Question about SSD SSHD & Intel Smart Response Technology

Sorry if I placed this in the wrong thread.

As I came across an old article, it seems that Intels SRT idea is pretty similar to Seagates Momentus XT drives, cept a larger cache instead of the XT's 4gb by using the SSD. So my question is, since I bought an new SSD and already own a SSHD(XT), are there any recommendations to use the Intel SRT? Also, if I were to use the Intel SRT, do I still put the OS (Boot drive) on the SSD?

This is for a gaming computer, and I bought the OCZ Vertex 3 SSD drive.

 

If the gaming computer is a notebook, you don't have to think further.
Intel Smart response Technology is at the moment only for the desktop chipset Z78 available. Maybe in the future also for mobile chipsets.
The cache(SSD) is transparent to the OS, it see's only the HDD.
The caching is handled by the Intel Raid ROM and the Intel Rapid Storage Technology software.

 

So does that mean I drop the OS on the SSHD?

Would it be worth it for me to do it then? With the SSD(SRT) and SSHD(XT)

 

Intel SRT in my experience is not worth the time or hassle to implement. Especially if/when any issues arise.

Why?

Because a 40 - 60 % improvement in 'scores' is meaningless when a +45x improvement in scores gives a ~15% increase in perceived 'feel' to a system.

See:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/7817512-post27.html

See:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/7992953-post61.html

This doesn't matter whether it will become available on notebooks or you're thinking about a desktop system now.

To see anything worthwhile (performance-wise) - install the O/S on an SSD and the Users folder on a partitioned HDD (in a two drive bay system).

Good luck.

 

ah, wow, when i first bought the XT drive, i had no idea what i was in for, a few years later and damn, i cant find it at the price i bought it for, and the ppl on the forums are saying so much good things about it.

I'm thinking of installing the O/S and my primary game (currently Battlefield 3) on the SSD, and everything else on my secondary (SSHD), or should I just leave the SSD alone w/ the O/S? It's a 60 GB SSD

edit: +1 btw

 

Intel SRT is not FancyCache!
According to the real world tests that I read, it delivers about the same speed(boot, program opening, etc.) as a SSD after a while, same as the XT does, but better.
If I could, I would at least give it a try!

 

+rep to this.

I read this awesome advice, and then later went back to see the name of the the wise man that posted it. And I was not surprised at all to see TilleroftheEarth's name there

I agree with TilleroftheEarth... don't use it.

The only real advantage of Intel SRT is the convenience of having all of your data accessible from a single partition. If you prioritize convenience over performance, then use Intel SRT. Once it is enabled, all of the data handling happens in hardware. The Windows 7 OS sees it as a single drive (very much like how a RAID array shows up as a single drive to the OS).

If you prioritize performance over convenience... I would load your OS + apps + most played games on your SSD, and use the mechanical HDD to store everything else (music, videos, photos, etc).

 

I tried it. I wanted it to wow me - (think of an XT on steriods, or, eBoostr done right) and in the end I set up the SSD/HDD as I recommended above and it blew it out of the water.

I agree that I SRT is not FancyCache (FC blew up my computer, needed full rebuild) - but even assuming full reliability of the caching method, 102x the 'score' of an XT gave less than 15% better 'feel' in the system.

That is how little a 'good enough' storage subsystem contributes to the 'performance' feel of a system.

With I SRT's up to 60% speedup, overall it is a no brainer that using another layer between you and your data for such a small performance increase is not worth the trouble (for me). YMMV.

Where I see I SRT to be useful is not in the use of high performance HDD's - but rather the old, slow and barely data storage capable 5400 RPM drives - such as what is shipping with HP's DV7 6197ca currently (what a joke that storage sub-system is on that otherwise good/great platform).

But, if you're using the latest 'tech' to make obsolete (5400 RPM has been obsolete to me since I stopped using the WD Scorpio Blue 500GB HDD in 2009?) hardware 'adequate', that is not the best use of the technology - nor will it give you best of class performance - no matter how good the theory or the numbers/scores are - I've tried it.