Solid State Drives Raid 0 vs 7200 RPM RAID 0

Hey all, sadly I don't know much about the SSD technology but just ordered a new m17x and still debating if SSD in Raid 0 makes a big difference vs normal 7200 in Raid 0 any one here with little more info?


Also does anyone know what SSD M17x have? the setup I'm looking is either

a) 2 x 256GB SSD RAID 0
b) 2 x 500GB 7200 RPM

If anyone can help me with the pros and cons I'd really appreciate it

 

Available M17x SSD's are shown in this post:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=402104

You will see noticable boot time differences and load time differences between SSD's and HDD's.

 

Thanks, but does RAID 0 have the same effect in performance gain on SSD ad they do on normal drives?

 

A single 256 ssd will outperform the 500gb 7200rpm RAID setup. Also from what I have been reading, Samsung will be issuing a firmware for their controller soon that will substantially increase performance.

 

Here is a comparison using OCZ SSD's Non-Raid Vs RAID 0

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.p...sk=view&id=318&Itemid=60&limit=1&limitstart=6

Performance is not quite double, but only at 256KB size file chunks or greater.

 

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c) 1 x 256GB SSD + 1 x 500GB 7200 RPM

 

RAID 0 is overrated; it does not provide performance improvements in everyday applications. In specific applications such as video editing it can provide significant improvements, but otherwise no. The inherent problem with RAID 0 is that the risk of data loss is doubled since it is dependent on two drives (failure rate of one drive * 2).

A single 256GB SSD will be faster than the 1TB RAID 0 setup Alienware offers. I suggest getting the 256GB SSD as your main drive and then a secondary hard drive as backup.
Edit: Phinagle beat me to the last part.

 

Yeah, what Phinagle said is a great config. To get there, order the machine with a single 256GB SSD, and purchase a 500GB Seagate 7200.4 Drive from newegg and install it in bay 2 (also be sure to call Dell for your second hard drive caddy, because it won't come with it).

 

Very interesting.... So SSD for every day files and the 500 GB for storage?

 

Yep, SSD for Programs and OS, and HDD for Pictures/Video's/Storage.

 

You can buy the SSD with the M17x if you're not comfortable reinstalling your OS and then buy a 500GB HDD from Dell's website separately and it will be covered under your notebook's warranty. Dell often offers some of the best deals on the 500Gb drives as well.

If you're fine with reinstalling the OS I'd buy the HDD with the notebook and get an SSD aftermarket from Newegg or wherever.

 

Is there a way to automatically install applications to primary harddrive and data to data drive without specifying which drive every time you install a program?

 

I agree with this however isn't the whole deal about SSD the extremely low failure rates with the elimination of moving parts?

 

Windows Vista lets you move your Document folders to another drive. Right click on "Music" or "Documents" or whatever, select Properties, then on the Location tab there is a button to "MOVE" the folder to another drive. Windows will now default to the Music, Documents, or whatever folder on the other drive from now on.

Yes that's the idea, and SSD's usually advertise a 1,500,000 MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) meaning the average failure time is 1,500,000 hours.

 

SSDs fail more often than you think; just because they have no moving parts does not save them from failing. About half of the SSDs we have tested at NBR have failed in our labs.

 

Ouch...I bow to Chaz's expertise here...

 

Are you talking about data files like word docs? Windows lets you change the path of the My Documents folder to another drive so you can do it that way. It depends on what type of data files you're talking about though since not having them on the SSD with the app that needs them will slow things down.

For example PDF files, and large spreadsheets that I know I'm going to be keep I'd store on the SSD with Adobe reader and Excel but things like photo albums, movies, music, etc. that usually take up the bulk of storage space would go on the HDD.

 

Wow, that's not good to hear

 

Yes I was talking about applications like games and installing the application to the primary drive and data files to secondary drive. How much does it slow things down? Enough to offset the risk of performance degradation of my primary drive due to overcapacity?

