Hybrid HDD vs HDD on SATA2 mobo

emjay8

Honorable
Dec 2, 2013
1
0
10,510
I built a "new" computer and I'm trying to max the mobo out (without spending a lot more for a small boost), but I'm unsure of which hard drive to get.

GA-P35-DS3L mobo (supports SATA2)
Core 2 Duo 3.0ghz
Ballistix Sport 6400 CL5 RAM
430w Corsair psu

Would there be a noticeable benefit with a Seagate Hybrid SATA3 compared to a regular $50-$60 Seagate 64mb cache 7200rpm? I'm concerned there will be no benefit with the hybrid since the mobo is SATA2.
 

popatim

Titan
Moderator
One of my HTPC's has a Patriot Pyro SSD in it on a sata2 controller and its still boots fast, faster even then my living room htpc with an ssd on a sata3 port with virtually the same software loaded.

Other than faster booting and loading of a few frequently used apps the ssd portion of the drive will not make any difference. Keep in mind that you have NO access or control over what the drive caches in the ssd part.

If you can live without booting up twice as fast then spend the extra money on something else.