M6400 Component Upgrades - Opinions Sought, SSDs

Hi guys i ave a question and would like anyones opinion.
Ive just ordered a m6400 with a single 200gb HD which is not really enough space.

At the moment I am trying to decide between doing one of the following

1. Buy 2x320gb 7200 WD drives and raid 0 them up WD 320 : 66.69 * 2 = COST 134 GBP approx Total Space 640 Gb

2. Buy 1 320 hdd and 1 60 gb SSD to boot off SSD : 137.99 + WD 320 : 66.69 = COST 205 GBP Total Space = 380 GB

3. Buy 1 320 hdd and keep the 200 gb drive its coming with
COST 67 GBP - Total Space = 520 GB

I would like it to be quick (obviously)

Does anyone know how a single SSD compares to twin 7200 hdds in raid 0 ? (approx)

The SSD I would probably buy is the OCZ "solid series" (read "budget series") but it still appears to be quick at least according to the OCZ site, I couldnt find any actual reviews of it because I think its too new (its the red coloured one).

Im a little afraid of the risks involved with raid 0 plus the fact that I couldnt just swap out one of the drives without loosing the array.

Maybe a single 7200 is ok. Has anyone any experiance with this SSD?


Also second thing


I am also thinking of buying some more RAM - the 2 brands I am looking at are OCZ and G.Skill

They are both identically priced and the only 2gb dimms for ddr3 that the shop I am looking at stocks.

Does anyone have any opinion about if either brand is better or is it much of a muchness.

 

You can read SSD buyers guide here: http://www.notebookreview.com/resource/ssd/

 

I think the general opinion judging from a bunch of threads was that unless you buy a fast (Samsung?) SLC or Intels X-25 they should be avoided as system disks. Neither of them are budget choices.

I'd go (and did) with the 2x320gb disks for now.

 

I had the same problem as you. I went with a 320 GB 7200 RPM secondary drive for my storage and an Intel X25-M 80 GB SSD for my OS /main drive. I put my Outlook .PST files on the traditional HDD. After I recieved a replacement M6400 & installed the latest drivers, I have not experienced any studdering or problems that one would associate with a SSD. I have video problems to date- but they are driver related I believe. Nothing to do with the SSD. My system is very fast with the X25-M and I have tons of apps open at the same time, always listening to music and have Outlook + Windows live messenger, google talk, etc. Things that usually cause SSDs to studder. I get no studdering.

 

exactly what I am going to do, except with a 500GB HDD as a secondary drive.

WHat's the boot up time like? What about PCMark05? Battery Life increases? (with the SSD)

 

I managed to find and OCZ SSD review at custom pc

http://www.custompc.co.uk/reviews/238110/ocz-core-series-30gb.html

This one is of the CORE series, its confusing whether thats an upgade or a downgrade on the SOLID SERIES which I was looking at,
anyway the review says its terrible but its probably worth bearing in mind that they may not have configured their computer properly to test it.

Theres plenty of monkeying around to be done if you look in the OCZ forums that can improve performance alot.

Anyway its still put me off buying one. Though there is a new "V3" ocz ssd coming out in the next few weeks.

The Intel one nixx has got looks to be good but so darned expensive.

 

FWIW, I'm getting a M6400 with a 250GB disk and am adding a second 320Gb and RAID 0'ing them both - total capacity 570Gb.

And RAM wise, mine is coming with 2x2Gb chips,and I bought 2x2Gb chips from Crucial.

 

2 x 500gb 5400's

 

Surely to enable raid both drives must be the same size (possibly also make/speed) ???

 

My question may soound stupid, but which exactly are the

""Ultra Performance Solid State Drive""

installed in the m6400s by DELL????