Intel SSD X25-M G2 80GB vs Seagate 250GB 5400RPM HDD

So I was testing and benchmarking the differences between my ssd and my hdd and decided to share the results.

The HDD has a bad sector, but it shouldn't really affect the results. The HDD is almost filled and a few months old, the SSD is a few days old, I installed most of the same programs I have on my HDD to my SSD.

There is no vibration from the SSD, BUT, if you are used to your HDD's vibration and go to an SSD, I don't think you'll notice much. On the other hand, if you from SSD to HDD, you will notice much more.

I used a stopwatch for all these tests except boottimer.

Program --- HDD --- SSD
iTunes --- 6.4 --- 4.2
Outlook --- 4 --- 0.8
Word --- 2.4 --- 0.9
Excel --- 1.8 --- 0.9
OneNote --- 3.0 --- 0.9
DC++ --- 5.4 --- 1.1
Games
CS:S --- 20.2 --- 10.8
L4D2 --- 20.8 --- 12.3
TF2 --- 41.1 --- 18.6
WC3 --- 6.5 --- 4.2
Bootup (estimate difference, diff start up) I don't run much superfluous start up programs
Boot --- 67.6 --- 26~

Screenshots

HDD (C Partition (Ran it twice)



HDD (G Partition for Data (Same drive)


SSD (C Drive


HDD WEI:


SSD WEI: I don't understand why my ram went down to 3.90


SSD Boot (didn't tweak much, disabled some start up and tweaked a little since then):

 

Thanks for posting the results...I was curious how an SSD does in comparison to normal HDDs when it comes to simple stuff like booting and office work. Seems that there's a true difference.
I am contemplating whether to pay 200USD extra to get a SSD128gb or stick with 256GB 5400 HDD for a new lenovo thinkpad t410s. your results are interesting.
What about noise levels and battery life, could you share your experience as well?

 

Noise levels are non-existent in a solid state drive. There are no moving parts and the solid state drive does not have to spin up.

 

I'll see if I can do it. I never needed much battery life and noise levels I never really noticed either HDD or SSD, but there is a difference if I try to listen hard enough (my ear like 1mm away from the hdd). Surely there would be difference since there's a spinning platter with the HDD.

Battery life, I thought I would care but not really (when I first bought my T500), my laptop already fit my needs with an HDD (6+ hours minimal settings T500 9cell battery). Again, probably more with the SSD from what I've read here. Either situations though, I have not tested it for myself since these issues don't concern me much.

 

The Intel SSD isn't the most power efficient. It's tweaked for max performance.

In reality I got virtually the same battery life with the Intel vs. a 5400rpm HDD.

If you want a bit more battery life look for an SSD with Samsung controller.

I'm now using a Hitachi 7K500 500GB HDD and am very happy with it.

 

cool I see.
I mean pepole generally say that SSDs take less energy and thus more battery power but no one is really specific about it. Thanks Phil for that input.
As for the noise issue I didn't really mean noise coming from HDD or SSD - as you Chango99 note, basically there's not much of that with either. What I mean is the following: SSD should make the whole unit less warm and therefore less need for cooling - i.e. fan activity.
Now some people say that this logic holds white others claim that the fan is cooling mainly CPU and the heat from other parts of the computer doesn't really matter. I do care about this one thing for my sense is that portable computers, especially t400s, uses its fan way too often for my taste. So having something that is less hot and has less need for cooling would be good. That's why I asked whether you've noticed with your computer a change in the pattern of cooling? (sorry that I was not specific enough the first time).

 

I expect you won't hear any difference in that regard. The fan activity you hear is mainly to cool the CPU. A notebook hard drive generally does not need active cooling.

 

I am running the system below and switched last week from the Sammy 64Gb ssd to my Intel. The system is rated for 8 hours battery life and, with the Sammy I got just over that. I am averaging 9.5-9.75 hours with the Intel on balanced battery with Aero, auto virus with WSA, and my email being checked every 2 minutes...

Best battery life I have ever imagined....and i do realize the mainstay for this is the system and not the ssd. Thete is a bit of a diff with this ssd though.

Nice thread and, if you don't mind I may use the link as I always get people from a few sites I am on wanting to know the diff....

 

Don't mind at all, that's why I posted it.

That's interesting how much more you got out of the intel switching over from samsung, pretty amazing actually.

 

I'm using both an Intel G2 and the abovementioned Hitachi. The combination is full of win.

 

Did you use something before the Hitachi?

I mean, if I wanted to get a 500GB drive for data should I just go with WD 500GB 5400 rpm (would probably go for a 640 though) instead of the hitachi 7k500?

Waiting for my caddy to arrive as I have a 250GB blank drive to be used on my it. Might need more space.

 

My base setup was a single Seagate 320GB @ 7200rpm HDD. I added a WD 320GB @ 7200rpm Scorpio Black along the way, but I RMAd it because it was clicking like mad.

I then went to the Hitachi, and then replaced the Seagate with the SSD. I haven't had anything nominally slower than 7200rpm in my laptop yet, haha.

 

The Hitachi will be slightly faster with everything. It's selling at $78 now.
http://www.frys.com/product/5966014

 

Thanks for info, but I won't be buying soon. Waiting for my optical bay caddy and I have a new spare 250gb 5400rpm WD. I'll see if I need more space.

Already spent $ on the SSD, don't want to throw another 100~$ on another drive.

 

Just an update, I reran crystalmark on two 250gb 5400 RPMs.

New WD HDD that I just formatted and put about 60GB of files in there:


The old seagate HDD after formatting:


Also, after having the SSD for a while and putting in my HDD on my caddy, I can notice the HDD's vibration. Before it was nonexistant, but after adding it, Ican really notice it. After a while you get used to it though.

 

Great post, thanks for taking the time to do so.