SSD Expanding Options

[thegerm22]

I have a 250GB Samsung 840 non pro with about 1.5 TB written to it according to the Samsung Magician software. I want to have more SSD "space" on my PC. I'm tired of running games off my mechanical drive.

 

So I have some options here:

 

1. First, RAID. Should I get a second 250GB 840 non pro and RAID0 the drives? Thoughts?

 

2. Buying a second newer drive with updated NAND and adding it as another letter drive. With this option would I see better overall performance using the newer SSD for the OS or for a second drive with mainly games installed on it?

 

I'm attracted to the whole Idea of having a single letter drive, but I'm really looking to get the best performance. Would a RAID config drastically kill the lifespan of the drives?

 

I know this topic is extremely over discussed, and there is a lot of info out there. I just want to hear from some enthusiasts on what they would decide to do.

[TheSLSAMG]

If I were in your shoes, I would buy a 1TB 840 EVO. Not sure if you have the money to drop on it, but it's quite nice.

[thegerm22]

If I were in your shoes, I would buy a 1TB 840 EVO. Not sure if you have the money to drop on it, but it's quite nice.

If I had the $600 that'd be a good option. But I'm not looking to spend that much.

[TheSLSAMG]

If I had the $600 that'd be a good option. But I'm not looking to spend that much.

How much do you want to spend? Another 250GB 840 isn't all that bad of an idea, but a new 840 with one that has had 1.5TB of writes on it? It will be stable for a while, but the array will have more of a chance of failing.

[thegerm22]

How much do you want to spend? Another 250GB 840 isn't all that bad of an idea, but a new 840 with one that has had 1.5TB of writes on it? It will be stable for a while, but the array will have more of a chance of failing.

I'd like to stay under $225. Which gives me lots of options as far as buying a second 250GB drive. I agree I don't think raiding the old drive with a new one is the best idea, although the 840 non pro is around $180. So I guess I'm looking for the best 250GB in my price range to have as a second letter drive. Would it be better to have the new drive as my OS drive you think? I'll install my main games and programs on there. Then use my 840 as mainly game installation?

[TheSLSAMG]

I'd like to stay under $225. Which gives me lots of options as far as buying a second 250GB drive. I agree I don't think raiding the old drive with a new one is the best idea, although the 840 non pro is around $180. So I guess I'm looking for the best 250GB in my price range to have as a second letter drive. Would it be better to have the new drive as my OS drive you think? I'll install my main games and programs on there. Then use my 840 as mainly game installation?

 

When Anandtech tested the 840 250GB, it  had an est. write endurance of 292508 GB of transfers. So, I would say it's fine to put the OS on the drive, and use both other for storage

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6459/samsung-ssd-840-testing-the-endurance-of-tlc-nand

[WoodenMarker]

The first option sounds fine.