The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    some SSD questions..

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Kossel, Nov 7, 2008.

  1. Kossel

    Kossel Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    120
    Messages:
    356
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hi

    After i read all those SSD guides.

    i understand there are SLC and MLC, mlc are faster in sequence read/write, cheaper, but slowww random access. SLC are more expensive (almost twice) faster in random access

    my questions are:

    1- what task relate to random access? installing stuff? saving stuffs?
    2- how slow are MLC in random access compare to a sata 5400 RPM hard drive? (would be nice if someone give me numbers comparison)
    3- does it worth to buy a 32GB MLC SSD instead of a 320/250 GB 7200RPM hdd for my notebook? ( i actually don't save lots big stuff in my notebook like .isos, videos etc..)
    4- will SLC price drop to MLC in one year?
     
    Kossel, Nov 7, 2008
    #1
  2. f4ding

    f4ding Laptop Owner

    Reputations:
    261
    Messages:
    2,085
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I can't answer all of them, but I know the random access part, it's pretty much everytime your machine needs to read something from the harddrive. Except if you have a large file, say a video file, then it will be able to access the first file and keep reading from it, almost like a tape. Whereas random access is like going fast forward or rewind a tape to get to specific song. So it is pretty much everytime Windows needs something.

    For what it's worth, I bought a 30GB (32GB, but actual after format is only 30GB usable) Samsung SLC. I also don't store much video's etc. I must say I wish I have a 64GB instead (Vista alone take about 17GB, about 8GB for programs, about 5GB for storage). But the drive is fast, it is the access time that makes the difference, not transfer rate. I'm loving it and am glad I got this instead of the MLC.
     
    f4ding, Nov 7, 2008
    #2
  3. Kossel

    Kossel Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    120
    Messages:
    356
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I actually have 120gb 5400RPM but i don't know how to check my random access speed :S since hdtach doesnt run on vista, and hdtune seems not having this function
     
    Kossel, Nov 7, 2008
    #3
  4. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,389
    Messages:
    10,552
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    456
    That's odd. I benched my HD using HDTune on Vista. 15.4ms for my WD SE2 640GB drive on eSATA.
     
    sgogeta4, Nov 7, 2008
    #4
  5. davepermen

    davepermen Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,972
    Messages:
    7,788
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    hdtach runs on vista. just rightclick on the shortcut, properties. and there somewhere compatibility "windows xp sp2" and "run as administrator". after that, you can simply start that shortcut, get an UAC promt, and then it runs.

    random write speed is the mlc problem. when ever some small files get written. happens quite often. no details, i just got up :)
     
    davepermen, Nov 7, 2008
    #5