Should i get a SSD?

[starburst]

I am looking to build a $1100 computer, and i am deciding weather to get a ssd or not. I have all the parts i need and i really only have room for a $50-$70 ssd which means less storage. As far as i know the only reason to get one is for a faster boot time and faster loading screens on games. I could go for both of those, but for $60 i think ill wait a few more seconds for booting windows 7 or loading a screen on my game. Even though there are a few games i have played where i really would like to cut down my 10 minute loading screen, if a $60 one is not worth it, then i will skip out on it.

 

[tomatthe]

Those two items are fairly minor in terms of what running from an ssd will give you. Basically the entire computer will feel much quicker. Opening programs, switching programs, installing programs, pretty much everything that you use a computer for will be faster if running from an ssd. Without knowing the build setup, its difficult to say much about it, but maybe post the build and someone could look at a reasonable cost savings to get you to a 120g ssd

 

[starburst]

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

Hard drive (will downgrade to a 500gb if i get a ssd): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161405

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171052

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428

CPU MB combo deal: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.975453

I wanna keep a good gaming computer that can play most games on higher settings.

 

[tomatthe]

Hopefully some others will chime in here, but I can't see using that system without an ssd. You could upgrade later, but I would really suggest going with a 128g ssd and saving for more storage later.

 

[urbanrider]

After building a couple computers with SSD I would never build one with out. Your whole computing experience will feel snappier. If at all possible try and get a SSD that will fit your OS and day to day programs

If you can stretch your budget 30$ this drive is 50$ off right now
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226236

Or at 80$ (25$ off) off this is a great drive for OS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148441

 

[starburst]

so how much storage is necessary? the more storage the faster?

I'll be using windows 7 premium 64bit.

 

[unksol]

so how much storage is necessary? the more storage the faster?

I'll be using windows 7 premium 64bit.

Its not the more storage the faster technically. but the speed improvement only affects the programs that are installed on it. 120GB is pretty much the minimum... but your going to becswapping games off and on constantly.

Quite frankly they seem extremely overrated to me. Use sleep mode. your computer wakes up instantly. your programs are already loaded. A few seconds of load time and feeling "snappy" are.kinda silly things to worry about unless you're CONSTANTLY launching and closing programs. there's no need for that with 8 gigs of memory. the only place I really wish I had one is my work laptop. my desktop/gaming system has zero need for one.

 

[urbanrider]

so how much storage is necessary? the more storage the faster?

I'll be using windows 7 premium 64bit.

Microsoft says 20gb minimum for windows 7 64bit, then some space for programs and general use. So I wouldn't got smaller than 64gb, but if at all possible try and get something in the 120gb range. Then you'll be able to keep some games and some other larger programs on there no problem and your whole machine will fly.

Im not sure how the size of the drive affects the SSD, but i think the actual components of the SSD play more of a role.

FYI: Tomshardware SSD Hierarchy chart

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-review-benchmark,3139-6.html

 

[RetiredChief]

First, all my systems have SSDs, love them!!!
I'm not a gamer and typical installation on my for systems is around 35 Gigs.
If planning on putting games on the SSD in addition to typical programs I do not recommend 60/64 gig SSDs, SAVE mony for a larger one and add at a later date.
You will find down stream that you wish you had bought the large and although not a total waste of mony, it would go a long way toward the larger size.
My recommendation is to catch the Curcial M4 on sale, lately it's been hitting around a $100 on sale.

What the SSD does:
.. Speed up boot time considerably - BUT how often do yo boot/reboot.
.. Programs will load much faster, But for small footprint programs not a iggy, only notice it on large programs.
.. Files will load faster, ie that largespreed sheet, or that map for games that are required while playing - This is a biggy for gamers.
What it will not do:
.. Programs will NOT run faster
.. Games will NOT see an increase in FPS
.. Files called for by programs that are on HDD, quessed it - NO improvement.

Now, a little more on size. I'll use the 64 gig as an example.
1st must subtract 4 gigs, Fact of life, manuf use decimial for counting - computers use power of 2
2nd Must leave a MINIMUM of 10 percent free, so that wear leveling, Garbage Collection, and Trim can work ther Magic - Loss 6 gigs.
Bottom Line is that 64 gig is Now down to 54 gigs. A 60 gig would be about 50 gigs usable. NOTE I used 10 %, some recommend 15% left free

My 35 gigs is AFTER appling space saving tweaks such as:
.. Disable hybernation - save an mount equal to ram, so for 8 gig system saves 8 gigs
.. Manage swap file (virtual Memory). Windows by defaul will use about 1 1/2 time ram for page file. You can set min and max to same value (I set mine to 1024 mbs) this save about 11 gigs (for system with 8 Gigs).
.. Reduce size that restore points can take, or disable restore points. This directory can be quit large if unmanaged.

