Computer just for watching youtube videos, ssd or hdd?

[amuffin]

So I am building a new system for my mom who likes to watch youtube videos, movies, etc. but wants to watch them on a bigger screen (our tv) Should I get an ssd or an hdd? Would getting an ssd be bad? As windows will dump excess files onto it causing one less write? Someone please help. >w<

 

[sosofm]

The HDD is enough. A small 80GB to120GB is more than enough for browsing internet and watch youtube videos.

 

[Ohmybad]

you can get away with a sub 40-60gb for just browsing... quick boots, no spin up... low power consumption... cheapest HDD now is atleast 60-80$ vs 100 for a mediocre SSD.

 

[amuffin]

ssd or hdd? :S

 

[Pyree]

I doubt she will know what a SSD is! Don't tell her!

Your mom don't need fast load on application or games or OS (although it would be nice). She is not power user who can't wait right?

HDD will do just fine. In fact, it will be bigger than SSD in storage capacity which I think your mom likes better (for storing clips/video, etc).

If your mom is a power user and cannot wait for the extra load time and knows what a SSD is, I suggest you to suggest her to join the forum and discuss about her new build.

LOL, I used "your mom" 4 times and it started to sound rude. I'll stop talking now.

 

[RetiredChief]

Performance - HDD is plenty fast enough. Most DVRs (ie from cox) use a HDD to store and play back video to large screen TVs. Coxs currently is transmitting in 1080i. If you think about it a Blu-ray player, playing 1080p is SLOWER than a HDD and works fine.

Capacity - This depends on resolution and How many "movies" video clips she plans on storinging befor deleting. I Backed up about 20 DVDs and some blu-ray disks to a 750 Gig HDDs. I then compressed these to mpeg4720P for Ipad and for watching on plane - they all fit on a 64 gig Thumbdrive (about 2 gig each per 1 1/2 hour Movie). These are larger files than what are normally downloaded. Most downloads, unless HD, are in 720P or less and a 1 1/2 hour movie would be less than 4 gigs.

SSD would provide fast boot times and program load times, but would NOT improve download times or Playback. My wife (60++++) biggest complant with Computer is Boot time. Min size w/tweaks, 64 gig.

The bottom line is - Best option is a approx 80->100 gig SSD for the operating system and say a 500 Gig HDD -> 750 Gig HDD. BUT only if Boot time bugs her. And ofcourse most expensive and determined by How much cash and is it worth it. DO NOT store the movies on the SSD. If Boot time is not an issue then the best option is the 500->750 Gig HDD. If just storing small "Movies/video clips" then probably a 250 gig -> 500 Gig HDD would be fine.

 

[amuffin]

@pyree my mom works in some storage section of hp so she knows much about ssds Can you recommend any models that are good (128gb) Is it true that ssds can just die and don't have as many writes as hdds?
@retiredchief We already have a 1tb external hdd that I am not using and she can use to store her movies/youtuve clips. Is 128gb a good amount for windows, browser, and some other software such as media players? Would windows keep writing files that take up all of the capacity of the ssd? Or would using ubuntu be a better option, as it is free?


I am an ssd noob, so idk much about any of this

 

[Pyree]

128GB is plenty for OS, apps and games. A 80-90GB will be enough and 60GB will be cutting it thin. See the "Best SSD for the money" article:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/buy-ssd-recommendation-value,3088.html

In theory, if you use up all of the write cycle of an SSD, it will no longer write. However, through normal use, I don't think you will get there b4 your next upgrade.

As long as you disable defrag (should be disabled by default), enable TRIM, check SSD is aligned, disable hibernation, lower pagefile and disable system recovery, log off and leave the computer for garbage collection to work, you will be fine.

I am not sure about Ubuntu with SSD. My Ubuntu installation is on a VM or on a HDD. One advice I can give is to enable TRIM on Ubuntu.

Here's how to do it:

http://sites.google.com/site/lightrush/random-1/howtoconfigureext4toenabletrimforssdsonubuntu

If this is not working, just google for how to do it.

 

[ebola28]

i prefer the samsung 830

128gb is plenty for OS and the apps your mom will use, and have room to grow

 

[RetiredChief]

First off - YES a 120/128 Gig is OK. My systems (2 desktops and 2 laptops) all have an SSD for OS +Programs and on average uses about 40 gigs. Have 10 SSDs no problems todate. The Samsung 830 or Curcial M4 would be an excellent choice. I normally highly recommend SSDs.

