PC SSD Caching ..A better use?

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Hello All,

Of late i have been reading how some PC’s are now using SSD’s to boot faster using some software and a SSD cache .. sounded interesting… Thinking about it… i remembered that my wife has a notebook with one , so i decided to investigate .. After a few glasses of wine and putting up my “metal lathe” as collateral she agreed to let me have a look … and do some experimenting ..Here are the results…and comments

1. Yes the PC did have a SSD although a small one (SanDisk 25GB) And yes it did boot up fast the Win 7-64 pro OS on the traditional 500 GB HD..But i thought it was kind of a waste of a perfectly good SSD..I mean who cares if it takes 5 sec’s or 25 sec’s to boot.The SSD was only using a few hundred MB’s of it’s 25GB

2. Also to my horror they both were formatted GPT…I hate GPT..After Imaging both drives with Macrium and Acronis (storing Them off PC) I proceeded to re-format them MBR, dividing the 500 GB HD..into a 65 GB for OS and a 400GB for data ( First Step) Then placing the OS Image back to the now 65 GB MBR .. How exactly ..another topic

3. Next problem was to “slim down” the bloated 7-64 Pro OS from it’s original 35GB overhead, so i could try to install it to the SSD

4. Managed to shave it down so that it would “Just squeeze on ” the SSD , and “Imaged” it . exactly how….topic for another thread

5. Installed the now smaller “Image” on the SSD. Re-Booted and hoped for the best.. After an initial “MBR Boot repair ( repair disk) ” the PC booted into the 65GB partition’s OS .. Installed EasyBCD and now tried to boot the SSD as a “Dual Boot” OS selecting it at boot time..

6. This worked.!!! so now i had a SSD win 7-64 Pro OS and now could use the larger 500GB HD as a “file cabinet” DATA drive.

7. Lastly i managed to remove even more bloat from the SSD …so now “she’s lean and mean” So I’ll leave it up to you to decide …a better use for a SSD cache ..or not ..For me the answer is a resounding YES! and boots just as fast as before…only now using the cache as a mSATA drive.. Oh.. and i got my lathe back to boot…:bananas: Regards Fred

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Let us know how it performs over the original SRT setup Fred.

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Let us know how it performs over the original SRT setup Fred.

CLiNT,

Hello… Just wanted to update this thread with some results…

1. The SRT (Smart Response Technology ) Is not used in this setup , as the cache (SSD) is now used as the primary HD for the OS… The Windows 7 64 Pro boots (after Log on) almost instantly. anyway.

2. I have left the original 500GB HD as a DATA Drive with the small 65GB Partition for the original OS … now sort of a working “Recovery”

3. My “Better Half” couldn’t be happier with this new system…An SSD OS with a 500GB File Cabinet, for “Doc’s” and Pictures , etc.

4. Bottom line …. If you’re considering a new PC (Note Book type) get one with a SSD cache, Setup with Windows 7 64 Pro ..Done :cheers: Regards Fred

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I have yet to delve into SSD at all. Our laptops have 320 GB platter drives and seem fast enough for me for now. Perhaps if I place a SSD drive in I would be amazed, but I have other priorities for my available dollars so for now I will leave my original drives in place. Now if someone had a 256 GB SSD they wanted to donate for experimentation I would be happy to try, :rolleyes:

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I have yet to delve into SSD at all. Our laptops have 320 GB platter drives and seem fast enough for me for now. Perhaps if I place a SSD drive in I would be amazed, but I have other priorities for my available dollars so for now I will leave my original drives in place. Now if someone had a 256 GB SSD they wanted to donate for experimentation I would be happy to try, :rolleyes:

You will never want to go back to a regular HDD, Ted ;).

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You will never want to go back to a regular HDD, Ted ;).

Rui,

I’ll second Ted’s vote of confidence. Having placed one in both my Laptop and Desktop I just love the almost instantaneous boot times and program load times. To paraphrase: “I’ll go back to HDD when they pry my SSD from my cold stiff hands!” :cheers:

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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Sweet.
I was I bit concerned with using such a small drive, but it looks like it works out well enough.

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