Best SSD(solid state drive) for Windows7

[Charlie9292]

What's the best way to use one of these? Run the OS from it and run programs from it then use a regular drive for storage? Is this the best way to do it?

YES -- and -- YES

See my post here for OCZ Vertex 30G install on Win 7 w/D: drive for storage

http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/24142-installed-30g-solid-state-drive-win-7-rtm.html

I have the 60GB Vertex. I thought that 30GB would be too small once you start installing Programs, have an ever growing winsxs and some shadowstorage too. I am sure, 30GB is fine for the initial installation, but what about down the road?

Well, theoretically one can "fill-up" any size hdd or ssd thus in hindsight rendering it "too small." With my customary apps and the Win 7 Ultimate OS my 30G ssd is 47% full. I expect it to be ample in size for some time and if not I could upgrade if needed. Frankly I do not expect to need the full 30G for my OS and Program Files EVER. For $119 (after OCZ rebate) and considering the system wide speed-up it is a value I could not pass up. I recently purchased a 1TB hdd and so the SSD with OS and Progarm Files only on it was a no-brainer. My original system hdd (a 320G Seagate) found a new home in my wife's pc as a 2nd hdd 'storage drive.'

 

[Nosmo]

I think the choice of an SSD purchase can be helped along by the support offered.

This new technology is going to prompt many questions from potential SSD users.
Raid, Sata, ACHI, Trim,Wipe, Sanitary Erase, Partition Alignment, DiskPar and DiskPart
to name a few.

I was fortunate to find the OCZ web site forum which has been a fantastic help and souce of advice.

Do your homework, and you will love these new SSD's.

Generation 2 SSD Vertex, Vertex EX, and Summit on Windows - OCZ Forum

No connection to OCZ, just a satisfied customer.

 

[Charlie9292]

I 2nd that. The OCZ Forums are quite helpful and there is a lot of feedback from OCZ reps as well. Initially my mind was boggled at many of the terms mentioned in the above post. What really helped to clear the air for me and allow me to proceed with purchase and installation was the fact that with a Win 7 clean install on any brand of SSD the OS takes care of 99% of those former concerns. I did just that and with ATTO got 96% of the advertised speed specifications. This observation has been the consensus as well on the OCZ forums,MS Knowledge Base as well as MS Tech Net Forums. Sail on SSD...sail on!!!!!!!

 

[pparks1]

I have the 60GB Vertex. I thought that 30GB would be too small once you start installing Programs, have an ever growing winsxs and some shadowstorage too. I am sure, 30GB is fine for the initial installation, but what about down the road?

Disk space usage is always interesting. I think that for many people, they tend to illegally obtain lots of software and really like to experiment and clutter up their machine with stuff and for these people...they always just need more and more.

For others, like myself, i tend to really only install what I need and I don't download or install apps just for the sake of having them on my machine. For example, if I want to edit a picture file...I'll just use paint.net as it's extremely small and gets the job done. Others however will go out and grab Adobe Photoshop and use that instead since it's what "all the graphics pros use"....when in reality the app is far more then they will ever need. Now granted, I realize that some people do have a need to either learn a specific package or need some of the additional features....but there are many who do not.

 

[Charlie9292]

Disk space usage is always interesting. I think that for many people, they tend to illegally obtain lots of software and really like to experiment and clutter up their machine with stuff and for these people...they always just need more and more.

What? :shock: Huh? At the risk of sounding confrontational , how in the world do you know "...that for many people, they tend to illegally obtain lots of software....they always just need more and more."

I recently purchased a 1TB hdd not to hold any 'illegally obtained software' but to hold and store all our snapshot images, mp3's (purchased at Amazon) hundreds of home videos and backup images of my system drive. All of those combined account for hundreds of gigabytes of storage space..and growing.

On a friendlier note.... I have installed the freeware Paint.Net and have run it side by side with my purchased Paintshop Pro 7.04. I am not going to accuse anyone of anything ..... but Paint.Net is very, very similar to PSP 7. Hmm...I suppose it is still true that 'You get what you pay for"

 

[pparks1]

Not confrontational at all. Probably a strange statement that I cannot effectively back up with proof. But I often find trolling forums and visiting friends, those with smaller SSD drives for OS and apps who usually are low on space often seem to have a rather large collection of commercial software apps...many of which I'm sure might have been obtained in legal means. Clearly, the person may just have a number of games or software they are entitled for.

I think for many though, if they watch their OS drive and keep it just for software they need....a 60/80/128 GB drive is more than likely going to suffice. Keep a second storage drive for backups, music and video files, etc. And I think more people here are legal in the software that they run...so I believe these smaller drives will provide adequate space and exceptional speeds for their needs.

 

[fseal]

I'd fill up a 30 gig in the fist week of use

Years ago I got a 70 gig high performance primary drive and used larger slower drives for file storage. After 2-3 years of installing programs and tools (all legal) but very little user data, I found myself against the wall with that drive.

I use my computer for a LOT of things though, development (those SDKs take up a lot of room), video, music production, graphics etc. Not too many games but when a single game like Wolfenstein takes up 6 gig and you want your fast load times so it has to be on the SSD...

Anyway, I found the smaller 60-80 gig drive size just too small. 120 I think would work well for someone like me, though I went for the 160.

 

[pparks1]

I wanted to go a bit larger than 80 myself...but wanted to keep my price at a very reasonable level. I considered the Patriot for $340 at 128GB.....but couldn't turn down the performance of the Intel at $249. If I find I love that Intel, maybe I'll pick up another and RAID 0 them together.

 

[pparks1]

Well, the Intel X-25M Gen 2 that I ordered from Toshiba direct might take a lot longer to receive than expected. It showed that it was in stock when I ordered it 5 days ago....but now it is showing "out of stock" with an estimated shipping time of 8 to 9 weeks..... I called them tonight and they thought they might be getting some more this weekend on 9/18 and potentially another order on 9/30. But they are unable to be certain on that. So yeah, this sucks.

Edit: I cancelled the order with Toshiba and got the drive instead from mwave for $289. Although it cost $30 more, shipping was cheaper and it didn't include sales tax charges...so my net result is only about $15 more and I'll have it this week.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

No comparo would be complete without looking at the Crucial Real SSD C350, it's a Sata III MLC unit and it's the one I'll be purchasing with luck. I summed up all my programs along with 7 ult. and a 64 gb will be overkill and at $144 seems reasonable if I can find one, no small feat ! If money is no object then shop for the balls to the wall SLC's with Sata III but be ready to spend $500-$1,000 depending on capacity. Or wait, as with all things computer they will improve and prices will fall. O hell give in to temptation and spurn this dead economy a little.......do it......you know you want to !