M4600/6600 : Need advice on HDD/SSD choice

Hi all,

I am planning to order either a M4600 or a M6600 (will depend on my bank LOL), for photo use.
I will have several photo softwares such as PS, LR, etc... which require a lot of memory and fast access (best with SSD).

Having read several posts here already, I am lost on the best configuration to order :
1. 1 mini SSD card 128Go + 1 HDD 750Go
but is 128Go enough for system + all softwares ?
2. 1 SSD 256Go +1 SSD 256Go
but not possibility to add standard HDD later (low qty of memory) ?
3. mini configuration and buy all SSD/HDD elsewhere (as I read that the included HDD are not best-in-class)
but how to make sure the new drives will be seen by the PC ?

Does anybody have the same problem and some solutions ?

Thanks !

 

Hard drive is a hard drive, honestly unless you get enterprise class storage drive.

If you want, buy a decent sized SSD (with your budget, 128-256 GB) and get a 750 GB or 1 TB 9.5mm secondary drive as PS can eat up alot of drive space. Or if you really feel like blowing alot of money, get a 512 GB SSD, my friend's M6400 and now his replacement M6600 has a sweet storage SSD!

 

I have 128GB mini ssd and 750gb hd in my M4600 and I have no issues with space yet. I've got CS5 and plenty of other CAD programs installed on my SSD, and my project files on my HD.

 

1) 128Gb is enough for the system + regular software, not including games. Remember you need space for pagefile and hibernate
2) Only applicable to M6600 or M4600 with caddy for optical drive.
3) Yes the SSD/HDD offered by Dell are not best in class, but the price once included in the system will be much cheaper. If you are full in wallet, this is the best option to get the best out of Mx600.

 

The samsung mSATA SSD that comes with the dells is a very good drive and not easily available to consumers, so i would definitely order it with that. not to mention if you order it with the laptop it will be covered by dell's onsite warranty which is very convenient.

i personally have the 80gb intel which i upgraded myself. with windows, office and other applications, and all my music and photos, there is still almost 20gb left. i set the pagefile to minimum as i have 8gb of ram.

 

Thanks a lot for the advice !

In order to anticipate for the future, I'd like to go for 256Go SSD + 750Go HDD.

Can someone help me further, as I can't get this configuration on Dell's website ?

Thx

 

Are you buying the machine from a country outside the US because it is possible to buy the configuration you want from that site. It might not be offered elsewhere.

 

I am buying from France.
Actually it seems possible, but I thought Sata II (SSD 256Go) and Sata (HDD 750 Go) couldn't work together ?

 

Hi.... as i know only 128Gb msata can be selected as the one drive

 

I have a M6600 with a Crucial M4 128GB SSD and a 750GB 7200rpm HDD

I have Windows 7 and all my work software + 2 games installed on the SSD and the rest of my programs/files on the 750GB HDD. It works great and I get the best of both worlds for boot and program speed on the SSD and capacity on the HDD. With all my work files and the games on the SSD I still have 40GB left free on it which is plenty.

$200 is well worth the 128GB Sata III SSD. I was having a hard time justifying the $400 for 256GB when all critical speed applications fit on the 128GB.