New SSD minimum capacity for gamers?

[UTGeneral]

240-256 GB, less is not an option

[akirarulez]

So, I have a 128Gb SSD, can I take half of it (64Gb) and use it to create an SSD/HDD hybrid and use the rest of it as SSD? It is somewhat confusing... Some sell it a hybrid device, others as some add on, and some as motherboard feature.

While the whole technique is pretty advanced behind this. The idea is simple.
Your 128GB is basicly a cache for your 2TB HDD. Just like the one it already has, only that one is 32MB at max.
If you want to know how it works, there is alot of reading that can be found. In this case the controller on your Motherboard is handling the caching part together with the software.
There are also Hybrid drives: Like this one But to expensive atm

In your case this gets recommended:

1. Plug the SSD and the HDD into the Intel SATA ports!
2. Divide your SSD into 2 partitions of 64GB (since thats the most the tool will use for the cache)
3. On the first partition install Windows (clean install yes)
4. Download the latest RST and install it.
5. In RST enable Acceleration, Select the 2nd partition for the cache drive.
6. Reboot, wont be in effect right away. It has to "learn" first. Before it will feel fast.

[Morell]

My point is that I can manage to install only a few new games with 128Gb worth of space. I have 5 games installed - Witcher 2: Enhanced Edition, Diablo 3, DiRT 2 (best DiRT game in series!), Max Payne 3, and since last night I also have The Secret World installed. 2Gb is allocated to my static pagefile, and 1.65Gb of free space is left. 1.65Gb will slowly reduce in size due to internet cookies, cache, etc. - stuff I rarely clean to enjoy fast website loading.

I still want to have Skyrim + all my mods, Dead Space 2, Steam games (Team Fortress 2, Killing Floor, and The Secret of Monkey Island HD editions parts 1 & 2), Amnesia, Fallout 2 with new resolution patch and overhaul project/patch, and Deus Ex: Human Revolution + Missing link.

Finish a game and move on. You can't honestly be playing that many games simultaneously?
This seems more an issue with unfinished games lingering around, as opposed to the size of SSDs.

[Brat Gvidon]

Finish a game and move on. You can't honestly be playing that many games simultaneously?
This seems more an issue with unfinished games lingering around, as opposed to the size of SSDs.

I thought about it and you're partly right, but games are still becoming bigger in size, so I will need to upgrade one way or another.

--- Post Update ---

While the whole technique is pretty advanced behind this. The idea is simple.
Your 128GB is basicly a cache for your 2TB HDD. Just like the one it already has, only that one is 32MB at max.
If you want to know how it works, there is alot of reading that can be found. In this case the controller on your Motherboard is handling the caching part together with the software.
There are also Hybrid drives: Like this one But to expensive atm

In your case this gets recommended:

1. Plug the SSD and the HDD into the Intel SATA ports!
2. Divide your SSD into 2 partitions of 64GB (since thats the most the tool will use for the cache)
3. On the first partition install Windows (clean install yes)
4. Download the latest RST and install it.
5. In RST enable Acceleration, Select the 2nd partition for the cache drive.
6. Reboot, wont be in effect right away. It has to "learn" first. Before it will feel fast.

Thanks, man! This way my OS will run fast on 64Gb full-SSD partition along with all my software and maybe a game or two.

Would even this type of HDD work? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822236243 10,000rpm! Would maybe SAS 15,000rpm drive be even faster/better?

[Horrorwood]

Thanks, man! This way my OS will run fast on 64Gb full-SSD partition along with all my software and maybe a game or two.

Would even this type of HDD work? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822236243 10,000rpm! Would maybe SAS 15,000rpm drive be even faster/better?

Yes it will work.

I'd just buy a standard 2tb hard-drive and a 64gb SSD, you can then enable all of this without reinstalling. You'd then have the same setup as me

A 64gb SSD seems to only be $50 in the USA and i've not searched much :)

[red_dog007]

Plus an SSD can slow down as it gets full.

240GB is pretty cheap these days. The same, and cheaper than when we all first got our 128GB SSDs.

It'll still be a few more years until we can start using SSDs feasably for storage. Though for my games, I am testing out a 320GB Raid setup. 170/170 read and write is pretty quick.

[Horrorwood]

Plus an SSD can slow down as it gets full.

240GB is pretty cheap these days. The same, and cheaper than when we all first got our 128GB SSDs.

It'll still be a few more years until we can start using SSDs feasably for storage. Though for my games, I am testing out a 320GB Raid setup. 170/170 read and write is pretty quick.

But whats the random seek time? ;)

[Lord_P]

But whats the random seek time? ;)

I see what you did there.