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    Best mSATA choices for the dv6-7XXX

    Discussion in 'HP' started by kisetsu17, Jul 6, 2012.

  1. kisetsu17

    kisetsu17 Took me long enough

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    So I'm contemplating buying an mSATA drive for my dv6. Note that my dv6 didn't come with one, nor was it available in Singapore. Opened my laptop, though, and found the slot where it goes under the left palmrest.

    So, yeah. I'm looking to see which mSATAs are good choices for this one. I'm looking at at least a 32gb one or at most a 64gb, just for cache purposes.
    Here are my questions:

    1. What do I have to consider when I look for/buy one, aside from brand and size, and whether it's SATA-II or SATA-III compatible? (my HDD, sadly, is SATA-II only)
    2. Would it be a plug-and-play scenario where once I boot up I can set up the mSATA as a cache drive?
    3. What would be the best 32gb or 64gb mSATA performance-wise? Price-wise?

    Hopefully I can see one for sale that can be shipped internationally. :p Thanks!
     
  2. quasi51

    quasi51 Notebook Consultant

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    Hi,

    I'm going to make a separate post about this in the main section but I just added a 120GB OCZ Nocti to my DV6t-Quad. My machine came with the 32GB cache so I swapped it out. So now I have 2 drives...windows/programs installed on the 120GB mSATA and the 1TB Samsung HDD with all of my data. Working great...

    If you want to go with a cache it'd be worth thinking about how many programs you use commonly. If Windows + those programs exceed 32GB worth of data then you might want to think about a 64GB drive. My guess is that 32GB is sufficient for most people. If it were me I'd go with the cheapest 32GB Sandforce drive I could find. Sandforce's architecture reduces the actual amount of writing to the drive which should extend it's life, though the endurance of most consumer SSDs should exceed the laptops they're installed in anyway.

    My understand is that once you have it installed you set it up as a cache drive through the intel rapid storage software. The cache drive doesn't have to be installed in the machine prior to installing windows. It will build the cache off of your existing 750GB/1TB HDD install.
     
  3. kisetsu17

    kisetsu17 Took me long enough

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    I'm actually thinking of getting a 64gb one, since I also often use a lot of Adobe programs, some games, and other stuff.

    I'm currently looking at the Kingston MS100. Is it a good choice?

    EDIT:

    I'm choosing between these two.

    http://www.ebay.ph/itm/KingSpec-Min...Disk_Drives&hash=item4ab4035105#ht_1189wt_905

    and

    http://www.ebay.ph/itm/Kingston-SSD...LH_DefaultDomain_211&hash=item3a765918d7#shId.

    The KingSpec is a chinese one I think, but it says it has faster R/W speeds and its lifespan is also indicated there. As opposed to the Kingston which is known, but slower (255/170)