P15xSM build, Raid 0 mSSD + HDD or SSD + HDD

I know the P150 has only 1 HDD slot while the P157 has 2. But I've just been tinkering with potential builds. My current P150EM runs a single Intel 520 240GB SSD and that's it. I'm always hurting for storage now especially since I've started downloading my watch later list on youtube and games like Titanfall are literally a quarter of my drive.

I will always want an optical drive so removing that is out of the question.

But looking at for example a P157 build which would you recommend:

RAID 0 (2 x 250GB) Samsung 840 EVO mSATA SSDs + 1TB 7200rpm HDD
(roughly a $360 bump on XoticPC's NP8258-S)

or

500GB Samsung 840 EVO SSD + 1TB 7200rpm HDD
(roughly a $290 bump on XoticPC's NP8258-S)

 

Hi !

Your first configuration is compatible with the P150SM, wich have two mstat slots !
But choosing without regarding weight of computer, i will chose the second one, the performances improvment is not extra with a RAID 0 ( imo, it's useless ) , one SSD is already really fast !
the RAID 0 speed difference is not that noticeable, but the price IS ! ^^ , and RAID 0 multiply chances of failures

Hope it helped

Elipsus

 

I agree with Elipsus. And not just because that's the same configuration I have in my Lenovo lol

 

I'm gonna disagree and suggest option 1, not because it cost more but because it will leave you with an open second hard drive bay so you can add even more storage in the future if you want. Its true that you wont see much real world difference in RAID 0 mSATA vs single SSD, so just go single larger mSATA.

 

I would skip the raid. You will have a lot more space with the 1TB drive. If you really have to, you can get mSATA drives later for more space.

 

I'd get a 500GB mSATA + 1TB 7200rpm drive.

That gives you the best options for upgrading in the future.

 

Ok, so if I understand this right. RAID 0 mSATA SSD is not really that much better than a single SATA SSD. What about a single mSATA SSD vs a SATA SSD. Is the performance going to be the same? Also, as far as future upgrading goes, a 1TB drive is about 10x more space than I'll ever need for storage. I like the idea of a 500GB SSD because I don't see myself ever filling it completely with programs, but the HDD is because I have the option. I would consider upgrading the current storage on my laptop since there is an mSATA connector but it is only SATA II so I don't want to lose the performance.

But that aside, I'm curious now as I didn't expect some of the responses I see. I thought RAID 0 is supposed to boost performance. Also, the whole single mSATA vs SATA has me irked as if there is a large performance difference, I'd definitely swing toward the better performance.

 

So long as you get a decent one you can assume an msata will perform the same as it's 2.5" cousin.

don't get two smaller ones on purpose to raid though.

 

RAID 0 mSATA is typically twice as fast with read/write speeds but not something you'd actually notice since one by itself is really fast.

 

Also larger drives can have faster small file speeds.

 

I prefer 2 option !

 

Maximum PC magazine tested raid SSD drives and found they were not much faster than just a single SSD. So no, they were not twice as fast as might be expected.

On the old models mSATA was slower than SATA. But on the SM series they interfaces are both just as fast as each other. So the only difference will be individual drive differences. The only concern with mSATA is there are less drives, which can affect pricing, choices, and availibility.

So I recomend a big HDD and one big SSD. If you think you will need more space later, then get a big mSATA SSD?

 

Msata means you can add another msata and another 2.5 inch hdd later for more space.

 

Well, I think I have this figured out, after some recent hardware purchases though I won't be purchasing a new laptop even remotely soon. Thanks everyone for your input. What I took away from this is if I have two SATA slots, then SSD + HDD. If I have only one SATA slot but have full speed mSATA, then mSSD + HDD. Unfortunately, I'm sticking with my same beast and its mSATA slot is SATA II which is a complete turn off from me using it. I plan to just upgrade to a ballpark figure of a 500GB SSD soon after I've had time to tinker with my new coming CPU and GPU.