How would you setup these SSDs?

I had two Samsung 840 EVO 1 TB SSDs where I have installed the OS + Games on the first, and kept my other files on the 2nd such as docs, music, vids, etc.

I just bought a Samsung 840 EVO MZ-MTE1T0BW 1TB mSATA Internal SSD

would it be wise to install the OS on the new mSATA SSD and keep the other SSDs for data storage?

I don't plan to RAID as I didn't feel any real world difference when I tried RAId 0 on these 2 drives just better benchmarks but. just incase I decide to later on, can I RAID the 3 drives together in RAID 0 or RAID only allows me to do it for the 2 identical drives which are my older 1 TB EVOs?

 

I would be wary of TRIM not working with the mSATA EVO (still).

See:
AnandTech | Samsung SSD 840 EVO mSATA (120GB, 250GB, 500GB & 1TB) Review

I would also keep the 2.5" EVO as the O/S + Program drive.


The mSATA may be okay with static data files - but any other use will put it to below HDD levels very quickly I'd guess (even at 150MB/s - some HDD's can match that level of 'performance').

 

oh wow, that is queit shocking! how can Samsung (the king of SSDs manufacturers) miss such thing?? do you think they would come up with a firmware update to fix this or is this just how mSATA SSDs work?

If that was true, then I will just leave the mSATA SSD as my secondary drive for storing data such as docs, music, pics, etc,. what do you think?

are you sure of this TRIM not working on these drives?

 

Samsung is hardly king of SSDs manufacturers... A firmware update should fix it, but that has been long in coming, huh? Five months now and counting...

For static storage of data - this should be fine. Myself? I would be returning the mSATA SSD.

You don't need to take my word for it: Anandtech is sure the SSD is not working to Windows 7 October 2009 specs (let alone todays specs).

See:
Trim (computing) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Until I see that Anandtech mention that TRIM finally works (without new firmware though, that isn't going to happen), I would not be holding on to a device with future potential (burned too many times to believe in the tooth fairy again).


Good luck.

 

and what mSATA SSD would you buy personally?

 

The Crucial M4 256GB model has been rock solid with more than acceptable performance. The capacity does leave something to be desired though and they are getting more scarce to locate (at least locally) too.

With a proper chassis; the Crucial M500 240GB mSATA has also performed noticeably faster than the M4 Series and without reliability issues either. It does run warm though; if the chassis you're putting it in is substandard (cooling-wise), then I wouldn't recommend this mSATA drive either. The issue is not one of reliability; it is a case of throttling the performance (by WAY too much) to keep the temps down on the drive.


My suggestion? If you don't need the capacity, then you don't need an mSATA SSD. This is not a general recommendation; just for you with your 2x 1TB EVO's already in use.


How I use my mSATA SSD's is for the Windows 8 File History location (and I only depend on it until I get back to my multiple NAS units, even then).

Hope this helps.

 

I would return this mSATA SSD as its a joke if it doesn't have TRIM even after the issues been identified 5 months ago.. There's no garuntee if it will ever get the update.

 

I've had no issues with my 1TB EVO mSATA after nearly 4 months but I haven't been torturing it.

One of the comments on Anandtech's review stated: "I have a Samsung 840 250GB and I recently tried doing some steady state tests. After hammering it with writes, trim does not restore performance immediately. However with normal usage/light workloads, or keeping the drive idle, however, it will eventually (in a matter of hours) return back to the initial performance."

Samsung also released a firmware update a couple of months ago which might have fixed some issues.

Personally, I'm much more comfortable with the prospect of using a 1TB EVO with a load of free space than using a lower capacity mSATA SSD that is bursting with data.

John

 

I guess I'll hold off for a while then it's not worth it if my current two 1 TB Samsung 840 Evos are better. I don't need the extra space, just wanted to fill up that mSATA port.

I hope new mSATA SSDs will be out soon