replacing the mSATA SSD on a computer..

I'm thinking of popping in a bigger mSATA cache drive on my AW18.. currently there is a 80GB and I have access to a 240GB one that I'd like to install...

My question is... do I need to do anything in terms of windows to prepare the computer for this? or is it just a matter of power down, replace 80GB with 240 and plug-n-play?

It is a Cache drive, not a boot drive...

 

Well, Porkins. If it's a cache drive, you will want to disable acceleration in the Intel RST control panel first. Then shut down and do the swap.

But better yet, why don't you make the mSATA your OS and programs drive, then use your RAID 0 array for files and storage? That's what I've done (I've got a full sized SSD, not an mSATA). Your mSATA as a boot drive will be far faster than the RAID 0.

 

programs would take up way too much space....as it is I've used up over 800GB... Ij just wonder for cacheing, does the added GB make much difference, i.e. is it worth it to drop a 240GB cache drive in there in the first place?

 

Not sure. All's I know is the larger sized mSATA allows for more data to be cached at a single time. It will depend on how much data you request versus how much the RAID 0 volume can deliver at one time.

I'm curious on how many programs/games you've got to have filled up 800GB worth. That's a lot by any standards. A third option would also be leaving your mSATA a your OS drive, and keeping your programs on the RAID 0.

 

Read a few articles that say intel doesn't support more than 64 GB for cache or at least there is a massive diminishing return. Not sure if this is still current info is it might not be worth the trouble..

As 800 GB,,,. I frankly don't know. I have something like 65GB of installed games and software and the rest I can't figure out. Maybe system backups?? Unlike on my Mac, the file system in windows these days seems very hard to sort thru.,

 

While it's true that the Intel software doesn't support caching capacities larger than 64GB for the SSD - that is simply a software limitation.

Even Ananad (2 years ago?) found that caching with less than a 256GB SSD was not worth it if consistent, sustained performance is the goal.

At that capacity or larger; may as well put your O/S and programs directly on an SSD and have it be as fast as possible (even over a caching setup).

 

please let us know your results, i am thinking about doing the same thing.