Itching for SSD upgrade, or wait SSHD?

[*Chazz]

I have a laptop that runs great. My only complaint is the HDD, I have used a computer with an SSD and I now have a hard time swallowing the inconsistent boot times and slow startups. I am a college student so my budget is tight. SSD's have unfortunately gone up in price recently. I have about 350Gb on my laptop right now which has a 666Gb hardrive, most of that being pictures/video. I keep a backup of my computer on an external drive, that I plug in that copies all of my files including pics when I off load from my camera.

 

1. I was thinking that I could could get a Hybrid drive which wouldn't be to shabby. I think that I would want to go for one with a large cache though of 32GB to maximize the SSD benefits. I find it hard to determine how big the cache is without having to dig for spec sheets on the internet. I also have found data suggesting that they are still not quite as fast as a normal SSD. I do run some large programs that could benefit from an SSD such as Solid-works. Also i would like to dual boot more often. The main reason I don't do so now is because switching between the two operating systems on my computer requires extra steps such as picking which one I want to run, and it just adds to the boot time. I am not to sure how a well an HHSD would handle this flip flopping. I imagine it may not work to well.

 

2.The other thought I had was to get a smaller SSD and then simply use my old one hard drive with a usb adapter to store my photos, and do weekly back ups with my 1 Terrabyte external with both drives connected to the computer. After all I do not need to have all of my photos on my college laptop. If I had a desktop, I would be more than happy store them on it and down size my hard drive for a faster SSD. I am sure that I can partition the drive and be able to dual but with relative ease.

 

3. Bite the bullet hard and invest in a nice SSD. Probably a 500Gb.

 

Just curious as to what you guys think. I think I will likely go with plan 2. If you see any holes in my plans let me know. My only worry would be whether I could run my old HDD off of a simple usb adapter conveniently (or without problems). 

 

 

 

[The Sloth]

ssd is much better, problem with SSHD is that ssd in it is so small that other than windows other programs can't take advantage of it. get a 256 gb ssd and a 1tb hdd. 

[Damascus]

Yeah, get a 7200rpm 1tb drive and 256gb ssd

[shadowbyte]

ssds are just so fast compared to an SSHD that they're worth it imo

as @nerdslayer1 suggested, a 256gb drive with a 1tb hdd is a wonderful combination

[Mira Yurizaki]

The problem with SSHD's is that they're likely to use a simple caching algorithm (first in, first out). Meaning if you loaded more than the amount of cache off the HDD, you're back at square one.

 

I've also expressed my doubts with SSHD's and testing "repeat loading" tests, because anything you load into RAM and close, Windows will keep in RAM until it really needs to be evicted (the data is still there, just marked as "can be removed if needed"). So if you load up the application again, then Windows can re-use the data that was left in RAM.

[*Chazz]

Ok awesome I think that my conclusion is looking good. I love the suggestion of getting a 1 terra drive along with a 256Gb ssd, unfortunately my laptop only has one bay, so I think I will treat my old hard rive as expanded memory and connect as needed.

 

[captain_to_fire]

Full SSD is better since with SSHD, the solid state portion is just for the operating system and it can take days or weeks until Windows determines which files and apps you use frequently to be placed in the solid state portion. 

 

Also, I would like to ask how much are you willing to spend for a solid state drive? Right now the 500GB Samsung 850 Evo is $177. If you want more speed, you can get the Samsung 960 Evo 500 GB for $258 assuming that you can access an extra PCIE slot of your motherboard. You can clone your mechanical hard drive to your new SSD by using Macrium Reflect for free. 

[dizmo]

Do you really need that much space on your laptop? I have one with a 128GB (92GB free) and I find it more than fine.

I have a 2TB external drive that I use for mass storage, both for my laptop and my PC.

I'd just go with a small SSD. No need to go all out with a 500GB unit, unless you'll actually make use of the space.

525GB SSDs are quite cheap though.

 

 

[The Sloth]

1 minute ago, *Chazz said:

Ok awesome I think that my conclusion is looking good. I love the suggestion of getting a 1 terra drive along with a 256Gb ssd, unfortunately my laptop only has one bay, so I think I will treat my old hard rive as expanded memory and connect as needed.

 

 

replace the cd drive with 1 tb hdd. 

[Not_Sean]

1 minute ago, *Chazz said:

Ok awesome I think that my conclusion is looking good. I love the suggestion of getting a 1 terra drive along with a 256Gb ssd, unfortunately my laptop only has one bay, so I think I will treat my old hard rive as expanded memory and connect as needed.

 

You'll be fine witha 240gb, than keep your movies on a external. 240gb is enough for games and work docs. Just don't Horde  

also Yeah SSHD's are KEK! 

[dizmo]

Just now, hey_yo_ said:

Full SSD is better since with SSHD, the solid state portion is just for the operating system and it can take days or weeks until Windows determines which files and apps you use frequently to be placed in the solid state portion. 

