need help with SSD , i just dont understand

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
D

drdenby

Honorable
Jan 21, 2014
175
0
10,690
Ok, I cant help it. Now I want one. But I have several questions.

1) Sata III HDD is always described as 6Gb/s

I am looking at a sata III SSD and it says sequential read UP to 500Mb/s

If a SSD is supposed to be so much faster, where is the other 5 1/2 Gb that should be moving just to make up for the 6?

Are these just thrown out arbitrary numbers like a 10 million to 1 contrast ratio on a TV?

2) if the numbers are real, why is there such a variation in write speeds between different SSD even of same capacity? now if slower ones were cheaper, I would understand, but I have seen slower ones actually much more expensive than faster ones.

3) if I have a SSD and 2 or so HDD in the system, and I go to install windows, when it asks me where I want to install windows, will the SSD show up as one of the optional destinations? like the hard drives do

I guess this is it (for now) . I would appreciate the help, specially as there is a great deal on one now but these questions are bugging me before I spend a wad of cash.

Thanks
 
Solution
christinebcw
Actually, your "are numbers just thrown out there-?" deduction is the most correct. The numbers DO have validity on paper and in theory.

And since all of these 'engineering companies' use the same theories, they have agreed to use the same numbers.

All of these numbers are based in a Closed-System-Only environment. "If I only have to deal with myself, this is my performance." But in actual thru-put, a PC has RAM thru-put for signal processing, it's got different CPUs and layers of internal RAM to negotiate for speed thru-put, it's got the Memory Controller on the CPU/motherboard, plus each storage device has 'controllers' and memory as well.

Your mouth can eat a lot faster than your digestive system can handle. Yes? So things...
Sort by date Sort by votes
christinebcw

christinebcw

Honorable
Sep 8, 2012
472
0
10,960
Actually, your "are numbers just thrown out there-?" deduction is the most correct. The numbers DO have validity on paper and in theory.

And since all of these 'engineering companies' use the same theories, they have agreed to use the same numbers.

All of these numbers are based in a Closed-System-Only environment. "If I only have to deal with myself, this is my performance." But in actual thru-put, a PC has RAM thru-put for signal processing, it's got different CPUs and layers of internal RAM to negotiate for speed thru-put, it's got the Memory Controller on the CPU/motherboard, plus each storage device has 'controllers' and memory as well.

Your mouth can eat a lot faster than your digestive system can handle. Yes? So things pile up and get 'handled'. That's what the computer and HDDs/SSDs do, too - there are always systems 'above' or 'below' than can handle data faster, so those devices have to digest everything at their own speeds.

But as I read more complaints about computers, "storage speeds" have been the continuous bugaboo - it's always been the bottleneck, no matter what speeds.

We're seeing a new series of storage-standards - the M2.SATA and SATA PCIe which are offering increased speeds. But it's "10 instead of 6" at best. It's still not a tripling of speeds. It's still baby-steps, in my opinion, and not a substantial change.

(SSD Processing Speed Differentials are based on (1) the SSD controller's algorithm - fastest might mean 'most errors' or 'least recoverable errors' as they digest data; slowest might mean "most reliable Reads and Writes" - there's a trade off, therefore; (2) each SSD can use different RAM chips that function at higher/hotter speeds or cooler/slower ones. Do you want the brighter candle burning at both ends, or do you want a candle that gives just enough light and lasts much longer? It's usually a trade-off between Speed & Reliability.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
delellod123

delellod123

Honorable
Jun 5, 2012
1,094
1
11,660
if you install SSD, you can use it as a boot drive (i.e.: install windows onto it) or partition it as a storage drive (no windows). If you install windows, when you turn on your computer, you will get the black boot menu, same as having OS on two different mechanical hard drives (like you had thought).


Sata 3 (6gbs) refers to giga-bits, or 600 mega-bytes. SSD's use a processor, some are more efficient than others. That is one of the main reasons they perform differently.

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
D

drdenby

Honorable
Jan 21, 2014
175
0
10,690
Well thats discouraging :(

I have no idea how to make a decision based on comparisons if I can't even trust numbers... specially when they all seem to use the very vague term of "up to" when talking of speed, as 200 is certainly "up to" 500

There is a MX100 128Gb SSD for $65 I think about that and I can get a 1Tb tried and true HDD for less but I don't even know how to compare the SSD to others.... sounds like its a crap shoot :(

What are your opinions?

BTW, thanks very much Christine, that was very informative. I should have started by saying that, not added it as an edit
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

StuMor

Reputable
Feb 17, 2014
13
0
4,520
1) The read/write speeds you would get using an SSD would be much higher than that of a traditional HDD, because there is no moving parts in them they are based on flash memory (also why they are more expensive). But your right the numbers are basically just thrown out there, just make sure your motherboard is compatible

2) Capacity doesn't affect write speeds with SSD's but it's the type they are SLC,TLC or MLC that effects the cost. I have a 128GB pro series Samsung and a 250 GB EVO yet the 128 cost me more because of the type and speed.

3) An SSD will be picked up exactly the same as a normal HDD by windows the only difference is the speed of the drive.

They got a lot cheaper recently same as everything though just make sure compatibility will work before making the jump
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
delellod123

delellod123

Honorable
Jun 5, 2012
1,094
1
11,660
trust me, the difference you will see booting from an SSD, and/or reading/writing will be so much faster than a traditional HD you won't even believe it. Any SSD you buy. The difference is game changing. Pick up a nice cheap Crucial M4. or any Samsung or Intel SSD.

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
D

drdenby

Honorable
Jan 21, 2014
175
0
10,690
Thanks Christine, delellod, and stu

I really appreciate the help and the lessons, I see I have a bit more homework to do but you have at least given me an idea of the things I need to look into.

Best wishes.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom