HDD has just died! I need advise on replacement.

[DanKurt]

My Samsung HDD has just packed up taking all my DCS and other software with it.

It looks like I will have to use up some of my precious activations:cry:

Ive not been following PC developments over the last few years and I would be grateful for some advise.

Should I buy a SSD and HDD and if so what is the best way to configure it ie OS on SSD or DCS on SSD?

Or should I just stick with a normal 1Tb HDD as before?

Please someone educate me.

[Depth]

Installing an OS on an SSD is identical to installing it on a HDD. My advice is to get a 120GB SSD for the OS (and DCS of course :thumbup:) and a 1TB HDD for anything else.

 

Oh, when installing the OS to an SSD I recommend unplugging any other drives (unplug power or SATA cable). It very, very rarely happens but you may end up with the boot partition on the wrong drive.

 

 

 

Putting DCS on an SSD I noticed a dramatic decrease in loading time.

Edited April 2, 2012 by Depth
wrong vid

[cichlidfan]

Agreed, unless budget issues prevent it.

 

I have a config like Depth is describing above right now and it is worth the expense. In fact, I am about to replace one of the HDDs in that system with two more SSDs.

[Pilotasso]

Budget friendly SSD's are the Intel 320 and Crucial M4.

There are no complications by using the SSD compared to an HDD, the only thing in mind is to deactivate scheduled defragmentations and never use that feature. Its not needed.

[cichlidfan]

Budget friendly SSD's are the Intel 320 and Crucial M4.

 

Amazon US has the 256GB Crucial M4 for $290 right now. Mushkin's are also a good price.

[Pilotasso]

Feel free to ask if you wish higher end hardware. :weight_lift_2:

[DanKurt]

Cheers for the info chaps.

I plumbed for a Crucial M4 128GB and a WD 1TB Green for storage.

So Im correct in saying that I am best putting OS and all my DCS, Arma II files onto the SSD and use the HDD for other none essential software?

[cichlidfan]

So Im correct in saying that I am best putting OS and all my DCS, Arma II files onto the SSD and use the HDD for other none essential software?

 

Yes.

[G00dnight]

you might find os arma and dcs a tight squeeze on 128 gig, my arma2 files would nearly fill it alone..

[Pyroflash]

Yeah, basically I only have room for ED titles plus my OS on my solid state 128. It really isn't much room. Should have gone for two of them in a RAID.

[TomDK]

I have only a SSD 120 GB for Sims and win7 installed, with 16 GB RAM ... very fast loading . Bun keep in mind ... SSD sometimes just dies, buy on amazon to get best return service !

 

Cheers

Tom

[Pilotasso]

Its been the HDD doing all the dying for me.

[Cali]

I haven't had a HDD die on me yet *fingers crossed* maybe 1, but can't remember if it crashed or died.

[Fleshpiston]

Remember to set AHCI for the SSD in BIOS BEFORE you install!

 

 

Just in case you read that and had no idea what I mean:

 

AHCI & IDE SATA-Mode Differences

 

Most desktop computer motherboards offers hardware enthusiasts the option to adjust the SATA controller interface settings in their BIOS between AHCI and IDE mode. Traditionally, IDE is the time-tested standard for desktop hard drive products. The IDE interface offers basic control over the storage device, but unfortunately it does not include enterprise-level features. Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI) on the other hand, was created as a means to deliver additional storage support for server backplanes and high-end performance desktop computers.

Between these two disk IO settings, there are a few specific features that differ. AHCI-mode includes hot-swap drive support and Native Command Queuing that is not available in IDE mode. IDE does not support RAID arrays, and does not include the extended power management features that AHCI offers. For OpenBSD servers, port multiplier support is also enabled through AHCI.

Edited April 3, 2012 by Fleshpiston