SSD caching

[Marc_92]

Hello again, I am currently thinking about adding another ssd to my config as a cache for my 500gb hdd and was just wondering if people have used caching before and what they would recommend to be the best ssd for caching.
Thanks

[phil4]

I do just that, I've a 128Gb ocz agility 3 added as a cache drive using the intel tech that's in the z68 and z77 chipsets. I think it's RST.

Was a bit of a pain to setup, but once working is transparent and great.

I'm not saying the SSD I've chosen is best for the job though, I suspect it's too big, and ocz have a reliability reputation problem. But it's what I use so I'll share that info.

[Marc_92]

I was only thinking of getting a small ssd (32-64gb) since they are relatively cheap. I've noticed that some manufacturers actually specify some ssds for caching but they are generally more expensive than a standard so I guess a normal ssd will work the same as a "caching" ssd.

[Marc_92]

Ye the ocz seems like a good choice for the price/speed ratio, thanks!

[Phaz0r18]

I'm not saying the SSD I've chosen is best for the job though, I suspect it's too big, and ocz have a reliability reputation problem. But it's what I use so I'll share that info.

I would go for a more reliable brand, you shouldn't be taking any risks with your data !

And 128GB is probably a a little overkill so you should be fine with a 32/64GB drive

[phil4]

Oh, I agree completely, it's just what I had lying around as a spare!

[Phaz0r18]

Oh, I agree completely, it's just what I had lying around as a spare!

Lucky... I wish I could afford to have 128GB SSD's just "lying around"

[phil4]

Lol, yeah in that respect, not in others. Swings and roundabouts

[RhinoUK]

I use Intel RST and it uses a maximum SSD size of 64GB but if using a larger SSD you can partition and format the remaining space and use it as a normal SSD drive.

[Mehta23]

Is srt worth doing? I have a 240GB Samsung 840, with a 20GB Op partition (not sure if that's needed (

[RhinoUK]

Is srt worth doing? I have a 240GB Samsung 840, with a 20GB Op partition (not sure if that's needed (

It is if you want to speed up a normal HDD to SSD speeds for programs that are accessed regularly, once you have accessed a program a few times it stores it in the SSD cache so when you next access it you get SSD speed. If you stop using that program and access other programs it replaces the old one in the cache with your newer ones if the cache is full but keeps the original on the HDD if that makes sense. With a 64Gb cache you get upto 64Gb of programs in before it wipes out older programs.

[Mehta23]

Could this be cache be reduced in size if I needed to?

So the caching just allows programs on the hdd to load up quicker, but still be stored on the hdd and do their thing on it too?

Why would one install anything onto the ssd then ^_^?

[RhinoUK]

Could this be cache be reduced in size if I needed to?

So the caching just allows programs on the hdd to load up quicker, but still be stored on the hdd and do their thing on it too?

Why would one install anything onto the ssd then ^_^?

The maximum size for Intel RST is 64Gb but you can have a smaller size if you wish, it just means it doesn't store as many programs in the cache.
Yes programs, files and appz are still stored on the HDD but if you access them frequently it will copy them to the cache so they load quicker when you access them. If you stop accessing them and start accessing other programs frequently it will purge out the least used files to add new ones if you reach your maximum cache size.
RST using an SSD on a normal HDD is a way to get better performance from a large HDD using a small SSD drive. its the most cost effective way to get performance improvement without having to buy a big SSD C drive.
This article explains it better than I can.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4329/i...ching-review/2

[Mehta23]

Will it make a difference if the ssd has a OS on it ?

[RhinoUK]

Yes i think it will because when you RST it the program may delete the existing partition to create the cache partition and use whats left on the SSD as a normal drive which probably means that your whole OS will go in the process. I have just recently used a 120Gb SSD for a cache drive and it wiped the whole drive and left me with a usable partition i then had to format before use. I think and if i am wrong i am sure someone will point it out is that when just using a single SSD to RST you have to install OS on the HDD then use the SSD to cache that drive. As part of caching that drive the most important OS files will be cached because they are accessed all the time so you will get the benefit of SSD speed on OS. If you want the benefit of RST and your existing OS is on your existing SSD 240Gb Samsung without having to reinstall everything i would leave OS where it is on the Samsung and buy a small SSD 64Gb drive and use that to RST your other HDD.