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Another SSD thread (Hybrid anyone?)

  • 10-12-2011 12:18pm
    #1
    yenoah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 159 ✭✭


    Ive read a few "which ssd" threads here. As ssd's are still pricy and relatively small in terms of capacity; My problem is that I only have one hard disk slot in my laptop as do most, and I don't want to be connecting an external drive for extra storage.

    So, I'm wondering if there is such a thing as a hybrid SSD? A device that say has 128GB SS and then a traditional magnetic disk backend all in one unit?

    This would allow you to have your OS on the fast SSD and all your stuff on the magnetic disk without having to lug around external devices. (I use my laptop on my lap reclined in an armchair all the time, last thing I want is stuff hanging out of it).

    'If there are such devices, has anyone used one? Are they very expensive? Are they good? bad? what do you think?

    Many thanks for any replies.


Comments

  • #2
    Jaafa
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,621 ✭✭✭Jaafa


    Yes there are hybrids, but the improvement over a 7,200RPM HDD isn't that much, especially compared to an SSD, from what I hear.

    Have you thought about removing your optical drive and installing a caddy + SSD that way?


  • #3
    Groinshot
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,042 ✭✭✭Groinshot


    Also, you don't get a large amount of flash memory on those hybrid drives,

    THIS for example is a 320 GB drive, with 4GB flash memory...


  • #4
    yenoah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 159 ✭✭yenoah


    Groinshot wrote: »
    Also, you don't get a large amount of flash memory on those hybrid drives,

    THIS for example is a 320 GB drive, with 4GB flash memory...


    I think what I'm talking about folks is almost 2 drives in one, not just a 7200rpm disk with a 4GB ssd cache. Hows about the likes od a 256GB SSD combined with a traditional disk? A disk where you can install your os and apps on the ssd part and your dats etc on the disk part. That's what I'm asking I guess.


  • #5
    Alanstrainor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,157 ✭✭✭✭Alanstrainor


    yenoah wrote: »
    I think what I'm talking about folks is almost 2 drives in one, not just a 7200rpm disk with a 4GB ssd cache. Hows about the likes od a 256GB SSD combined with a traditional disk? A disk where you can install your os and apps on the ssd part and your dats etc on the disk part. That's what I'm asking I guess.

    No i don't believe there is.

    If you don't used your disk drive i'd be whacking an ssd in there and booting from that tbh. There performance from an SSD really is amazing. You wont be going back to a regular hard disk once you have one. As you said though, they're expensive for relatively small space.


  • #6
    yenoah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 159 ✭✭yenoah


    Alanstrainor wrote: »
    No i don't believe there is.

    If you don't used your disk drive i'd be whacking an ssd in there and booting from that tbh. There performance from an SSD really is amazing. You wont be going back to a regular hard disk once you have one. As you said though, they're expensive for relatively small space.

    I know but atm they are too expensive and too small in terms of capacity. Using an ssd means you have to have another regular disk for all your data.

    Someone above mentioned the possibility of putting a disk in a caddy and using the dvd slot. I might look into the possibilities of that. That would allow me an ssd as my main disk, then a regular disk as my data disk in the dvd slot. All done, no external crap to be lugging around.

    I use the dvd slot maybe once a year so would happily go with an external device to replace that.


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  • #7
    Alanstrainor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,157 ✭✭✭✭Alanstrainor


    yenoah wrote: »
    I know but atm they are too expensive and too small in terms of capacity. Using an ssd means you have to have another regular disk for all your data.

    Someone above mentioned the possibility of putting a disk in a caddy and using the dvd slot. I might look into the possibilities of that. That would allow me an ssd as my main disk, then a regular disk as my data disk in the dvd slot. All done, no external crap to be lugging around.

    I use the dvd slot maybe once a year so would happily go with an external device to replace that.

    Woops, when i said "disk drive" i meant dvd drive. I'd definitely be doing that tbh. I only use mine once a year. If even that. If you put the full sized hard disk in the caddy, you could remove the caddy and pop in the cd/dvd drive when you needed it.


  • #8
    yenoah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 159 ✭✭yenoah


    Alanstrainor wrote: »
    Woops, when i said "disk drive" i meant dvd drive. I'd definitely be doing that tbh. I only use mine once a year. If even that. If you put the full sized hard disk in the caddy, you could remove the caddy and pop in the cd/dvd drive when you needed it.

    so these type caddies exist? are dvd drives removable? is this a standardised architecture? what would I search for online?


  • #9
    Alanstrainor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,157 ✭✭✭✭Alanstrainor


    They sure do.

    http://www.ebay.ie/itm/NEW-SATA-2nd-HDD-caddy-9-5mm-Universal-CD-DVD-ROM-/270778839156?pt=UK_Computing_LaptopAccess_RL&hash=item3f0bad3074#ht_793wt_851

    That's just an example from ebay...


  • #10
    yenoah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 159 ✭✭yenoah


    and tell me, how do you marry up the outer part of the caddy? the bit that forms the exterior of your laptop? Mine for eg, is a HP ProBook 4730s. The DVD drive exterior is at a 45degree bevel to match the countour of the case. Surely this factor is unique to each make / model of laptop. So how can we end up with a standard form factor?


  • #11
    bonzodog2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,284 ✭✭✭bonzodog2


    The outer part of the DVD tray (with the eject button and activity light) is detachable from the standard internal working parts.
    [edit]possibly the bezel (outer part) of your DVD drive may fit onto a caddy ?

    You might consider getting a router that will accept a USB external drive (e.g. the Vodafone DSL router, a Huawei HG556a, has 3 USB slots) for your rotating disk HDD, or a regular NAS box to plug into your existing router by ethernet cable.


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  • #12
    yenoah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 159 ✭✭yenoah


    bonzodog2 wrote: »
    The outer part of the DVD tray (with the eject button and activity light) is detachable from the standard internal working parts.

    You might consider getting a router that will accept a USB external drive (e.g. the Vodafone DSL router, a Huawei HG556a, has 3 USB slots) for your rotating disk HDD, or a regular NAS box to plug into your existing router by ethernet cable.

    Thanks for that. I have a NAS (qNas) connected to my router. It houses loads of stuff like music, video, documents, software installs etc but could never act as a working disk. Access is just too slow via WiFi and I do not want an ethernet cable going across the room to my recliner.

    My working disk would house Visual Studio, Sql Server, Photoshop etc all those massive apps that you need on a regular basis but that have a massive foot print.


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