From what I understand overcapacity is usually the culprit of performance degradation issues associated with ssd's. Just like spinning platters they require free space to maintain high performance levels.

 

Re-read my post #15. I misread your question the first time.

 

Haaaa! I am glad I did not make to move to SSD's then!

Haha yes I am using RAID 0 for my laptop, what the heck, I do see noticeable performance increases at startup, shutdown, and large app launches, compared to my peers' laptops and my old Toshiba. And I do make regular backups of my data too....

 

If you can afford it i would recommend the SSD, ive already had 1 500GB hd replaced and now my other one has started acting up. Either Dell/Alienware are not using good 500GB drives or i am having really bad luck.

 

Do SSD have the same interface as the regular drives?

 

yea but how they get the data is different

 

Right I guess where I was going with that is that if I do order 1 SSD and one normal HDD, down the line I could opt for going 2 SSD having Alienware pre-configure my case with the dual drives.

My only caveat is that I had so many bad experiences with laptops HDD that I was hoping SDD would actually have a less failure rate, disappointing to read that the experiences here were otherwise.

 

I'm not sure what SSD alienware uses, but if you get two regular HDD's, you can grab the Intel X25 or Vertex SSD, which are the best.

As for failure rate, SSD's have not been out for very long. HDDs have been out for many many years.

 

According to info found here it uses the Samsung SSD

 

yes it uses the samsung and its the third fastest out there and for Dells price you would be stupified not to get it

 

Dells price not that great now. I would rather get the torqx for 699.00

 

they upped it ?

 

Yes its over 700.00 now for the SSD, plus with Dell you will pay Tax as where other online stores you can avoid it.

 

o then don't get the SSD

 

I found this, i thought while a little biased, still pretty cool

http://www.flixxy.com/samsung-ssd-performance-test.htm

 

Depends who's review you believe. Take a look at this LINK. This shows the Samsung drive (Corsair P256) out performs both the Intel Gen 1, Gen 2 and the Vertex drive in a majority of their tests.

 

honestly, we are talking numbers the naked eye can not even see.
i have two SSD's now and find them more efficient and faster in general.
as far as numbers go, meh...all i know is from real experience they are the bomb!! (can you say that here without Homeland Security beating my door down?)

 

When you use SSD drives then switch to a platter drive the difference is much more noticeable.

 

That's impressive

I love benchmarks

 

I am going to buy 2 256ssd when I load win7 on oct22nd, I just hope price will drop some in a 2month time?

 

more like benchmarketing lol

 

Just as much as we can post here without MIB knocking our doors

 

You might think it is funny, but I have installed access flooring in brand new buildings on a number of military bases that have electronics beyond the imagination. Worked recently on a facility at Fort Gordon 650,000 sq ft access flooring 36" on three floors and 60" ffh for the data center in the basement. That entire facility run by NSA is supposed to monitor cell phone calls.

 

ia said that in gest, but as i have worked in the Gov for some time, they monitor all web traffic and when certain words pop up, it gets saved and logged...

but thats off topic...

so for on topic....

no need for SSD in raid at all, and they do outperform a plater (as mandrake said) anyday!

 

Unless you are transferrring huge files, there is not need for RAID 0 w/ SSD's....

 

Exactly what I was thinking based on some SSD reviews..... in my case it would most definitely benefit me, I do a lot of video editing and HD files are huge.

 

Hmmm so I'm a bit confused.... Samsungs typically have a transfer read speed of 200MB/sec, does this mean that with a RAID 0 and two of these drives I would get close to 400MB/sec?

 

basically, yes.

But others have stated that due to the raid controller, there may be unwanted latency.

 

Wow.... that's awesome and insane at the same time, I didn't think you would actually get anywhere near a 2*N performance gain....

 

How exactly does the "Smartbay" work... can you add another HDD?

 

No Smartbay on the new M17x.

On the old m17x and m15x you could swap out the ODD for a HDD or second battery.