Intel X25-M G2 160GB SSD for gaming

Does anyone know if the Intel X25-M G2 160GB SSD will do all right if it's only used to install/store/load games?

I was thinking of using a Corsair F120 or V128 as my OS boot drive, and an X25-M G2 160GB SSD for games only. Thoughts?

 

I might not tell you anything new here. but, fwiw, conventional wisdom is that ssds don't do terribly much for gamers. framerates will be virtually unchanged. levels might load a bit faster but not a lot faster (since the loading of levels is primarily sequential in nature).

 

I beleive you are correct, if the following article and subsequent benchmarks prove anything:

Today's solid-state drives: The value perspective - The Tech Report - Page 8

Seems like the Intel X25-M G2 160GB SSD displays slower performance on game level loads than even a VelociRaptor.

 

Some SSDs load games a lot faster than HDDs.
Hard-Drive Roundup June 2010 - Load Times

PS. Garetjax, I'd take that TR review with a grain of salt. You'll get a completely different picture here:
http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=25308

 

Thanks for the links! While SSD's demonstrate a marked improvement of loading game levels, I can't see spending $300 on an SSD to reduce load times of a favorite map by 10-15 seconds.

The more I think about it, the more I'm tempted to just use a X25-M G2 160GB as my main OS boot drive for apps and programs and use a mechanical HDD for games only. Thoughts?

 

Sounds like a good plan. SSD is most important for OS and apps.

For storing games it's overpriced in my opinion. Although for loading games you can get away with a really cheap SSD.

 

Very true. Although, with the existing mechanical HDD's I have laying around, I still have a hard time convincing myself that an SSD upgrade for games only is neccessary (and cost effective!).

 

I think these benches provide no compelling argument whatsoever for using an SSD to store games. Let's keep in mind that an SSD costs ~10x as much per GB as an HDD.

True, SSDs can do some amazing things (like keeping your system responsive when I/O heavy background apps run, or providing in the ballpark of an order of magnitude higher performance in IO heavy apps such as postgresql). But to pay 10x as much to have games load 10s faster? Doesn't compute imo

EDIT: don't get me wrong, Phil, you're implying pretty much the same in your later post I just noticed. Just saying that the benches don't convince me...

 

I agree that it's not very cost efficient.

What I was pointing at is that loading level on an SSD can be done in 12.3 seconds, while the (desktop) HDD takes twice as long. In my book that's quite a lot.

Edit: ah but you said that already.

 

Well I use it for many things but Im a gamer too!. This thing makes loading times FASTER!. For example COD MW2 fully loads from desktop to in-game in less than 20 secs . My 5400 spinner makes 41-45 secs...

Also everything installs faster!. Cold boots to in-games are very small, this is great for LAN parties!

 

Phill , which combo will be better for general stuff and gaming

128GB C300 for main drive and 500GB Momentus for games drive

or

160GB Intel + momentus

... i'm going to be playing games , CAD and other engineering stuff..

 

The C300 will beat the pants off of any consumer SSD if you give it the ability to use SATA3 (6 Gb/s).

It really depends on price if you have a SATA2 (3Gb/s) laptop. Also, you should consider whether or not 32GB is crucial (not intended) to you.

 

Do you mean Momentus XT? Momentus XT is designed for holding the OS. If you're going to place games and data on it, it won't have much benefit because there's only 4GB to work with. Unless you want to play the same level over and over.

As for C300 vs. Intel: Real life differences on a SATA II laptop controller will be small. But at the same price I'd definitely go for C300.

If you can wait give it some time, Storagereview will publish a review soon with C300 vs. Intel 160GB. It will include gaming benchmarks afaik.

 

i have decided on a C300 but i still got 24 days so i'll wait... still not confirmed whether i'm getting a G73 or not.. this really sucks