Build Updates - SSD

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JMLow54

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Mar 18, 2015
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I am preparing to update my system (notice that this only means an incremental update, mobo, CPU and memory remain intact.)

Current config is a Windows 10 Pro x64, AMD FX 8-core, ASUS SaberTooth mobo, 32GB DDR3, 20.5TB on-line storage (all HDD).

My thoughts are to update the OS drive to SSD and also decommission two high-capacity HDDs which are no longer needed (about 12TB).

In doing so, I'm focused on the current NAND 512GB SSD from Samsung, and a 256GB from the same source. The 256GB shall house my VM environment (all VMs used).

The purpose of course is to improve speed and ensure I add at least another 2+ years to my current platform.

The real questions are about longevity. Specifically the mobo has been in place for 4yrs, the CPU for 6yr (had warranty replacement for mobo), and the DDR3 in place for about 6yr.

Is it really worth it to just update now, or bite the bullet and go for a complete rebuild (sans PSU and case?) I hear tales all the time of how CPUs, motherboards, RAM deteriorate over time. Yet, I've been diligent in connecting to a UPS with electrical noise smoothed out from there, thus rendering the devices drinking from a smoothly functioning fountain in all the time I've built out my own home devices 10+ years.

The platform serves a dual purpose - as a repository for movies watched by my handicapped wife, and for my own application development/client testing activities (thus the VMs.) There is no real games being pushed through the platform, and rarely are movies watched directly from the repository.

So, am I on the right track, should other options be considered? If other options, what would be the recommendations?

Thank you!

Jim
 
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D
SSDs can always be carried over to a new build in the future. If you're more than happy with the power of the computer now for what you do with it, no sense in doing a complete rebuild. A SSD would greatly speed up a lot of things for you.

I recently picked up a WDMyCloud NAS drive and it will stream to my living room TV via DLNA over the network. There are also wireless routers that you can connect an external HDD to that do the same thing. Should save power from leaving it running all the time just for that purpose.
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dudeman509

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Jan 23, 2015
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SSDs can always be carried over to a new build in the future. If you're more than happy with the power of the computer now for what you do with it, no sense in doing a complete rebuild. A SSD would greatly speed up a lot of things for you.

I recently picked up a WDMyCloud NAS drive and it will stream to my living room TV via DLNA over the network. There are also wireless routers that you can connect an external HDD to that do the same thing. Should save power from leaving it running all the time just for that purpose.
 
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JackNaylorPE

JackNaylorPE

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Oct 30, 2004
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Is this a workstation platform or a consumer platform ?

For many uses like office and gaming, things haven't changed much with since Sandy Bridge. And while I wouldn't say dump Sandy, I would not invest any money in that platform either. With Coffee Lake around the corner (October 5), and Intel promising "wundahful" things, it's worth a wait and see approach, tho I expect, as usual, the product will not live up tot he advance hype.

As for SSDs, if you are looking for it to be a game changer, prepare to be disappointed. We can run benchmarks and see vast improvements in transferring 500 GB of files ir opening 100 tabs in Chrome, but unless you do that on a daily basis, there is no real impact. If you have a 7200 rpm HD now, booting from an SSD should get you back about 5 seconds of your life going from 21.2 seconds to 15.6 on my box. If you have an SSHD, it's less then 1 second (16.6 vs 15.6).

Where SSDs do have real impact is primarily in the workstation environment with tasks such as video editing and rendering.

As for upgrading, been fiddling with PC building since the mid 80s and started doing builds for ourselves and others 25 years ago. I just don't find "upgrading" worthwhile anymore. I bet much better use out of my oldr components by keeping the old box and using as a file sever, backup data storage or a box to use in a pinch when my main PC is down. Also fills in well when someone needs to go online. Especially a PSU and case switch ... PSUs experience capacitor aging and after you get to 6-7 years, I', not comfy relying on it for day tpo day usage.
 
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JMLow54

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Mar 18, 2015
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Both of the recommendations are excellent. Yet, they both recommend a different approach.

The only overriding factor is space. Right now it is crowded in my home/office, and there is really no other place to split the load to (e.g. use my existing platform for backup or other off-line uses while building out a new platform.)

Yet, the response is not lost to me. The PSU aging issue though was not something I'd thought about and is invaluable.

It was a bit of a surprise to see evidence indicating that an SSD did not offer as great of a performance improvement as I had thought; especially after the first reply indicating a significant improvement.

So, the decision shall be made, yet weighed against both responses.

Thank you both for your help and guidance!

Jim
 
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dudeman509

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Jan 23, 2015
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It was a bit of a surprise to see evidence indicating that an SSD did not offer as great of a performance improvement as I had thought; especially after the first reply indicating a significant improvement.
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On a clean install, maybe.

I cannot STAND to use computers without SSDs on a day-to-day basis, even for general web surfing and productivity applications. Everything takes far too long to happen.
 
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