 

[starburst]

Alright, so i read on what you guys recommended and i found a 320gb hdd- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236079
and i looked into the sdd urbanrider found at a good price. 128gb sdd- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226236&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=4176827&SID=1v8zktcjz5vhp

Together they cost 164.98. Right around what i wanted to spend.

Will the hard drive speed matter now since i am using all my high end apps, programs, games, and that booting the system on the ssd?

 

[TokyoTom]

I think RetiredChief summed things up pretty well.

I have the Crucial M4 drive he recommended and I am very happy with it, but if you are on a tight budget and need to save some cash you will do fine without the SSD. However, given that you are going with a nice new i5 and a 7000 series GPU, it doesn't look like you are that strapped for cash.

If you've never had an SSD you will probably be just as happy with your standard HDD. It's only after you get used to the "snappy" feel of the SSD that you start to become dissatisfied with the performance of a HDD.

I've got a decent PC at work with a modern i3 processor but it feels a little sluggish compared with my computer at home. A bit sluggish but it totally gets the job done.

If you reboot often, need to start up programs quickly or often handle large files then you won't regret moving to an SSD. If your PC is mainly used for entertainment purposes you can pocket that $100-120 bucks and spend it on a few games.

 

[TokyoTom]

Sorry, Starburst, it looks like you decided to go with the SSD before I got a chance to finish typing my post.

It's still nice to have a fast HDD even if you are using an SSD. You will fill up that 128 GB drive very quickly and will soon be swapping games between the SSD and HDD.

I think I might look for a HDD with a larger capacity in that price range though.

 

[RetiredChief]

That Muchkins is at a good price point, Personnally I'd wait and catch the M4 on sale for $100->$110.

1) First off, that SSD will still run circles around a HDD. That's the good.
2)The Not so good. The Muchkins enhansed is very simular to the Agillity III (which I also have). These two SSDs use async NAND chips. Becuse of this I like to refer to them as a SATA II SSD in a SATA III Dress. Reason. They perfor JUST as well on a SATA II port as they do on a SATAIII port. this was documented in a review and I verified usin My agility III in my i5-2500k system.

Bottom line is if you wait a couple of weeks and keep checking, for only $10 more you can get a REAL sata III SSD. SUBSCRIBE to newegg weekly deals, they often email sales with extra off.

 

[starburst]

Alright, so i did find a hdd also made by WD $5 more expensive with 64mb cache. I tried finding the RPM, but it says IntelliPower. What does that mean? and will this be fast enough?

 

[RetiredChief]

1) DO NOT get tied up on SATA III HDDs, they are NO faster than a SATA II HDD. and "cache" size be it 32 MB or 64 mbs Not an issue. The difference in performance only shows up in Benchmarks.
.. A mechanical HDD does not come close to saturating a SATA II interface, the ONLY benifit of a SATA III HDD on SATA III is in an initial burst speed.
Performance is primarily determined By:
A) RPMs - Ofcoarse.
B) platter density, Higher magnetic domain density means short lenght of a sector, so will be read faster.
c) The size. Data that is in the outer tracks have a higher throughput. With a larger size the amount of data in say the outer 20% of the platter is greater.

My preference for HDDs is WD blacks, and Samsung F3 - Just bought 2 SATA II Samsung F3 1 TB drives from Newegg a couple of weeks ago for 80 bucks each.

When selecting a HDD, even if you do not buy it from Newegg at least look the drive up on newegg: look at reviews.
1) do not buy a HDD that shows less than 30 reviews.
2) Look at the 1/2 egg percentages, If High, RUN AWAY and select a different one.
Some of the WD green and blue models and most segate have terable ratings (1/2 egg %ages.

 

[starburst]

I appreciate it guys, i have decide to do a later upgrade to a ssd maybe a few months after i get my pc. If it weren't for the price crunch, then i would have diffidently gotten one.

 

[starburst]

Best answer selected by starburst.