rip|TEAM

i have some questions though ...what  speed does the ssd drive run on??  I think I have 2 sata 3gb/s slots........I want to upgrade this becaiuse i think that's why it takes me so long to load up bf3...i have the old eide drives...thoughts recommendations...I don;t want to spend alot maybe under $100 if possible....should i go external? if I do that runs on usb....is that fast enough?  I think my pc only has usb 2.0 not 3.0...

Ditto here.

These drives seem to cost around $2 per Gig so I was also wondering, to save costs, do you typicaly add it to your exsting drives and ensure that you install the game to it or do you have to totally replace your drive with one of these in order to have the performance gain?

Dusty

i think if you even update to a sata drive that would help alot.

Agree with Trotter. If running IDE / PATA, upgrading to virtually any SATA drive will be an improvement. However, SSD's are the future. Where you're coming from, even a low ed Kingston will knock your socks off!

For SSD's, typically folks (eg, me) install them as an OS drive, with an HDD as a secondary for storage of larger apps & data. I tend to also install my most heavily used game (just the one) on the SSD...space permitting.

For a $100 budget it's going to be tough ... probably looking at something in the 40 - 90 GB range, depending on speed/brand, and even then the $100 will likely be after mail in rebate.

I favor Intel & Crucial models, I've read that the OCZ ones have probs. I believe Samsung have also started making them, I would expect them to be good quality also, but haven't actually read any reviews as yet.

Awesome info guys - thanks!

 8)

ok guys im almost ready to buy one more question....my motherboard only takes sata II  , BUt IF I get a ssd that is sata III are they backwards compatiable?

Yes ... I currently run that configuration myself.

Newegg has OCZ SSDs for 15% off with code: BLKNOVSSD + They have Mail In Rebates as well.

Yes I know OCZ has some knocks. But pricing is pretty damn good for a SSD. Sparhawk from the Thawks told me to look at OCZ or Corsair.

I have had a Corsair Force Series GT in my cart for a couple weeks now. Its sitting at $200 after $100 instant and now its at $165 after rebate.

Or I can go with this one for $141 After Rebate

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?SID=u244459t3564198f9fp62594dd0c0s701&AID=10440897&PID=1225267&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-cables-_-na-_-na&Item=N82E16820227706

Ripper - For you

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?SID=u244459t3564198f9fp62594dd0c0s701&AID=10440897&PID=1225267&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-cables-_-na-_-na&Item=N82E16820227739

This one is $104 after Mail in Rebate. Its a SATA II and it doesnt use the Sandforce controller supposedly.

And regardless of what drive you end up getting, step 1 is always to update the firmware!

update firmware on the ssd?  im only giong to use it for games till i do a reinstalll

Yes, update firmware on the SSD.
Whatever model you get, the manufacturer's website most likely has a util for it.

Yep what Buz said..
Everything I have heard/read about SSDs is you need to update the Firmware.

Supposedly the last one they did for the OCZ's may have fixed most of the issues they were having. So thats why Im probably going to just order one of them today.

SSD read and write speeds are significantly greater then mechanical drives. My recommendation:

-Buy 2 and put them raid 0. Sata II is fast. Sata III is faster and can get you up to 500-1000MB/s read and write. Mechanical drives can roughly achieve 60-175MB/s.
-Always use your SSD's for OS, apps, and games. Use external or other drives to hold files like music, vids, porn, etc.
-When you use SSD for OS, disable system restore, tweak the pagefile, tweak superfetch, disable indexing. These things are tailored to mechanical drives and have no use to SSD.

I think you need a new motherboard that can run sata III

heres my montherboard info
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128336


Storage Devices
PATA
1 x ATA100 2 Dev. Max
SATA 3Gb/s
6
SATA RAID
0/1/5/10

I bought this drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148441

is there special cables i need? is a sata cable the same as a raid cable?

I Hvae a sata cable that came with the motherboard.... ?

what does a sata cable look like versus a sata raid?   sorry i havent done this yet....

This is what I was saying, you're mother board is bottle necking your SSD. Your mobo is SATA 3G your SSD is SATA 6G. So your SSD is going to use the slower SATA 3G. Any regular sata cable will do. Im not sure if they make sata raid cables, never heard of that before. Time to upgrade your MoBo.

There is no such thing afaik as a "raid" cable.

You will need a sata cable, the cheapest you can find, the one that came with the mobo sounds just fine.

(http://pc-level.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/sata-cable.jpg)

The other consideration is the sata POWER cable. Possibly your power supply has this, if not a molex-to-sata power cable adapter should be dirt cheap.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812200061

I don't rate bonuspoints' concern about sata 3gbps vs 6gbps super highly. While technically true, the fact that you're coming from IDE is the main thing imo, beyond that is kinda splitting hairs, again just imo.

Congrats on the purchase, nice disk.

True true coming from IDE to SSD is a big leap in its self. But I do think its silly not to take advantage of the full speeds of your new toy. Its like... hey guys im upgrading from a KIA to a Ferrari except the Ferrari has a 4 cyl motor.

I think that's overstating it some ... this is at least a turbo'ed 4cyl or small v6 that revs high, lol.

I think the key issue here is that his budget was ~ $100. that just is what it is. In Bang-for-buck terms, I think he's done really well.

The mobo upg can still come at a later date with new budget, and I agree it should be pursued (when able). At least he's all set with a good disk, one less thing to buy, when that day comes.