mSATA drive - 120GB for OS enough?

ycon on 04/08/2014 - 20:51
Last edited 05/08/2014 - 09:37

Hi,

I'm looking to buy an mSata for my W230SS. I have a 1TB 5200RPM drive in it, so this is just for the OS (Win 8.1) & a few demanding applications (like Photoshop & Ableton Live). I have 2 free mSata slots.

I'm choosing between:
Kingston SMS200S3 (120GB) @ $85
Plextor M5M PX-256M5M (256GB) @ $150

My thinking is, down the track (1 year maybe) I will get a 1TB mSata (or SSD) to replace the mechanical one.

Will 120GB be sufficient for the OS? Is there any other model anyone would suggest?

This drive is a 'would be nice' (not a necessity). Are prices likely to come down (for the ~120GB's) any more soon given m.2 or any other tech developments? Or as they are entry level- they're pretty much as low as they'll be?

Computing

Comments

  • scotty on 04/08/2014 - 23:31

    Which OS? Windows or Linux? What do you intend to put on that OS drive?

    For the last 3 years I have been using a single 120GB Intel 520 SSD in my ThinkPad, running Windows 7, some VMs for development, and 1-2 games on Steam. Usually have ~20GB left.

  • jv on 04/08/2014 - 23:41
    +1

    I've been running a 60GB SSD for years…

    Win 7
    MS Office 2010
    Photoshop & Premiere Elements
    Lightroom
    Sharepoint
    etc.
    etc.

    http://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/14180/24408/capture.jpg

    Time to upgrade though…

    • Domingo on 05/08/2014 - 10:27
      +1

      Don't SSDs start suffering performance dropoffs after capacity starts to exceed ~80%?

    • scrimshaw on 05/08/2014 - 11:18

      Your SSD is way too full brah.

      • Click_It on 07/08/2014 - 14:34

        Yeah, I had a 60GB for the first year or two (early adopter) and then upgraded to my Samsung 840 PRO 128GB about 2 years ago. Been happy with it ever since. Samsung allows you to over-provision (sacrifice more space to keep the performance better), I think I gave mine an additional 10GB for that. Unsure if mSATA options allow the same but that's not really the point…

        I never go under 25GB free (windows 8.1).

        120GB is all he will need. Probably looking at 25-50GB free once everything is loaded.

  • Riczter on 05/08/2014 - 00:24

    If you want to be comfortable and have a bit of space for your music library, photos and some movies and games then get a 250GB, but yeah otherwise 120 is fine. Of you have a mechanical drive then you can put everything on that so 120 would suit you best.

    I've heard there can be a slight performance drop once the SSD starts to fill up, meaning you get better performance out of a larger drive.

    I wouldn't get a 60GB for a windows install, not much free space after OS installed.

    • jv on 05/08/2014 - 00:42

      If you want to be comfortable and have a bit of space for your music library, photos and some movie

      Read the post…

      I have a 1TB 5200RPM drive in it, so this is just for the OS & a few demanding applications

  • biozet on 05/08/2014 - 08:25

    heapz enough. dump your prgrams in de uva 1

  • ycon on 05/08/2014 - 08:37

    Okay thanks for your input- it's windows 8.1. Given what's been said, I'm thinking the Kingston 120GB for $85 (MSY).

    This drive isn't a necessity, as I've already got a (slow 5400) 1TB drive already which I can instal on.

    Are prices likely to come down (for the ~120GB's) any more soon given m.2 or any other tech developments?

    • scrimshaw on 05/08/2014 - 11:19

      Are prices likely to come down (for the ~120GB's) any more soon given m.2 or any other tech developments?

      Prices will only go down, not up. Unless of course, there is a NAND shortage, in which case that might trigger a price increase. We've seen DRAM prices shoot up by almost a 100% last year (due to Hynix plant fire) but that's also because NAND started becoming more and more popular when smartphones and tablets become widespread, and manufacturers see more profit in making NAND rather than DRAM.

      In the long run NAND should become cheaper.

  • [Deactivated] on 05/08/2014 - 10:27

    Back in my day (2009) we had to run the operating system on a 32GB SSD and they had the highest failure rates known to man…. and you know what - we were happy!!

  • ycon on 06/08/2014 - 10:06

    With the release of the samsung 850 pro- how much would you expect these to drop in price (even if I want a mSata, and the 850 is an SSD)?

    Any idea when the Samsung 850 pro will be for sale?

    $89 for 120GB at the moment- not sure if I should bother waiting for the 850 to release (prices couldnt drop by muh- $20 or 30?)

    • Click_It on 07/08/2014 - 14:42

      Any idea when the Samsung 850 pro will be for sale?

      Amazon are already selling it (though no shipping to Aus I think), local stock will probably arrive in September - there is a massive move to clear 840 stock at the moment. While the 850 looks AMAZING, for most Joe Average's there isn't a big improvement from the 840. From reviews it's ability to be absolutely hammered and not even bust a sweat is its main strength, it's unlikely most would ever push it so hard. I'd look for the 840 sales if a regular SATA becomes an option.

      The 850 does also come with 10 yr warranty but to be honest the 840's are still very reliable. I think their fail rates were better than Intels last time I looked.

      • ycon on 07/08/2014 - 20:06

        That 10 year warranty does sound good- no mention of an mSata tho….

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