Optimal storage upgrade

[Kaarel_K]

Hi

I am currently using a Seagate 1TB SSHD but I feel the performance could be better.
What would be the optimal upgrade?
I use this PC for gaming and day to day internet browsing.
Get another SSHD and RAID them?
Buy an ssd for os and load games from SSHD? Will the SSHD load stuff faster if some programs no longer run from it?
Any other ideas?

 

[boju]

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2012223/hybrid-hard-drives-how-they-work-and-why-they-matter.html

SSHDs are cheaper and can benefit SSD speeds from the programs you frequent most as they're stored intelligently in the SSD cache.

Having an SSHD as an only storage device would nullify the SSD aspect of the drive as it wouldn't know properly what is used often. There is only a small portion of the HDD with SSD cache and that area the inside chip decides what to put there, it wont really be efficient as a storage drive.

Simplest and easiest way is IMO, a 500GB or 1TB SSD (Samsung) and 2TB HDD for storage/internet downloads. Will always have SSD speeds no matter what and not dependent on SSHD schemes.

Wouldn't hurt to keep your SSHDs as storage though for sake of not buying another storage hdd.

 

[Kaarel_K]

I am sure it would perform better but I have no need of downloads drive that big. Also an ssd that big will likely be very expensive.

 

[boju]

If money wasn't a problem, maybe. There are smaller versions of course to suit your needs and affordability.

Could have a SSHD Raid setup, nothing wrong with that - will certainly give you doubled the extra SSD cache, but again theres no certainty you'll get the benefit in games compared to an actual SSD.

SSD capacity doesn't have to be 500/1000GB, maybe 250GB< will do you. You're a gamer and asked for other ideas and i gave you one, it might cost you twice as much as your SSHD, and games are getting into the 50GB+ nowadays, wont be long till you need to swap and uninstall games between hdds.

 

[Kaarel_K]

All options have pros and cons it seems.
If I get an SSD, will I get any extra speed on my secondary drive as it now has "less work to do"?
How much of a performance boost will RAID SSHD get? Is it cost effective?
What would be the optimal way to transfer os and a few other programs to an SSD?

 

[boju]

1) Only way the SSHD SSD cache will get any use is if something is used from that drive frequently, ie; game from steam installed on that drive you play often.

2) Wont notice much increase in terms of seek times with two SSD cache in RAID (same with RAID SSD drives - only good for benchmarks numbers) albeit the cache size will be larger and the SSHD will make use of more frequent programs. Also the conventional side of the HDD will be much faster in RAID just like any normal HDD in RAID.

3) I would advise against cloning to an SSD because it's not at all optimized. Windows will most likely treat it like a platter drive. If you clone to the SSD you risk not only losing performance, but causing damage that can only be repaired by securely erasing the drive.

Just install Windows to the drive as normal

 

[Kaarel_K]

Ok thanks.
Looks like the SSD is a way to go. I just need to save up some money. Would two SSD-s in RAID 0 make more sense than one large SSD?

 

[boju]

Only if you can save a considerable amount.

Here's an article on the matter:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-raid-benchmark,3485.html