HDD/SSD/mSATA Questions

I'm building my NP9150 now and was planning on just getting a 750 GB HDD @7200 RPMS, but my dad said I should really consider an SSD, whether it be my primary hard drive or an mSATA SSD. The problem is that I don't know too much about hard drives, so I have a few questions.

1. What is an mSATA ssd? Is it like a second hard drive?

2. Does Intel SRT work automatically or do I need to choose what's loaded on it? Also, if I get an mSATA SSD that's preconfigured for Intel SRT, can I change it's configuration for an OS? Is using it for an OS better or is SRT better?

3. How do I use a second hard drive? Is it just like having an external hard drive, or do they appear like the same hard drive?

4. Would it be more cost effective to just get an SSD as my primary hard drive? Would it be faster? I heard something about the 150EM not having an SATA III port, or something along those lines. More to the point, what would be the best way to take advantage of the situation without spending too much?

5. Would it be better to just get the 750GB now, and upgrade to a full SSD later, since the price will probably fall?

I think that's all for now, I'm a little all over the place. Thank you in advance.

Edit: Another question: What's the deal with SSD's dying? How dangerous is it to get one, and are mSATA SSD's prone to dying as well?

 

First, the np9150 does have 1x SATA3 port, 1x optical bay, which you can install a harddrive caddy( SATA2 port), and the mSATA slot, which is SATA2 speeds. So, 3 harddrive slots potentially.

1. Its an ssd, with no casing, and uses a slightly different plug to connect to the motherboard. Windows treats it like another harddrive. For all intents and purposes for the np9150, its the same as an SSD.
2. You can change from SRT to OS............ but it will require effort, so choose carefully before buying please. Save yourself the headache....
SRT vs OS... I put my OS on a SSD, and put my games on an HDD. I use the msata port as extra storage, you may not even find a use for it.
I don't know much more about SRT because I don't use it.
3. You know how USB keys or external harddrives show up in windows? Having multiple harddrives shows up the same. You choose what you put on it, and you can name the other harddrives whatever you want.
4. SSD are slightly cheaper than MSata SSDs and it all depends. My setup is a SSD configured as OS, and I keep my userprofiles an files on the HDD. Also I install programs on the SSD. To be honest, there isn't too big a significance for daily tasks if you're on SSD or HDD with the 150EM. Everything runs so damn fast to begin with. There is a bit of difference with game loading though, especially with modern games which are much larger than older games.
5. The cheapest option is to get a 64 or 128 gb SSD, put your OS on it, and keep the 500gb HDD that comes with the 150EM (assuming you buy the SSD separately). IE. you have two harddrives in the end.
You get more storage, stability, and its a good safety net if the SSD fails, then you still have your files on the HDD.
A 512 GB SSD from crucial costs 400 dollars, but a 128gb ssd is around 100$ or less.
6. Go with intel or crucial or Samsung, in my opinion anyways. They have relatively low failure rates, and another part of the sager will probably die before the ssd. There are also tweaks you can do in the windows settings to avoid unnecessary writes to the SSD, which helps with the lifespan.
SSDs have a theoretical lifespan because you can only write to the drive so many times. My impression is that SSDs are still developing, and personally I can't attest to how long SSDs last. So I can't really say for sure: 5 years or 10 years. But I have confidence it will last me at least that long. The failures you hear about in reviews look like random manufacturing failures.
msata SSDs are the same as SSDs in this case, so same above thing applies.

 

Thank you very much for responding, everything has been cleared up. I think I'll end up getting a 128GB Crucial M4 mSATA SSD (preconfigured as an OS Drive) and a 750GB HDD for the rest of my files. Thanks again!

 

thats a solid configuration right there, whole lotta bang for your buck. :thumbsup: