Should I go with SSD or stay with HDD

[Medessec]

If I could find a 500GB SSD for $150 from Intel or Samsung I would be all over it. Until that day comes I will keep on using the traditional 7200RPM 2.5" HD's in my laptops because the price / storage capacity cannot be beat. I might be convinced to go to 320GB but that would be the smallest I'd be willing to go.

Yes, I understand that if you crave space, SSDs are definitely not the way to go at the moment... I struggle with my Intel 128GB all the time. It is undoubtedly wicked fast, but because I'm always downloading installers, my friend's works, media, and other things, my downloads folder is constantly filled with random crap, and I have to prune it to keep my SSD from being choked up. Of course, I'm not stupid... all my music, pictures, video work, games and bigger program files (CS5, Vegas Pro, Office) are all on my WDC 1TB, but it is still a challenge keeping my SSD freed up.

But yeah- an SSD combined with a big HDD is the only practical combination. Fortunately, Thinkpads make it possible thanks to their UltraBay HDD tray. An SSD only just isn't good enough yet- high capacity SSDs are far too expensive.

And good god that's quite a storage setup. I could use a storage system... probably not that big, but definitely something reliable to store my projects.

[wolfman]

Crucial mSATA drives are getting close... Amazon.com has the 480gb for $229, 240gb for $109 (and the 240gb Intel 530 series for $149).

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BQ8 ... PDKIKX0DER

[ajkula66]

I'd argue that if one knows how to trim their OS and only install the bare minimum of other programs on the SSD, 64GB is plenty of space.

Take it from someone who sports a 32GB Intel X25-E SLC SSD as a boot drive with W7 and Office 2007 installed, with some 40% of the drive still free...

[wolfman]

I'd argue that if one knows how to trim their OS and only install the bare minimum of other programs on the SSD, 64GB is plenty of space.

Take it from someone who sports a 32GB Intel X25-E SLC SSD as a boot drive with W7 and Office 2007 installed, with some 40% of the drive still free...

Agreed, a full Ubuntu 12.04 installation with open office, Firefox, etc installed takes a little over 5gb of space.

[ducky2802]

A full win 7 ult. SP1 with office + browser - pagefile -hibernation is around 9gb. I use 30gb SSDs in my servers with enterprise 2tb drives and they run just fine. Each of the (3) 30gb ssd (vertex 1) died within the 3yr warranty period. Ive since used intel x25, kingston, sandisk, crucial, mushkin, and samsung (most of which are return/refurbs or bottom of the barrel on sale specials) without problem ~2-3 years now.

[Medessec]

I'd argue that if one knows how to trim their OS and only install the bare minimum of other programs on the SSD, 64GB is plenty of space.

It's absolutely true... although it is mostly down to the sort of work you do on your computer. However there are some apparent exceptions; such as my odd roommate, who fills his Hard Drives up with "something", that he doesn't even know what it is, and all of his Hard Drives and SSD are constantly filled to the brim, choking Windows, and the page file... and running the HDD/SDD data controllers ragged.

But I should probably mention that although I have my 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD combo, which I struggle to maintain... my X60T has *only* a cheap OCZ 64GB SSD in it, which has CS5 and Office on it. That I also struggle a bit... but I don't take as much care as I do with my Clevo(128GB SSD+1TB HDD) and it does just fine(usually has 10-15GB free.)

Crucial mSATA drives are getting close... Amazon.com has the 480gb for $229, 240gb for $109 (and the 240gb Intel 530 series for $149).

480GB for $229 is pretty good... but again- WDC is offering those 1TB HDD Hybrid Drives with a 120GB SSD cache at about the same price... and it isn't like those stupid Seagate Hybrids where the HDD's own devices decide what goes on the cache... WDC provides software that gives you more control. And if you have two HDD bays(which I personally think everyone should have anyway) You can get a 1TB, possibly even a 1.5TB and pair it with a 160GB SSD very easily for less than that price.

SSDs may be getting a bit better, and it'll be going faster and faster due to the increasing demand for flash and chip-based storage, but those plain-old HDDs are still on their toes, and still leaping forward just as SSDs are. HDDs are a lot better off than they were a decade ago too- so it's no surprise people are still buying them.

Each of the (3) 30gb ssd (vertex 1) died within the 3yr warranty period.

Both my X60T's SSD and the one in my roommate's computer are 64GB OCZ Vertex IIs...!

I don't keep anything too important on my X60T though. Granted, it would be highly inconvenient if the SSD kicked the bucket, because then I'd have to waste a few hours of my life re-installing Windows 7, CS5, and Office. But all my artwork is stored on flash drives and an online repository. My roommate... I have no idea what his mindset is. Probably not a very responsible one.

[pianowizard]

If I could find a 500GB SSD for $150 from Intel or Samsung I would be all over it.

