my OCZ box... 😵 , but I know it's on the data plate.)
 
groberts101 said:
I would never recommend a first gen SF controlled drive to anyone looking to purchase a drive in the current SSD market regardless of price.
Click to expand...

Are those still being produced/sold? I would assume getting a modern model incarnation from a reputable supplier would put you into the most current SF generation?
 
Wicked, my mom told me she'd buy my hard drive from me and i could just get an SSD. Looks like the capacity just went up. :awe:
 
Charlie98 said:
Are those still being produced/sold? I would assume getting a modern model incarnation from a reputable supplier would put you into the most current SF generation?
Click to expand...

1222 would be the next logical series up from the 1200/1500.. but the flaws with these controllers are still present regardless of mfgr date or supplier. Firmware updates have taken us far from the initial release problems.. but many power transition issues remain. Ultimately causing panic-locked drives that need to be RMA'd.

I have 6 in R0 for nearly 2 years now.. BUT I never sleep/hibernate them aside from short term testing new beta firmware revisions for the mfgr. I would never recommend sleeping these drives to anyone using them.. past or present models included. The newest 2xxx series controllers don't panic lock like the first gens did/do and is much safer to power transistion the drives as a result.
 
kazaam said:
My moms hard drive just died and I figured I'd replace it with a cheap SSD (small size). She plays like...bejeweled, zuma, freecell, and surfs the web.

What size SSD would be sufficient for her? I was thinking 60gb just to play it safe.
Click to expand...

If you set it up correctly (minimize page file, shut off hibernation) you can shrink the Win7 32bit footprint below 7GB. With that, a 32GB drive leaves plenty of room for extra space and wear leveling
 
groberts101 said:
I have 6 in R0 for nearly 2 years now.. BUT I never sleep/hibernate them aside from short term testing new beta firmware revisions for the mfgr. I would never recommend sleeping these drives to anyone using them.. past or present models included. The newest 2xxx series controllers don't panic lock like the first gens did/do and is much safer to power transistion the drives as a result.
Click to expand...

...actually, I heed your advise (I've seen it before) and don't sleep... it's ON or OFF. ^_^

I bought my OCZ Agility3 right at Christmas, it has the most current firmware and I have had not one problem with it.

*sorry, not trying to hijack the thread...* :$
 
Charlie98 said:
Lucky you! Now what are the plans?
Click to expand...

Probably go for a 128gb Crucial M4 (nothing huge, i know 🙁), or if the 160gb Intel 320s go on sale i'll get one of those! :awe: Only reason i dont want to is because it'll add years of life onto my laptop (for my needs), and i kinda want a new laptop heh.
 
kazaam said:
Probably go for a 128gb Crucial M4 (nothing huge, i know 🙁), or if the 160gb Intel 320s go on sale i'll get one of those! :awe: Only reason i dont want to is because it'll add years of life onto my laptop (for my needs), and i kinda want a new laptop heh.
Click to expand...

I just rebuilt my tired old Dell laptop (in sig below) with a faster processor, bigger HDD (thank you, eBay...) and some more memory... and topped it off with a clean XP install (no Dell bloatware, thank you very much...) and it's like new again... we are very much in love once more. I have a PATA interface so no SSD... 🙁 but I could only imagine if I'd been able to drop a M4 in there... :awe:
 
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