SSD questions

[leddman]

Hey all, new to the forums but fan of the channel.

My questions are about SSDs. I've been building my own PCs for three years now and never really tried using SSDs. Since watching the channel apparently it's a pretty standard thing.

I'm curious what I need to know about them.

How much storage do I need?

Which brand is best?

How do they work?

What exactly are their purposes other than a speedier operating for your desktop?

My main system is a gaming one. If you need further build info let me know.[emoji1]

[BrandonTheCat]

Use an SSD for a boot drive. I recommend getting a +500GB array or single drive. (Array being 2 drives)

 

Since there is 500GB, you can install important files or programs that rely on quick loading times, while having a separate hard drive (At least 7200) for games and files that require mass storage.

 

At least thats how I do it...

 

People can tell you about the "Best brand". I usually go for whatever has the most positive reviews. Samsung seems to be getting really good reviews. 

 

As for how do they work, They work exactly like hard drives, except faster and doesnt require defragmentation as the SSD has no moving parts. (Seriously PLS don't defrag an SSD. it kills it)

 

And purpose would be just faster loading times. Its very nice not to have something loading for ever. 

Edited July 18, 2015 by BrandonTheCat

[leddman]

Currently I am using a Tb HDD for everything. Everything I do fits on that with plenty of wiggle room.

[DarkBlade2117]

I'm personally getting a 256gb ( give or take a few GBs ). This 256gbmdrive will allow for it to be a boot drive and your favorite apps weather it's games, or whatever you'd put on it. Anything more can get s bit pricey for the average consumer. Stick to brands like crucial, Intel, and Samsung. Samsung and Crucial are the cheaper options. For gaming depends. Usually you just out your favorite games and can always take one off if you stop playing it and adding another.

[o0Martin]

The storage depends on your needs, if you're using it only as a boot drive with a couple applications to increase load and boot times, 120GB is probably enough for you. 

 

If you do a lot of gaming and want to add a couple games with high load times like Skyrim for example or Witcher 3, or games that can benefit from a SSD like GTA V and you want to install them on it then I would say you'd need at least a 250GB SSD 

 

Anything else can be placed onto a HDD if you want to save money. 

 

As for brands, there are a lot of good ones, Crucial, Intel, Samsung, OCZ, Hyper X (Kingston), I'd get one that is good for your budget and that looks nice to you or goes with your build colours (If it's going to be visible in your build.)

 

How do they work is more complex and there are different types of SSDs with all different types of technologies, so maybe it's best you look that up yourself. 

 

And the purpose like I said up top is faster boot time, faster loading, better read/writes, and they also add less noise, more reliable and produce less heat. 

 

Hope tht somewhat helps

[leddman]

Let's say I buy one and am ready to install it tomorrow, will I need to do a butt-load of file xfering? Or do I need to reinstall everything to my SSD?

I ask cause I have satellite ISP and to redownload every game would use up all 150gigs of net.

[LunaP0n3]

Hay all, new to the forums but fan of the channel.

My questions are about SSDs. I've been building my own PCs for three years now and never really tried using SSDs. Since watching the channel apparently it's a pretty standard thing.

I'm curious what I need to know about them.

How much storage do I need?

Which brand is best?

How do they work?

What exactly are their purposes other than a speedier operating for your desktop?

My mane system is a gaming one. If you need further build info let me know.[emoji1]

Storage? Depends on what content you have. If you have lots of music, videos and pictures and the like, use a low capacity SSD for your OS and programs, and keep your media on a HDD.

Brands? Read reviews online and see what other people have noted.

How they work? Allow Linus to explain in this video: SSDs vs Hard Drives as Fast as Possible,

Other purposes? Well, seeing as they don't have any moving parts, the consume less power and can be great if you have a laptop with a short battery life, also on laptops, SSDs are more durable, so if the laptop falls to the ground while running, they are far less likely to die than a hard drive, because they have no moving parts.

Hope this helps

[leddman]

Thanks everyone for your help, really appreciate it. Will do research tomorrow and choose wisely!

[FizzyFantom]

I'm currently running a 120GB SSD for my main Windows PC. With a bit of fiddling and a 1TB WD Blue I'm pleased with both the performance and the storage (moving most of my data including games onto the HDD).

 

Of the SSDs I've personally used I can certainly recommend Crucial's MX100 (this is my main boot drive) and Adata's Premiere Pro SP960 (using it in a Linux box, also 120GB) as inexpensive SSDs, or if you want to spend more then I highly recommend Samsung's 850 EVO (or 840 EVO).