SSD in a Media Center PC?

[HAVOC]

Once I finally work the bugs out of my HTPC I was thinking about installing a SSD. Right now I have 4 1TB Western Digital Black HDD's in it.

Would a SSD be good in a HTPC? If I have a couple tabs open in IE and I open Windows Media Center and browse the menus, sometimes the mouse pointer will be slow to react. I have an Intel i3 CPU and 8GB of memory.

 

[PSCO2007]

An SSD is absolutely the best investment you can make.

Your boot times and speed on The Net will increase dramatically.

Put your OS and programs on the SSD and everything else (Docs, pics, files ,etc) on a separate HDD.

Here's a suggestion: Amazon.com: Samsung Electronics MZ-7PD128BW 840 Pro Series 2.5-Inch 128GB SATA 6Gbps Solid State Drive: Computers & Accessories

Good luck

 

[smarteyeball]

speed on The Net will increase dramatically.

Ah, no. Not really mate. It will certainly open the browser faster, but actual net speed will remain the same. Once a browser and tabs are open, they reside in RAM.

But yes an SSD will improve responsiveness when multi tasking. The whole OS will benefit from improved 'snappiness' being on a SSD.

 

[HAVOC]

It's not in IE that I'm having an issue. If I'm in WMC the mouse pointer is very slow. But this happens randomly, maybe background tasks are also happening?

I'll be looking for a SSD. Hopefully I can get it at a local store as I'd like to install it on Saturday when I have the case open to fix some other issues.

Are Kingston SSD's any good?

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Well as long as you don't expect the ssd to cure the mouse pointer issue. Kingston is good brand of ssd as is Crucial, Samsung, Intel and Corsair. Look for a huge speed increase in boot and close speeds, all programs will launch in a blink but once open they will respond the same.

 

[smarteyeball]

If I'm in WMC the mouse pointer is very slow. But this happens randomly, maybe background tasks are also happening?

As an eduguess, yes. If the HDD light is solid/flickering constantly, then it's a fair bet that there are some processes at work. It depends on what though. Watching task manager/resource monitor of HDD activity will help pinpoint what the culprit is.

If you are recording live TV then high HDD activity is to be expected as is the lag.

Are Kingston SSD's any good?

They're fine. Honestly any SSD will be a vast step up from a mechanical HDD. Since it's a HTPC you don't need "top of the shelf" performance.

 

[Outlander]

I used a Crucial SSD in our HTPC......We use it to play recorded video and it is fine. However I really do wonder if it was overkill for what we do...All of the recording is on USB 3.0 external drives and I have a nagging feeling that a $49.95 7200 RPM spinner would do just as well....I'll never know for sure.......

 

[smarteyeball]

That's why a top of the line SSD is not necessary for a HTPC. And Crucials are great drives as well.

Although finding out why there are the random hiccups in response is a better course to follow.

The OP already has 4 WD blacks, which are 7200RPM drives.

USB 3.0 externals run at 7200rpm speeds which are basically the same speeds as internal 7200rpm drives.

if you'd started with all mech spinners, and then switched to a SSD - you would've noticed the improvement mate.

 

[HAVOC]

So I bought a Kingston 120GB SSD. I have to crack open the case to do some other work in there so I might be installing the SSD in the HTPC. Good idea to check what might be causing my issue with task manager/resource monitor.

I'm pretty sure I can duplicate the problem. I'll do some testing later to see what might be causing it. If I decide not to use the SSD in the HTPC it will go into my new Dell laptop.

 

[PSCO2007]

speed on The Net will increase dramatically.

Ah, no. Not really mate. It will certainly open the browser faster, but actual net speed will remain the same. Once a browser and tabs are open, they reside in RAM.

But yes an SSD will improve responsiveness when multi tasking. The whole OS will benefit from improved 'snappiness' being on a SSD.

I guess I phrased it incorrectly -Shouldn't respond late at night.

I simply meant boot times and speed of pages opening on the Net are lightening fast.