[SOLVED] SSD or SSHD for main storage

[teukuauliarc]

My current drive 128GB SSD for OS. Which one is better for main storage? SSHD or SSD?

 

[R_1]

SSD, then SSHD, then HDD.
SSD is the best choice, then SSHD, then HDD as last.

 

[Solandri]

SSDs provide SSD speed for everything.

SSHDs provide SSD speed only for repeated reads. And generally only for small files which are repeatedly read. Small files are what HDDs are slowest at, so this maximizes the effectiveness of the NAND cache (both in terms of speed and space). SSHDs operate at HDD speeds for reading large files, first-time reads, and all writes. This makes them act like a SSD when starting Windows and programs, but like a HDD for everything else.

I only recommend a SSHD if you're installing it in a device (e.g. laptop) which doesn't have enough space or connectors for both a SSD + HDD, and you need more capacity than you can afford with a SSD.

 

[jwcrellin]

Since you already have a ssd for a boot drive, why not save some money and get a 4TB HDD for mass storage? SSHD's are twice as expensive as HDD's at the same capacity.

 

[jaguarskx]

Since you already have a ssd for a boot drive, why not save some money and get a 4TB HDD for mass storage? SSHD's are twice as expensive as HDD's at the same capacity.

4TB 2.5" HDD are 15mm thick. The vast majority of laptops only have drive bays that can accommodate 7mm / 9.5mm thick hard drives. Therefore, a 4TB 2.5" HDD would need to be installed in an external enclosure. The largest capacity HDD a normal laptop can accommodate is 2TB.

 

[jaguarskx]

My current drive 128GB SSD for OS. Which one is better for main storage? SSHD or SSD?

It generally depends on what is going to be stored in the "main storage".

SSHD can be faster than HDD, but only if the files needed to be access are in the SSD cache. If not then they need to be read off the HDD itself. It is the SSHD controller which attempts to predict what files should be placed in the SSD cache.

For media files (music and videos), there is no point for a SSHD since typically only one file is playback at any single time and it is not like you are likely to repeated play the same file over and over and over again to the point when the SSHD decides to place the file in the SSD cache... at least until it decides to replace with something different.

If you are storing games, then it would probably be worth having a SSHD since games must load a lot of different files. If that happens a lot then the SSDHD can attempt to predicate what files are used often and would make sense to load them into the SSD cache for much quicker access later.

 

[seagate_surfer]

teukuauliarc, believe your question was answered but here is some more info in case you were interested. This is more for learning purposes. More info on the SSHD.