Help with best use of SSD's between laptops and desktops.

Ok, I went hog wild and bought SSD's for use in my desktops and laptops. But I am having a hard time figuring out best way to manage which goes where. I thought I had it figured out, but now things have changed. I am almost considering selling them all for now, except one for my netbook, but not sure if I'm there yet.

Here's the SSD's I currently own:

(1) Intel 80GB G2
(2) Intel 40GB G2
(3) OCZ Vertex 2 60GB (new retail from RMA)
(4) Kingston V-series SNV425 64GB
(5) Kingston V-series SNV425 64GB (new opened, never used)

Yes that's two of the same kingstons number (4) and (5).

The Vertex 2 is brand new in packaging. The original one I bought failed, and OCZ replaced it with a whole new sealed retail package.

My machines:

(A) Sager NP8662 laptop - I had it dual configured with the Vertex 2 and secondary hard drive before the Vertex 2 died. My laptop has been having other issues too, so decided to just use a single 500GB Momentus XT for the time being until I get a new laptop probably Feb/Mar next year after Sandy Bridge laptops are available. Although I would love to have an SSD in here now, but considering it's flaky as it is, I'd rather just leave the machine be.

(B) Netbook (SU4100, GMA 4500MHD, 2GB DDR3) - Currently has a Kingston 64GB. I had the Intel 40GB in it for a bit, but it was just too small for my use. I like the extra space and performance is more than adequate but it's a power consumption hog. I'd considering putting the Vertex 2 or Intel 80GB in it instead but both seem like overkill for a $350 netbook.

(C) Gaming Desktop (Core 2 Quad 3.4GHz, GTX 260 core 216, 8GB DDR2) - currently is running the Intel 80GB. I run this machine in IDE mode though because it's an older motherboard, and running in AHCI causes ten plus extra seconds at bootup because it boots through another bios. Plus it seemed to be acting a little flaky running ahci, hard drive sleep issues etc. Of course I have a couple other hard drives in there for games, etc. I'd plan on using a drive just for boot. Considering putting the Vertex 2 in it instead since it will mainly be used for Windows OS and basic apps. Maybe a game or two that could benefit from the SSD speed.

(D) Productivity Desktop Shuttle XPC (Core 2 Duo 3.0GHz, HD 4670, 4GB DDR2) - Use this machine mainly for productivity apps, ripping media, trialing software etc. It's not necessary to have an SSD but was considering using a Kingston in this one just to help with boot times, and general improved responsiveness.

In the end I'm thinking ultimately I want something with decent capacity and low power consumption in the netbook. The Intel 80GB seems to be the best bet, but seems a little overkill and still has a decent resale value. I would also like a fast boot drive for my gaming desktop so was considering the Vertex 2 there. But if I don't use an SSD in there then I have to buy another hard drive anyhow, although a decently fast Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB for $60 and while not as fast as an SSD, still pretty quick, and probably sufficient.

I dunno. Part of me says to sell all the SSD's except put the Intel 80GB in the netbook, and buy a hard drive for the desktop gaming PC. But then again, I might regret giving up the SSD afterwards for my gaming desktop, and in my other desktop for that matter.

I know it was a lot to read, and thanks to anyone offering assistance.

 

I'd just put the bigger drives in the laptops and the smaller drives in the desktops. With desktops you can always add more drives with fewer space and power constraints... assuming noise isn't a big concern for you.

Maybe the 80GB Intel in the Sager, a Kingston in the Netbook, OCZ in the gaming rig, and the 40GB Intel in the last machine.

EDIT: I dunno, I've got a similar setup... two desktop/two laptop. I've got the old 64GB Samsung RBX drives in the desktops, a newer Samsung in one laptop, and an Intel G1 the other laptop. I've never really had a problem with space; I just keep everything on externals.

 

Thanks for the response. Problem is that the Kingston's suck power compared with the Intel 40GB that was in there I quickly got used to the close to 5 hours of battery life, which with the Kingston it's only about 4:20 life. That's why I'm considering the Intel 80GB or Vertex 2. Although the Vertex 2 seems to be a waste on a netbook, and I don't think I'll mess with a dual drive setup in my laptop at the moment. Probably will go that route when I get my new laptop beginning of next year.

 

Why not put the intel 40gb in the netbook, you prob don't need more space than that considering it's just a netbook.

I'd say the g2/vertex2 are interchangeable between the sager and productivity desktop.

Then the kingston in the gaming desktop. I don't think the SSD is all that necessary on your gaming machine and I would want the speed
1. when I'm being productive
2. when I'm on the go (laptops/netbook)

 

With the capacities and specific models listed; sell them all.

With your new notebook in a few months that is when I would be considering the then available SSD's.

Even used as boot drives in a desktop (or dual bay notebook), they are still too small and suffer from the smaller the SSD the worse the performance is fate. Without even taking into account the degraded performance when filled over a certain %.

Sell the lot and look forward to better performance/capacity/battery life and cost in the (very few) months ahead.

 

Even 60 GB is small for an SSD? I mean you won't notice the degradation for at least 1-2 years and by that time SSD prices will probably plummet.

 

I install ~ 80GB of O/S + apps by default - so yeah, 60GB is tiny.

And... I notice degradation in as little time as installing all the apps (before SandForce) to just under 10 days (with a SandForce drive).

What can I say? I push my systems hard.

 

After some thought at a minimum I need an SSD for my netbook, and think I am going to put my Intel 80GB SSD in there for speed and capacity and battery life. It's more than sufficient. I need 40-50GB of storage max at any given time for the programs and data I put on there.

It's just what to do with the rest now. I think I am better off keeping the Vertex 2 for my gaming desktop because I'd need another drive anyhow to boot off of, and anything decent will cost me $70-$80 and don't really need the capacity of a hard drive since I already have 2TB in there. I know I could boot off one of the 1TB drives, but I like to keep my windows drive separate if I can help it.

 

Intel SSD have some of the worst write speeds...my Agility 2 > X25-M

 

Eh, Intel has had the best overall performance, especially in 4k read/write where it matters, before sandforce drives came along. Most of the time the drive will be performing reads anyhow. Either way very little difference in real world use, especially for a netbook.

Here's my Vertex 2 60GB:



and Intel 80GB G2 (in IDE mode mind you not AHCI):