SDD and HDD questions

[StarCrasher]

Hello everyone,

I recently built a system with an i7 2600K, ASUS P8Z68-V mobo, Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit, an OCZ Agility 120GB SSD primary OS drive and a WD 1TB 7200RPM HHD secondary for data storage.

At first I was thinking of using the SSD for caching (I actually chose the Z68 mobo for that) but then read that with 120GBs it would be best to just use that as a primary boot drive and install Windows and all my programs (that fit) onto it.

But by the time I decided to do this it was too late and I already installed Windows and all my programs on the HDD. So today I did a clean install and all my programs on the SDD. No big deal.

So now I’m wondering . . .

1. Would there be any reason to keep Windows 7 installed on the HDD (along with all the programs previously installed with that instance) in a primary partition with all my files stored in a logical partition using the remaining space?

2. If my SDD runs out of room to install programs on (which may or may not happen) should I create a partition on the HDD just for them or can it go with another partition? If so, a primary, or logical? If so, do I just create folders named something like ‘Programs 64bit’ and Programs 32bit’ and save them there when installing?

3. Out of curiosity I tried running some programs off the HDD (went into Program Files and clicked on the app) when booted by the SDD, and some worked, and some didn’t. Why is that? Is it important to install them with the instance of OS you’re currently running?

 

[RetiredChief]

Quick question, When you installed win7 on SSD, did you have the HDD disconnected - Normally recommend.

(1) If your SSD is runing fine, Yes Not much reason to maintain a duplicate on HDD.

(2) Yes you can redirect most programs to install on a 2nd HDD. I just have a folder on My D drive called program files and when the program asked where to install just change the path.

(3) Generally programs installed on operating system 1 do not run under operating system 2 and vesa versa if the program relies on entries in the registry. Programs that do NOT relie on entries in the registry should run: These are in the minority.

Recommend if you have not already done so that you disable hibernation, From uSoft:

To make hibernation unavailable, follow these steps:
1.Click Start, and then type cmd in the Start Search box.
2.In the search results list, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as Administrator.
3.When you are prompted by User Account Control, click Continue.
4.At the command prompt, type powercfg.exe /hibernate off, and then press ENTER.
5.Type exit and then press ENTER to close the Command Prompt window.

To make hibernation available, follow these steps:
1.Click Start, and then type cmd in the Start Search box.
2.In the search results list, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as Administrator.
3.When you are prompted by User Account Control, click Continue.
4.At the command prompt, type powercfg.exe /hibernate on, and then press ENTER.
5.Type exit and then press ENTER to close the Command Prompt window.

 

[StarCrasher]

Thank you very much.

Yes the HDD was disconnected when I installed on the SDD.

I will disable hibernation and delete the duplicate on the HDD now. Cheers!

 

[AdrianPerry]

Since you have a 120GB SSD i believe this is a possible option:

Partition your SSD into 2 60GB parts. Use the first half for your OS and some regularly used applications then you can use the 2nd partition for SSD caching.

This way you get the best speed for your OS and apps, and you can also make use of SSD caching for whatever the motherboard believes is most used and adds to the cache.

I might be wrong and there may be some limiting factor here, but this on paper, seems the best set up for a 120GB SSD + Z68 motherboard.

 

[RetiredChief]

^ There was a thread that discussed this concept a week or two ago, will see if I can find it.

Just My take.
While it sounds good, I think it is one that sounds good on paper but in practice is not that great.

(1) Only time will tell if the drive can hold up to the activity caused by caching – It should, but is a question. Intel’s drive (the 310) which is designed for this is SLC, not an MLC drive.
(2) The battle between the algorthium picking which files to cached verses Loading the one that You know you want.
(3) Duplication, you already have the operating system and your programs in SSD, How many of those files will be duplicated in the cache, probably a good number of them.

 

[AdrianPerry]

^ There was a thread that discussed this concept a week or two ago, will see if I can find it.

Just My take.
While it sounds good, I think it is one that sounds good on paper but in practice is not that great.

(1) Only time will tell if the drive can hold up to the activity caused by caching – It should, but is a question. Intel’s drive (the 310) which is designed for this is SLC, not an MLC drive.
(2) The battle between the algorthium picking which files to cached verses Loading the one that You know you want.
(3) Duplication, you already have the operating system and your programs in SSD, How many of those files will be duplicated in the cache, probably a good number of them.

Ah so I wasn't totally off the mark

I hadn't considered your third point though. As you said there's a good chance that alot of the programs you purposely add to the SSD because you know you use them regularly, the SSD cache will more than likely try to add them as well resulting in only wasted space, and most probably duplicates/conflicts/reduction in speed.