Configuration thoughts on M17r4 w/ 1TB Raid 0 & 256 GB mSata

I am currently configuring my new M17r4 and would greatly appreciate some thoughts on the optimal config - hopefully with a bit of reasoning thrown in.

HDD: 2 x 500 GB in a 1 TB Raid 0
mSATA: Crucial 256 GB

OS: Win 8 (pre-installed)

I am contemplating moving the OS to the mSATA.

Or, would it be better to keep it on the HDD's and use the mSATA otherwise?

Thoughts?

 

I would rather buy the basic 500HDD version, and buy a SSD aftermarket, something like a samsung 830 256GB. Then put the OS on the SSD. It will boot up faster that way, then you can store anything on the normal HDD. The mSATA is quite hard to get to, quite a lot of dissassembly required, plus its only SATA II speed vs the normal SSD/HDD slots which are SATA III.

For fastest performance the OS needs to be on the SSD/mSATA but the SSD will be slightly faster.

 

If you definitely want a big mSATA then go for your idea.

I would get an SSD and a small mSATA to use as cache, then later on upgrade and get a second SSD.

Or as Deniz says, get a basic 500gb and then upgrade with after market SSDs. But in my opinion, I'd rather have the msata working as a caching device.

 

Just get a basic 500/750/1024 GB HDD and get an aftermarket SSD (64/128 GB) and put it into the HDD/SSD slot. mSATA < SSD in terms of speed

 

"mSATA < SSD in terms of speed"

This is definitely true, however for booting the system it doesn't make that big of a difference, maybe a second at most 2, which is hardly noticeable IMHO.

I use the msata for my os drive, and then have the ssd's with all the program and data files. ( two 256 samsung 830's) . This way if anything happens to the os drive its easier to wipe and reinstall. Also for sending anything back which thankfully I haven't had to do yet.

The more cost effective option is def. 1 ssd at least 120 gb and 1 regular sized standard hdd. Just depends what your priorities are. If you want to use the msata slot to keep a hdd or ssd slot open its not a bad way to go.

 

Thanks to everyone who replied.

Let me clarify: I already have the system and the components as mentioned.

I was intending my questions to be about best configuration using these exiting items:

2 x 500 GB HDD, configured as 1 TB Raid 0 - TOSHIBA MK5061GSYN (Factory installed, crap SATA II drives)
1 x mSATA: Crucial 256 GB
Win 8 Pro

I certainly look toward upgrading the HDD's, but for now the system is set.

I'm likely going to put the OS & critical apps on the mSATA, but appreciate some peer review and thoughts before making the switch.

 

The OS should be on the mSATA drive, it's large enough to hold that and your important applications, the 500GB hard drives are probably best kept as an array though if you have important data always have an external backup for it

 

Yeah I'd say make the switch to the OS on the mSATA, you may want to consider doing a clean install of windows 8 and to install to enable fast/secure boot using UEFI compared to the standard legacy boot. Basically you computer should be able to go from cold to login screen within 10 seconds.

I use a 256 SSD as my main boot drive and I have plenty of space, you might want to consider going from RAID to normal SATA for those 2 hard drives depending on how worried about data loss you are, but keeping them in raid will be fine, but could cause a bit of hassle if you do decide to get a SSD sometime later.

 

Thanks again for the comments, very much appreciated.

I did the hardware install last night. (mSata, more RAM, repasted the CPU & GPU)

The entire process was much easier than expected with the single complication that the mSATA mounting screw was not pre-installed in the laptop.

If anyone wants photos for reference, PM me and I'll put some up.

 

What kind of screws hold the mSATA drive together? I may put in one myself.

 

I hope someone else here can answer with the exact thread & pitch. I can say that it was very small, about half the diameter of the two that attach the bottom plate on the M17x R4.