A few SSD questions

[lfg]

Ok, im currently in the process of building a new computer. Actually just finding the parts i want at the moment, but i really want to get an SSD drive to run my os(windows 7) while having another hard drive be the main storage. A few questions arise.

By using the SSD just for running the os will the life be extended because of less read/write cycles or is it going to be the same?

How much tinkering would i have to do to make sure the SSD is at full potential with the os?

Is it worth it?

[-FMA]

How much are you looking to spend on this new computer? I think that might help us know if factoring in a SSD is worth it.

[lfg]

Im looking at anywhere between 1000 and 1500 total in cost. Currently im at 1000 with all the parts including a WD raptor harddrive but not including the ssd drive. Since i would be running the ssd drive for booting and running the os I was thinking a 30 gb ssd drive should be sufficent for that purpose. Is this the case or im being naive.

Another option i can do is to not even get the WD raptor drive and stick that money into an ssd drive as well. Though the price of a 250 gb which would match my current drive costs around 900 dollars and seems out of my price range.

[stroyal]

Welcome to TechIMO!

My thoughts are that, 2 or 3 Raptors woulds be a better setup.

Your system drive gets used the most.
SSD are just too expensive to be worth it yet.

If you have enough memory you only use the system drive to boot and load programs.

The simplest backup scheme is to put everything into my documents on the system drive and back it up with a second drive.

30gigs will get used up fast for most people today.

2 Raptors in RAID 0 and a 3rd drive equal to the size of the pair for backup, is all you need.

Edit; You probably don't need the RAID, but it does speed up loading and booting. I like mine.

[lfg]

That is the kind of reasoning i was looking for thank you. I really wanted the ssd but i think its mostly because i don't know anybody with one and wanted to try it out.

I realize that RAID 0 has increased drive performance. Are you making it a combination of 1 and 0 with the added drive for more protection? I guess i wouldn't know how to set that up.

[stroyal]

I like RAID 0, with a backup program that backs up once a day, as opposed to 0+1.
0+1 may even slow you down as it mirrors constantly.
It keeps a copy of your whole system drive. This is just not needed for your average user.

You just need to backup your important data.

RAID doubles you chances of loosing a drive, and loosing all your data.

If you have a backup drive the odds of loosing data on your RAID stay the same but the odds of loosing data go back down lower than a computer with a single drive.

Edit: I run a pair of 80 GIGs in a RAID 0, and a 160 GIG for backup, and use the 160 to backup a second computer on the network also.

[lfg]

I imagine your 2 80gb drives is actually 160gb in RAID so double that and you have the correct size backup drive correct? So with that logic getting 2 150gb drives with a 300gb backup would be norm.

Sorry im not very familiar with RAID and just trying to get a grasp on it.

[stroyal]

Yep 2-80's show up as 160, and you could get away with a little smaller backup, as you wont be backing up operating system, and programs. I like the same size as the system drive for a starting point.
If you want to keep multiple images on the backup, or backup other computers,for example, you may want a larger backup drive.

[lfg]

Awesome, thanks for your help!

[Aaron_8015]

It would be kind of a waste to get another raptor for backups.... Pick up a caviar black which will have loads more space and wont be that much slower.

[stroyal]

I agree !

Edit: I'd probably go with 2 blacks and a blue.