30GB SSD large enough for Windows 7 64?

unknown · 27 Mar 2010

I want to make the move to SSD on my notebook. However, I am researching and seeing that a 30GB SSD may be to small for Windows 7 64 bit Home Premium especially with future windows updates. I am trying to reduce my current Windows 7 64 install on my original 320GB drive to see how small of a footprint I can accomplish, but I end up only reducing the install to 32GB after all the tips I've read out there.

I have uninstalled everything I can think of and turned of system restore. Any other tips and/or advice is much appreciated. Thank you!

FZ21Z · 27 Mar 2010

unknown said:

Any other tips and/or advice is much appreciated. Thank you!

Hi.

You could use a program like VLite to remove additional Windows components, but I would think 30GB is still too small.

Zen00 · 27 Mar 2010

A fresh install of Windows 7 64-bit will be under 12GB in size. You can save even more by turning of hibernation.

30GB is a bit cramped though, you'll want 64GB or so really. Buy a Kingston SSD Now.

unknown · 27 Mar 2010

FZ21Z said:

unknown said:

Any other tips and/or advice is much appreciated. Thank you!

Hi.

You could use a program like VLite to remove additional Windows components, but I would think 30GB is still too small.

Interesting, I did not know of Vlite. I am trying it out now. Thanks for the quick reply!

tw33k · 27 Mar 2010

I have to say that even using vlite, 30gb is too close for comfort IMO. I'm of the view that an ssd needs a good bit of free space to perform optimally. I also don't agree with installing programs on a different drive or even partition to the os and as such, in my view, 30gb is too small.

dnorris · 27 Mar 2010

FWIW, on my 64 GB SSD, I normally have 13 GB free.

FZ21Z · 27 Mar 2010

tw33k said:

I'm of the view that an ssd needs a good bit of free space to perform optimally.

Doesn't that count for all drives? I've always had it in my head that you need to leave 20GB or 15% of the drive free to run optimally.

whs · 27 Mar 2010

30GB is ample for the OS. Mine runs at 17 to 18GB with hibernation off and page file on. And I have a LOT of programs installed. However, on a laptop you also need room for data - and then 30GB may be too tight. I would recommend the 80GB Intel for a laptop ( I am just about to install that on one of my laptops). And I am not an Intel fan because I als have OCZ. Btw: the 60GB OCZ is faster than the 30GB OCZ (both Vertex). The OCZ 60GB Vertex Turbo is currently on sale for $169 (with MIR). It is usually $299 - but hurry, only 3 more days.
Newegg.com - OCZ Vertex Turbo OCZSSD2-1VTXT60G 2.5" 60GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) - SSD

Zen00 · 27 Mar 2010

FZ21Z said:

tw33k said:

I'm of the view that an ssd needs a good bit of free space to perform optimally.

Doesn't that count for all drives? I've always had it in my head that you need to leave 20GB or 15% of the drive free to run optimally.

This is more true for a mechanical hard drive than an SSD. A mechanical hard drive relies on the spinning disk to bring data to the head. These drives write from inside to out, and the further from the center you get, the longer the access times are as it takes longer for the disk to spin to the head.

For an SSD this is a non-issue, I don't know how much of a difference there is between a full and half-full drive, but it's not much.

tw33k · 29 Mar 2010

Zen00 said:

FZ21Z said:

tw33k said:

I'm of the view that an ssd needs a good bit of free space to perform optimally.

Doesn't that count for all drives? I've always had it in my head that you need to leave 20GB or 15% of the drive free to run optimally.

This is more true for a mechanical hard drive than an SSD. A mechanical hard drive relies on the spinning disk to bring data to the head. These drives write from inside to out, and the further from the center you get, the longer the access times are as it takes longer for the disk to spin to the head.

For an SSD this is a non-issue, I don't know how much of a difference there is between a full and half-full drive, but it's not much.

It's definately NOT a non-issue for SSDs. Performance degradation is minimised with TRIM however it is a factor to consider.

This is a great article you may find interesting...SSD performance -- is a slowdown inevitable? - Intel, nand, solid state drives, storage - Techworld
there should be an update to this soon :)