Intel Smart Response and an Old SSD?

finalchance

Honorable
Aug 12, 2013
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Hey guys,

I'm moving up to a new PC and I'm wondering the best way to utilize my memory. I have a 120GB SSD (Currently only holding my OS, Windows 8), I have a 1TB Hard Drive, and I have a 30GB SSD. As it stands now, I boot very fast into windows and programs load with ok speed from the Hard Drive. I use the 30GB for random Adobe stuff but after a year of this setup, I realized I didn't touch the software enough. So my question to you guys is about Intel Smart Response.

My new system will have a i7-4770k processor with a ASUS Z87I-DELUXE LGA 1150 Intel Mini-ITX board. With that said, I assume I have that Intel ability. If not, the question will branch out to 2 roads.

How would I benefit the most with that spare 30GB SSD?
Can I install OS on the 120 again and cache the 30GB with the Hard Drive?
Is there something better that can be done to make my PC snappy?

Thanks
 

finalchance

Honorable
Aug 12, 2013
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Hmm, I thought there might be something at least. I can obviously use it to hold random software again.
 

popatim

Titan
Moderator
you can use the 30gb ssd to cache the hdd. what benefit you will get from it is hard to say but surely you have stuff your use frequently from the HDD and those will see quicker load times.
alternately you can use it for your swap & temp type files if you wanted to.
 

finalchance

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Aug 12, 2013
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How do I use the 30GB as a cache for the HDD? Just make it a partition and use intel software to use it?
 

popatim

Titan
Moderator
It could be as simple as running intel RST, enabling drive caching, selecting the msata as the cache device and the hdd as the object to cache. the msata ssd will need completely unallocated to do this. You may need to enable raid in the motherbd bios also.

I'm assuming the drive was used as a cache drive previously and therefor is already completely unallocated.
 

finalchance

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Aug 12, 2013
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The drive was used for adobe software only before. Will raid mess up my 120 SSD for booting OS?