However, in your case I have some reservations.
1) Most users on this forum are gamers or into video editing. Very few are "causual users" who simply use the computer for Internet/email/watching video.
2) With the exception of laptops, the vast majority of Desktops here are setup with the SSD as a OS + program drive and a HDD for storage. And often High write volume is directed to the HDD.
3) MLC SSDs do have a write cycle limitation that in most cases will result in Long life. SSDs employ a "wear leaveling" algorthum that attempts to equallize the write cycles per cell. With a single SSD and if the drive ends up close to the 90% fill then the ability to equallize these writes is impaired, which could cause some cells to "die" much earilier than others - this then creates a condition that is cumulative in nature (like a degenerative disease).
4) My Son designed and sells a "box" that goes into a TV that allows for internet, email, streaming video (a computer). Units with SSDs have a much higher failure rate than units using a conventional HDD.

My Bottom line: In this case the SSD will ONLY improve boot time and loading a program and NOT improve watching the video, reading email, and surfing the web. If single drive, recommend a "good" HDD (Not one of the "green or Blue models). If can afford, a small say 80 -128 Gig SSD for OS + Programs coupled with a small HDD for downloads (the streaming video).

 

[amuffin]

First off - YES a 120/128 Gig is OK. My systems (2 desktops and 2 laptops) all have an SSD for OS +Programs and on average uses about 40 gigs. Have 10 SSDs no problems todate. The Samsung 830 or Curcial M4 would be an excellent choice. I normally highly recommend SSDs.

However, in your case I have some reservations.
1) Most users on this forum are gamers or into video editing. Very few are "causual users" who simply use the computer for Internet/email/watching video.
2) With the exception of laptops, the vast majority of Desktops here are setup with the SSD as a OS + program drive and a HDD for storage. And often High write volume is directed to the HDD.
3) MLC SSDs do have a write cycle limitation that in most cases will result in Long life. SSDs employ a "wear leaveling" algorthum that attempts to equallize the write cycles per cell. With a single SSD and if the drive ends up close to the 90% fill then the ability to equallize these writes is impaired, which could cause some cells to "die" much earilier than others - this then creates a condition that is cumulative in nature (like a degenerative disease).
4) My Son designed and sells a "box" that goes into a TV that allows for internet, email, streaming video (a computer). Units with SSDs have a much higher failure rate than units using a conventional HDD.

My Bottom line: In this case the SSD will ONLY improve boot time and loading a program and NOT improve watching the video, reading email, and surfing the web. If single drive, recommend a "good" HDD (Not one of the "green or Blue models). If can afford, a small say 80 -128 Gig SSD for OS + Programs coupled with a small HDD for downloads (the streaming video).

Do you know if the os would keep writing files if she was just watching movies? Do you know what the average life time of an ssd is?

 

[RetiredChief]

1) life. Advertised, based on calculations, 10 - 20 years with a relative high daily write.
The problem with this is that it is based on each cell being writen to the same number of times - never happen. For example your OS + programs for the most part are just read and that is about 15->20 gigs. All the writes will be to the remainder.

2) No user data, ie no one has operated a "sata III" SSD for exteneded period, and with High write cycles. Most users for desktops tend to reduce the write cycles, and the oldest Sata III SSD is the Curcial c300 (I thinK) and Have not heard of problems on this forum.

3) As previouely stated, SSD used in computer installed in TV had a much higher failure rate and My son discontinuted using them. There was one poster On this forum that indicated that the company he worked at also had a high failure rate and that was for the "Most Reliable" SSD an Intel G2.

4) Watching movies that are streamed from the internet in most cases would first be stored on the Drive (most likely a temp file), then played. As Stated, if wear leveling was perfect - No problem the SSD would last well past the 5 year point. As Long as you did not go over the 80-85% fill point.

Bottom line: I love SSDs and Normally highly recommend them. In your case I'm not sure that that is the best recommendation. As stated only real benifit is in boot time and program load times. Will not effect play back as, not time to "store" on drive. (A) HDD plenty fast enough to play back 1080 P Blu-ray - It's faster than a Blu-ray player!. (B) download time is slower than the time required to store on the HDD. IE My cox cable box can simutainouely stor a Movie on the HDD while it is storing a 2nd movie that is also being watch. DVRs first store a "program" on to the HDD, then sent to TV (Reason is so you can pause/FWD/Reverse the program being watched.

As I said, I would not trade my SSDs for an Old HDD - But Boot time and program load times are important to me. In Your case, watching the move will be no different from an SSD or a HDD> The HDD is cheaper and larger. SSD in your case is of limited value.

Hope this explains my position.

 

[amuffin]

Best answer selected by amuffin.

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey