Should You Upgrade? From A Hard Drive To An SSD

Test System

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System Hardware for Performance Measurements
Hardware Details
CPU Intel Core i5-2500K (Sandy Bridge) 32 nm, D2, 4C/4T, 3.3 GHz, 4 x 256 KB L2 Cache, 6 MB L3 Cache w/ HD Graphics 3000, 95 W TDP, 3.7 GHz max. Turbo Boost
Motherboard (LGA 1155) Gigabyte Z68X-UD3H-B3, Revision: 0.2, Chipset: Intel Z68 Express, BIOS: F3
RAM 2 x 2 GB DDR3-1333, Corsair TR3X6G1600C8D
System SSD Intel X25-M G1, 80 GB, Firmware 0701, SATA 3 Gb/s
Controller Intel PCH Z68 SATA 6 Gb/s
Power Supply Seasonic X-760 760 W, SS-760KM Active PFC F3
Benchmarks
Performance Measurements h2benchw 3.16
Row 9 - Cell 0 PCMark 7 1.0.4
I/O Performance Iometer 2006.07.27
Row 11 - Cell 0 File server Benchmark
Row 12 - Cell 0 Web server Benchmark
Row 13 - Cell 0 Database Benchmark
Row 14 - Cell 0 Workstation Benchmark
Row 15 - Cell 0 Streaming Reads
Row 16 - Cell 0 Streaming Writes
Row 17 - Cell 0 4K Random Reads
Row 18 - Cell 0 4K Random Writes
System Software & Drivers
Driver Details
Operating System Windows 7 x64 Ultimate SP1
Intel Inf 9.2.0.1030
Intel Rapid Storage 10.​5.​0.​1026

Our test system
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System Hardware for Power Draw Measurements (SSD Variant)
Hardware Details
CPU Intel Core 2 Extreme X7800 (Merom), 65 nm, E1, 2C/2T, 2.6 GHz, 4 MB L2 Cache, 44 W TDP
Motherboard (Socket 478) MSI Fuzzy GM965, Revision: 1.0, Chipset: Intel GM965, BIOS: A9803IMS.220
RAM 2 x 1 GB DDR2-666, Crucial BallistiX CM128M6416U27AD2F-3VX
System HDD Western Digital WD3200BEVT, 320 GB, SATA 3 Gb/s, 5400 RPM
Controller Intel ICH8-ME
Power Supply Seasonic X-760 760 W, SS-760KM Active PFC F3
Benchmarks
Video Playback VLC 1.1.1
Row 9 - Cell 0 Big_Buck_Bunny_1080p
I/O Performance Iometer 2006.07.27
Row 11 - Cell 0 Database Benchmark
Row 12 - Cell 0 Streaming Writes
Operating System & Drivers
Driver Details
Operating System Windows 7 x64 Ultimate SP1
Intel Inf 9.2.0.1021
Intel Graphics 15.12.75.4.64
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System Hardware for Real-Life Tests
Hardware Details
CPU Intel Core i3-530 (Clarkdale) 32 nm, C2, 2C/4T, 2.93 GHz, 2x 256 KB L2 Cache, 4 MB L3 Cache, w/ HD Graphics, 73 W TDP
Motherboard (LGA 1155) MSI H57M-ED65, Revision: 1.0, Chipset: Intel H57, BIOS: 1.5
RAM 2 x 4 GB DDR3-1333, Kingston KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX
Controller Intel PCH H57 SATA 3 Gb/s
Power Supply Seasonic X-760 760 W, SS-760KM Active PFC F3
Benchmarks
Performance Measurements SYSmark 2012
Operating System & Drivers
Driver Details
Operating System Windows 7 x64 Ultimate SP1 (updated on 2011-08-10)
Intel Inf 9.2.0.1030
Intel Rapid Storage 10.6.0.1002

The following test results are representative of most SSDs and hard disks. The test components were chosen in order to make the best comparison between both variants. Our drives are tested on the very same systems. The object of this article is to explore the performance benefits of SSDs versus hard disks as system drives. The goal here isn't to suggest that SSDs are a cure-all for any performance issue, and we certainly don't recommend solid-state technology in a storage role, where the purpose is capacity-driven.