News : WD launches dual SSD/HD drive

Sorry if already posted.

WD launches dual SSD/HD drive and 4-bay My Cloud storage | ZDNet

John.

 

I wonder what sort of SSD controller it uses...

 

Indeed, I wonder if they went with SandForce to cut costs? WD was actually among the first to offer a consumer grade SSD (the SiliconEdge line), and they had their own controller which performed well and was pretty reliable...

 

$300 MSRP, 5400 RPM platter, JMicron controller - no inherent caching algorithm (manual only)...

Do NOT buy this.

 

This sounds like one of those all-in-one tv/vcr/dvd boxes, or microwave/conventional ovens, or washer/dryer combos, or DYI toolboxes..

How do those perform?

Rhetorical.

 

indeed, it looks great on paper IF you don't read the details...

poor controller, with no caching options, we don't know the quality of the software/firmware as well. given how sata works...

 

Here is an link to the specification in a PDF from the WD Website.

http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/library/SpecSheet/ENG/2879-800011.pdf

John.

 

I don't get the point of this drive, if it doesn't cache, nor give users access to the SSD, might as well buy a 500 GB SSD.

 

No caching, but it 'only' gives access to the SSD by default: after you download and install the driver/software, it let's you have access to the 1TB platters (2x 500GB) - but; only on a Windows platform.


The point that 'they listened to the power users' and allowed them to have access to both the SSD and the platter drive without at least offering a caching solution is the stupidest thing I've heard in a while.



Sheesh!

 

The SSD controller is a JMICRON



Western Digital Black2 Dual Drive Full Review - 120GB SSD + 1TB HDD in a single 2.5" package | Internals, Testing Methodology and System Setup

 

JMicron quality for the win, definitely not getting this one folks.

 

At 9.5mm in height this drive may not fit is some thin laptops.

JMICRON for the uninformed masses.

 

Most ultrabooks use 7mm or mSATA drives. Plus who would put a mechanical drive into an ultrabook..

 

Took em long enough, almost 4 years later: http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...grades/461573-hows-idea-ssds-hard-drives.html

My patent checks should be rolling in any day now.

 

please explain.

guess i need to mod an SSD or get an express card ssd and 2TB still eh? maybe they will make abetter version that is 2TB later.

 

"please explain."


If we have the option to put two drives in the system we're interested in: then spending $300 for this setup is simply wasteful.

If we need the capacity and would use/enjoy the performance an SSD would bring in a system with only one drive bay: the JMicron controller is not going to give us that performance, at least not sustained, over time (and certainly not at that capacity point either if we were to properly take OP'ing into account: at 30%).

While the option to use the drives separately seems ideal: it's not when you just want the system to work at it's fastest with (almost) any workload you throw at it. For example: if you have to consider where to install/store your O/S, programs and data (each time) this is not efficient. If however, there was a good caching software installed that would juggle the data in an optimum fashion - on the fly - then the $100 'extra' for this setup may be worth it for a specific machine (with only one drive bay). However; there is no caching software offered with this device at this time.


If the system in question had two drive bays (2x 2.5" SATA III or 1x 2.5" SATA III and 1 mSATA, etc.) then you are paying around $100 too much for this device/setup. Not only are you paying a premium, but you're getting inferior SSD tech (JMicron controller) at half the capacity - and a 1TB drive with around 60% less performance than a 7200 RPM version (or; half the capacity again if you want to stay at 5400 RPM).



So yeah: Do NOT buy this is all you need to know (unless the current single drive bay system you're using is so great you want to upgrade it a little, for a lot $$$).



...

 

Tiller - this is designed for a single drive laptop as it stated. Not everyone will go spend another $1000 just to have two drive bays and likely have a larger and thicker laptop than they want, just to be able to "save" $100. This is also not designed for a system "to work at its fastest". Not everyone needs maximum ultimate speed. It's a compromise, please understand that term.

Caching software is a bust, too, IMHO. It's an even worse compromise. Of course if they give users the option of enabling a cache for specified % of the SSD that would be the best of all worlds, and that may still come. Granted with mSATA and M.2/NGFF moving in, the need for such a device will quickly become moot. But I wouldn't say it's a niche customer base. MANY laptops contain only a single SATA slot, and this lets users have both SSD speed and capacity of an HDD without having to decide one or the other. Plus the form factor and power consumption I'm sure will rapidly evolve so it's less of a constraint.

