View Full Version : SSD or i7?
Lou Garou
11-02-2011, 17:56
Which do you think would be a snappier overall Win7x64 laptop, assuming everything else is constant - a 120GB SSD system drive with a 7200 rpm 500gb secondary drive, running an i5 processor, or a500GB 7200 rpm system drive running an i7 processor?
In the SSD scenario I'd be able to put the swap file on the secondary HD. Assume 8GB RAM and the same video configuration in each case.
TIA
The SSD would be snappier - the i7 would be more trouble free...
I am not convinced that SSD is ready for prime time. There are issues with clearing certain drives, and perhaps that has been addressed... but DrJones has had the dickens of a time with his SSD 'adventure'.
When you are paying that much money for hard drive space I really don't think you should have to have an 'adventure' everytime you want to use your computer... know what I mean?
Personally, I would opt for the i7 over the SSD at this point...
Good luck with the decision!
Patrick
I don't know about overall, you're comparing two different kinds of snap. The SSD is only a speed improvement when actually reading and writing files to the drive. The i7 would provide a speed improvement once you had programs running and expected them to do something fantastic.
So if a faster boot, and faster program startup is what you're after, then the SSD would be snappier. Or if you load/save a lot of large files like graphics, video, etc then the SSD might be the better choice. But if you want more performance for games, video editing and other CPU intensive chores, like running many programs at once, then the i7 would probably make you happier.
lanternlad
11-03-2011, 00:56
Run Linux and not Windows if you want a real speed boost. All the anti virus, anti malware and other protective programs really slow a Win system down. You dont need those with Linux, and its free to use. Look into it and see if its for you.
Just a thought...
Absolutely positive that the SSD will feel (and actually be) faster, snappier, etc.
I play with all sorts of computers all the time, and while you always want as much RAM & the best processor possible, you can (and I have) stick an SSD in an old P4 system (obviously one with SATA on the mobo) and the performance gain is unbelievable.
In addition to programs opening almost instantaneously, installing and uninstalling software and booting/rebooting is significantly faster with an SSD.
Mechanical hard drives are the biggest bottleneck in modern computers, and I can't wait until SSDs come standard.
The SSD would be snappier - the i7 would be more trouble free...
I am not convinced that SSD is ready for prime time. There are issues with clearing certain drives, and perhaps that has been addressed... but DrJones has had the dickens of a time with his SSD 'adventure'.
When you are paying that much money for hard drive space I really don't think you should have to have an 'adventure' everytime you want to use your computer... know what I mean?
Personally, I would opt for the i7 over the SSD at this point...
Good luck with the decision!
Patrick
:supergrin::wavey:
Indeed. I still recommend SSDs, as the speed boost is just unbelievable. However, I would strongly recommend buying from a local shop with a good return policy so that if you get a misbehaving drive, you can swap it out more easily than mailing it back & forth.
SSD. Had my vertex 2 for a year with 0 issues.
The average user won't use the i7 to full potential. Any modern dual or quad core will be future proof for 3+ years. Save some money.
You will see a huge performance gain from a SSD.
Lou Garou
11-03-2011, 12:54
I ask because I got a 120GB SSD in trade. I have an i7 in my current laptop, but I have a slightly older Dell mobile workstation with an i5 in it. 120GB is not big enough for me to live with, but the i5 unit has two drive bays, so I could make that configuration.
I opted for the SSD and an i5.
If I was doing video editing or heavy graphics processing I would get the i7. Any other app, the i5 is plenty of horsepower, and the SSD has the advantage of lower power consumption, ruggedness, weight, and transactional I/O. Oddly, even the fastest motherboards these days can be saturated with data from a big SSD array, so I don't recommend them for video editing - which is mostly read/write of large sequential files - just yet. But for single (or mirrored) drives running programs and storing smaller files, they're pretty awesome.
SSD's are still experiencing a few teething pains. Not enough to keep me from backing up my drive and smiling every time I boot my laptop...
Which do you think would be a snappier overall Win7x64 laptop, assuming everything else is constant - a 120GB SSD system drive with a 7200 rpm 500gb secondary drive, running an i5 processor, or a500GB 7200 rpm system drive running an i7 processor?
In the SSD scenario I'd be able to put the swap file on the secondary HD. Assume 8GB RAM and the same video configuration in each case.
TIA
why put the swap file on the secondary? It would be much much faster on the SSD. Why not get the i7 and put the SSD in that?
Lou Garou
11-05-2011, 05:09
why put the swap file on the secondary? It would be much much faster on the SSD. Why not get the i7 and put the SSD in that?The SSD won't give me enough space on its own, and the workstation with two drive bays has an i5.
You think the SSD is fast enough to keep the swap file on?
The SSD won't give me enough space on its own, and the workstation with two drive bays has an i5.
You think the SSD is fast enough to keep the swap file on?
yes I do.
boomhower
11-05-2011, 12:00
SSD will give more performance for 99% of users out there. Especially when you already have an i5.
Actually, it's recommended that you put the swap file on a drive other than the SSD, if possible. I believe it helps with performance and particularly longevity of the drive, as they have more limited read/write cycles than traditional drives.
90% of time spent waiting for a task to complete is waiting on I/O. My answer: SSD hands down.
I put an SSD in a MacBook Pro with a Core2Duo and my CPU finally got used. I figured that was as good as it gets. Now I have a newer MBP with an i7 but the same SSD. It's the SSD that lets me boot up in under 8 seconds, lets me launch 10 apps at once with NO slow down, lets me basically never wait for I/O.
I bought an Intel X25-M. Buying a quality drive makes all the difference.
-Stooxie
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