This will happen soon. Just several days ago, Rakuten (formerly Buy.com) had the Samsung 1TB SSD for $420 plus $42 Rakuten credit, i.e. a final cost of $378 assuming the $42 shopping credit got spent. I predict that this coming Black Friday, it will drop to nearly $300, and some 500GB SSD will get very close to $150.

[A31]

Yeah they are getting cheaper. I remember my first SSD which I bought in October 2011 (a 128GB Crucial M4) was £160. You can now get a 256GB Crucial M500 for little over £100 and a 256GB Samsung Evo Basic SSD for about £115, whilst 128GB drives are typically about £70-80.

Give it another year or so and 512GB SSDs will really come down in price I think.

[Saucey]

...who fills his Hard Drives up with "something"

[ajkula66]

Both my X60T's SSD and the one in my roommate's computer are 64GB OCZ Vertex IIs...!

If these are ones with Indilinx - not SandForce - controllers they are actually excellent drives in my experience. I've deployed a plethora of Indilinx-based OCZ SSDs and haven't had one fail yet.

[Medessec]

It is really hilarious... everytime he deletes something big, Windows instantly fills the new free space with page file or temporary files... or something. So it just stays full

If these are ones with Indilinx - not SandForce - controllers they are actually excellent drives in my experience. I've deployed a plethora of Indilinx-based OCZ SSDs and haven't had one fail yet.

I wasn't sure how to tell which mine has... so I shut off my X60T, took out the SSD, and... welp, it says "Indilinx Infused" right on the top cover.

So I guess you can count my testimony onto the good experience with these SSDs...

[AIX]

I've started using an SSD two years ago. First - the 128GB Samsung PM810 that came with my T420s, one year later I've upgraded to a 256GB Crucial M4 (and moved the 128GB SSD in my family's T60), and after one more year to a 480GB Crucial M500 (the biggest drive I've ever had ). Yeah, it feels great, I'm wondering if I'll go to 1TB in 2015 - still, I don't think the prices will go down so much, probably 2016 will be the year of the affordable-TB.

[Temetka]

I just received a 250GB SSD for my T410. It's the Samsung 840 EVO. Okay, I know it's not 500GB like I said, but it's twice as large the SSD this machine came with. That gives me a lot more breathing room. Right now I have almost 180GB free. That leaves me more than enough room to install Linux Mint 17 KDE when it launches in a few weeks. I was going to dedicate 20GB to Linux and leave the rest for Windows / data share between the 2 OS's. With the 120GB SSD after Windows, Office+apps and leaving 20% free space it would have been very tight to squeeze linux in there. Do able, just tight. With today's storage capacities being what they are, there is no reason for that.

Now I need to figure out what to do with the spare 120GB SSD I have laying around.

[ThinkPad560X]

I just bought a 120GB HDD for $18.00 and getting rid of the 16GB SSD I have in my Z60m. I have XP Pro on it and tired of the blip saying not enought free disk space. I have the bear installed on it, and google chrome maxed it at 204MB free space and cannot install the latest Adoble Flash. I remember 120GB HDD costing alot and was huge back in the 2004 when I got that for my R40, Even got a 160GB HDD for my T40 back then too. I got the 16GB SSD and their was the option for 32GB to 64GB was the highest you could get and the most $$. Cant wait till 1TB-2TB SSD are in the $80-$100 range like some HDDs are today.

[ThinkPad560X]

What is the largest SSD out now?

[ajkula66]

What is the largest SSD out now?

1TB, if you're referring to something that would fit in a PC and the actual humans can afford.

[Temetka]

My 250GB EVO is still running strong. As of this moment I have 95GB free. I no longer dual boot between Windows and Linux on this computer. As much as I love linux, I can't use it as my daily OS while supporting MS AD environments. I tried, and found a lot of work arounds and stuff, but it the end I was spending more time trying to get linux to what Windows already was doing just fine. So for now I have linux on my D630 spare laptop and it runs great. (The performance of linux has never been an issue, it runs very fast.)

Regarding SSD's: I've been watching the prices of 480GB SSD's fall a lot. I am thinking maybe around June of 2015 I will pick one up. I still carry a 500GB HDD in a 2.5" USB enclosure with me for my movies, music, and whatnot. So when I go dual SSD in my T410, I can dedicate the 500GB drive to be my backup drive.

[pianowizard]

This will happen soon. Just several days ago, Rakuten (formerly Buy.com) had the Samsung 1TB SSD for $420 plus $42 Rakuten credit, i.e. a final cost of $378 assuming the $42 shopping credit got spent. I predict that this coming Black Friday, it will drop to nearly $300, and some 500GB SSD will get very close to $150.

I made the above prediction in this thread back on Mar 24, 2014. It was pretty close. On or around Black Friday last month, Amazon had 480GB for $160 and 1TB for $320.