so it's time for me to upgrade my system (in my signature), though it's only a couple months old, there are a few things that i would like to have. need more storage, and a cpu cooler. i figured i would ask the like-minded folks on Tom's before i order. for storage upgrade i am torn between the Samsung XP941 (m.2 socket at PCIe 2.0x4) or another 250 GB SSD at raid 0.
i currently have a single 840 evo 250 GB drive that i use for windows, as well as any applications or games that i run. unfortunately, it filled faster than i expected it would, and i am in need of an upgrade. i still have a 1 TB hard drive for media and files i do not wish to lose, so the failure of the raid configuration is not an issue (i have a bootable partition to fall back on if needed).
so do i just add another 250 GB and configure a raid, re-install everything, etc. or do i get the m.2 and use it only for OS and apps, then use the existing SSD for games. the XP941 is one of the only drives that supports PCIe 2.0 x4 (they have a 951 coming out that is 3.0) and the Extreme6 is one of the few boards that supports these speeds on an M.2 socket, so it seems like a waste to me to not utilize this technology. this will, however, occupy 4 lanes which brings my GPU to x8 (i've read that there is a minimal difference), and disable the possibility of SLI in the future (my thoughts are by the time a single GTX970 is not able to handle 1080p, i'll need an entirely new upgrade).
so when you take away any concerns of failure\future upgrades, you are left with price\performance\capacity. they are equally priced (within $10) so that's not an issue. the theoretical bandwidth is 20 gbps (PCIe 2.0 x4) vs 12 gbps? (sata 3 x 2 for the raid 0), so win for the M.2 there. the capacity difference is 128GB vs another 250 GB so that's a win for the sata 3. so it's 1-1 in my book. i need a tie breaker. i was going to go with the XP941, just because i want to use what i have to the best capacity.
and for the CPU cooler, i was thinking Corsair H105. hopefully it will be compatible with my case as a top mount (don't foresee an issue there). corsair has a huge line of liquid coolers, and most of them are highly regarded and recommended. i was set on the H100i, but found the H105 on sale, and about the same price but with a thicker radiator, so i assume better cooler as well. anything is better than this crappy stock cooler, and i can't wait to start toying with overclocking.
so the price really isn't the determining factor here, i just want to make sure i am getting the most for my money.
any thoughts, concerns, suggestions, etc are greatly appreciated.
i currently have a single 840 evo 250 GB drive that i use for windows, as well as any applications or games that i run. unfortunately, it filled faster than i expected it would, and i am in need of an upgrade. i still have a 1 TB hard drive for media and files i do not wish to lose, so the failure of the raid configuration is not an issue (i have a bootable partition to fall back on if needed).
so do i just add another 250 GB and configure a raid, re-install everything, etc. or do i get the m.2 and use it only for OS and apps, then use the existing SSD for games. the XP941 is one of the only drives that supports PCIe 2.0 x4 (they have a 951 coming out that is 3.0) and the Extreme6 is one of the few boards that supports these speeds on an M.2 socket, so it seems like a waste to me to not utilize this technology. this will, however, occupy 4 lanes which brings my GPU to x8 (i've read that there is a minimal difference), and disable the possibility of SLI in the future (my thoughts are by the time a single GTX970 is not able to handle 1080p, i'll need an entirely new upgrade).
so when you take away any concerns of failure\future upgrades, you are left with price\performance\capacity. they are equally priced (within $10) so that's not an issue. the theoretical bandwidth is 20 gbps (PCIe 2.0 x4) vs 12 gbps? (sata 3 x 2 for the raid 0), so win for the M.2 there. the capacity difference is 128GB vs another 250 GB so that's a win for the sata 3. so it's 1-1 in my book. i need a tie breaker. i was going to go with the XP941, just because i want to use what i have to the best capacity.
and for the CPU cooler, i was thinking Corsair H105. hopefully it will be compatible with my case as a top mount (don't foresee an issue there). corsair has a huge line of liquid coolers, and most of them are highly regarded and recommended. i was set on the H100i, but found the H105 on sale, and about the same price but with a thicker radiator, so i assume better cooler as well. anything is better than this crappy stock cooler, and i can't wait to start toying with overclocking.
so the price really isn't the determining factor here, i just want to make sure i am getting the most for my money.
any thoughts, concerns, suggestions, etc are greatly appreciated.