Best configuration for GS70 (MSATA vs SATA)

So I've been reading through the forum and trying to figure out the best drive configuration for my soon to arrive GS70. The GS70 Stealth Pro can be configured with 3 MSATA drives as well as 1 standard 2.5 drive, and comes with a 128 gb drive on which Windows is installed. I plan on doing a fresh, bloatware free install on a new drive anyway. On my current system I have a two drive set-up, where Windows is installed on a 256 GB MSATA, while all my documents and storage is saved on a standard HDD.

Is it is better to stick with one SSD (either a MSATA or SATA), or divide it up like my current system, with my programs and Windows on the MSATA and storage on the SATA? If I get a SSD it will be a large capacity (500GB - 1 TB) as I only have room for one SATA drive, whereas if I decide I need a larger MSATA I can always add an additional one and use the smaller for storage.

TL;DR:

Should I just have a large SSD and install Windows on that disk, or should I have a MSATA for windows and a SATA for storage?

 

Best config?

Definitely not mSATA for the O/S + Program drive. Great for storage though...

An 2.5" SSD will give better performance than the channel (controller) limited mSATA's can possibly offer at this time. Yeah; half the channels really cripples performance.


Get a fast/large 2.5" SSD (SanDisk Extreme Pro 960GB) for your main drive and use the 128GB (assuming it's mSATA SSD) for your game installs.

Get an external enclosure for a HDD of your choice and use that for backup purposes.

 

Thanks for the info! I guess my brain was stuck on the MSATA for OS since that's what I currently use.

And glad I read this forum - did not realise all the issues with 480 EVOs. So SanDisk EP is a solid choice? (no pun intended)

 

Yeah, SanDisk Extreme Pro (480GB or larger, along with 30% OP'ing) is what I would recommend.

I'm almost tempted to mention the Samsung 850 Pro... but I really don't know what Samsung is doing lately. To me; they're the Seagate of SSD's (for HDD's; Hitachi rules).

 

I'd recommend the Extreme Pro too.. I have the Extreme II and its so good (The Extreme pro is a slightly better version and more warranty)...

 

this notebook supports raid0 so why not use it?
I recommend getting 3 mSATA ~250Gb raid0 as os/everything
you'll get 3x speed
and use 2.5" default drive for backups and trash.

some models have only 2 mSATA slots so you should check first