 

HTWingNut,

You said the 'C' word!!! "Compromise'... 'shudder'.


Yeah; you're right - but spending $100 more for a small/outclassed JMicron SSD and a slow lumbering 1TB HDD does not scream 'balance' to me in any sense of the word (especially when that $300 cost may be 60% to 100% of the price of the system it will be going into).

Granted; we're considering systems with a single drive bay... and, it seems that it will bring to those systems much more capability...


And while it would take another doubling of that $300 asking price to 'do it right' at this time (aka; a 'proven/modern' 1TB SSD), to me that is a much more forward looking route than messing with 2010 era tech that is finally launched at the tail end of 2013...


Don't put spoilers on your Pinto's and don't put mag's on your Accord's either. Save the 'real and substantial' money you're able to spend now... rather; save it for a balanced system that you'll be able to afford that much sooner in the (near) future instead.


Oh; and that capacity you so desperately need now? (Get an external for ~$50 this Black Friday).

 

HT had it right. I see this as a very niche product for devices that have only one bay and no mSATA port.

To play devil's advocate for a second, perhaps the JMicron controller was not by choice, but by space and/or compatibility constraints.

Think about what they've done for a second. They crammed two devices into not only one housing, but into one interface as well. A single port and the OS sees two drives. I personally think it's impressive.

That being said, it's a tiny market segment and there's really no future in it. It's physically too big for some devices, and only works with Windows. What product manager thought this was a good idea?

 

I think it's a great idea, just not implemented as well as it could have been.

 

It would be very ideal for my Ultrabook, where I do not have option for SSD. Unfortunately 9mm is too thick and should not be more than $150. I rather still waiting for the the 7mm version of the WD Black SSHD.

 

let me stop there, i do NOT have that option my gaming laptop only has 1 sata port. is this still a piece of crap? is better than just plain a 1TB drive?

 

A piece of crap? No, I wouldn't go that far. But at $300 it is an expensive pile of something.


For that kind of money, you are already at a good/great 240/256GB SSD + an external HDD if capacity is the driving factor. Or, alternately - a 1TB, 1.5TB or 2TB HDD if capacity is the ONLY driving factor.


For me; the driving factor is performance - and with a JMicron controller, 128GB of nand and 5400 RPM platters - performance (sustained, over time) does not seem to part of this equation.

Worse: being a new product to market, it could run fine for a few hours, weeks, months and suddenly take out all those GB's of data you may be storing on there (of course, any storage subsystem device is susceptible to this - and that is what backups are for - but a newly released model is even more so - exponentially more so 'potentially').


So, let me put myself in your shoes.

One drive bay. What do I do?

If I can't spend for a 1TB SSD - I buy a 512GB SSD.

If I can't spend for a 512GB SSD - I buy a 240/256GB SSD.

If I can't spend for a 240/256GB SSD - I don't buy anything (now I'm in saving mode until I can do one of the above...).


What about the capacity I want/need/crave for my data? I find other solutions (external drives (USB 3.0), NAS, cloud, etc.).

Yeah; that's how important it is to have an SSD and NO HDD on the portable computers I use.


We always have options. Always.

The decisions we make should be forward thinking - not planted in yesteryear's mindset (or mentality of 'having to live with it': here, I'm talking about HDD's).

And if at the end of the day you really, really need the capacity (with you) - then a HDD only solution is still the most bang for the buck - and will actually get you to a real 'setup' by saving you money and letting you upgrade to a system that is better matched to your workflow quicker than spending money needlessly now (and with greatly increasing the risk to your workflow, data and pocketbook).



Good luck.

 

I should have specified my 1TB drive only has 14% free space and i only have about 2/3 of my steam games installed and i want performance AND storage .... and i just forgot this a 1TB SSHD... i'm an idiot I was thinking of a 2TB SSHD whihc isn't announced/out yet but, even then i guess we don't know if it's good or boots up fast yet.

aside form me being an idiot i'm looking for speed and performance, at least untill IF/when Triturbo figures out how to install/mod a second sata port on the acer 5920g but, i'm rambling now.

yeah it is kind of low end but, i bought it 1 part at a time since i don't ever have all the money at once for a better unit. also i do not about 15" laptops with 2 HHD slots + optical drive and cooling then again this is NBR so maybe i ought make a thread about that.

I guess you hit the nail on the head as far as getting a 2TB drive. in the back of mind i guess i'm fully expecting a 2TB SSHD only god knows the price of one if it ever comes out.