 

Also, I would like to ask how much are you willing to spend for a solid state drive? Right now the 500GB Samsung 850 Evo is $177. If you want more speed, you can get the Samsung 960 Evo 500 GB for $258 assuming that you can access an extra PCIE slot of your motherboard. You can clone your mechanical hard drive to your new SSD by using Macrium Reflect for free. 

Did you read the OP? It's a laptop...

[Not_Sean]

Just now, nerdslayer1 said:

replace the cd drive with 1 tb hdd. 

 

this is actually the best idea ! ! 

[captain_to_fire]

1 minute ago, dizmo said:

Did you read the OP? It's a laptop...

I did. Some laptops can be opened at the bottom to reveal an extra PCIE slot and you can clone a laptop HDD to SSD by USB to SATA adapter and a cloning app. 

[jet224presents]

i have a sshd and ssd so i have the best of both worlds ssd would be preferred but a sshd would be a better option if you need lots of storage 

[Zodiark1593]

I'd go with a SSD+HDD split over a SSHD as OP can decide what gets kicksed where. Depending on the OP's needs, he/she may opt to use just the (preferably large) SSD in the laptop to reap the durability benefits, and put the 1 TB HDD in an external enclosure. 

 

The SDD+HDD in the laptop simultaneously isn't a bad option, though you lose put on the physical durability benefits (great in a mobile device) as well as losing a potential backup solution for the possibility of theft. 

[NumLock21]

What is your budget. I know one drive that will be great for your needs.

[*Chazz]

2 hours ago, NumLock21 said:

What is your budget. I know one drive that will be great for your needs.

My budget is adjustable at this point. I am more interested in making a choice that will be the best investment for the future. A small SSD I think will work well. When I one day have the funds to build a desktop and this laptop dies I will likely make that SSD the boot drive. But to answer your question bluntly $50-$100 about.

[*Chazz]

4 hours ago, nerdslayer1 said:

replace the cd drive with 1 tb hdd. 

I have never heard of doing this I may research a bit more. I don't know if I would actually do this, I think I will just have to change my data storage system. Neat suggestion though.

[Not_Sean]

Just now, *Chazz said:

I have never heard of doing this I may research a bit more. I don't know if I would actually do this, I think I will just have to change my data storage system. Neat suggestion though.

I've done it on macbooks and it works great. completely forgot about it. its very easy just take it apart slowly.. otherwise you should be fine 

[*Chazz]

4 hours ago, hey_yo_ said:

Full SSD is better since with SSHD, the solid state portion is just for the operating system and it can take days or weeks until Windows determines which files and apps you use frequently to be placed in the solid state portion. 

 

Also, I would like to ask how much are you willing to spend for a solid state drive? Right now the 500GB Samsung 850 Evo is $177. If you want more speed, you can get the Samsung 960 Evo 500 GB for $258 assuming that you can access an extra PCIE slot of your motherboard. You can clone your mechanical hard drive to your new SSD by using Macrium Reflect for free. 

I think I would be aiming at most $100. The speed difference for me I don't think will make to big of a difference for me when it comes to SSD's. I feel like that is comparing apples to apples from a daily drivers stand point.

[captain_to_fire]

6 minutes ago, *Chazz said:

I think I would be aiming at most $100. The speed difference for me I don't think will make to big of a difference for me when it comes to SSD's. I feel like that is comparing apples to apples from a daily drivers stand point.

Are you willing to spend an extra $100 for a 500GB 850 Evo? The 250GB 850 Evo is priced at $114. 

[NumLock21]

8 hours ago, *Chazz said:

My budget is adjustable at this point. I am more interested in making a choice that will be the best investment for the future. A small SSD I think will work well. When I one day have the funds to build a desktop and this laptop dies I will likely make that SSD the boot drive. But to answer your question bluntly $50-$100 about.

Western Digital made a drive a while back, called. WD Black2. It's a 120gb sdd combined with a 1tb hdd all in a 2.5" form factor. I can't seem to find any updated prices for it. All at $300+

[*Chazz]

10 hours ago, hey_yo_ said:

Are you willing to spend an extra $100 for a 500GB 850 Evo? The 250GB 850 Evo is priced at $114. 

No probably not. I think that I am just going to change my data storage system. (In other words I will use my old hard drive via usb adapter as expandable memory and keep my pictures/videos on it, and include it on my back up to my external drive) I am thinking that a 120gb to 256gb will be fine for my purposes as a daily driver laptop. I don't think I will need to go flag ship ssd either. For me as a average user it will have little benefit.

[*Chazz]

4 hours ago, NumLock21 said:

Western Digital made a drive a while back, called. WD Black2. It's a 120gb sdd combined with a 1tb hdd all in a 2.5" form factor. I can't seem to find any updated prices for it. All at $300+

 

Really interesting I had no idea that these drives existed. However, you can now get a 1tb SSD from western digital for about $10 more. I bet it was a great compromise three years ago.

 

Amazon has it listed for $260

a 1tb WD is listed for $270