SSD performance?

[CPhoenix]

Hey guys,

So... I recently added a 2nd hard drive to my setup- just a 7200rpm, 80GB SATA 3 drive, nothing special. I'm using it to lighten up the load on my main harddrive by putting a few sample libraries on it, but keeping it at about 50% capacity. I must say... I'm really impressed with my improved system stability.

If you know me by now... i'm always looking for the next best thing lol. So, I'm really interesting in grabbing 1 (maybe 2) SSD drive(s), since I hear their performance pretty much poops on regular HDs. I'm considering definitely making one the main drive (the smaller one), and one the audio drive. I'd let my regular HD hold the VST's probably. (I haven't completely figured out the final setup yet though, so if you have suggestions please let me know. I don't even know if 2 SSD's is necessary by definition.)

Does anybody have any experience with SSDs in their setup? Any major improvements over your regular HD? Was it hands down worth it?

[logic7]

honestly, for the price, it's still overrated. Until it comes down in price and their longevity is proven, they're not even worth a look.

[CPhoenix]

I'm not too concerned about price though. I'm aware any halfway decent sized one runs from between $200-$500 depending on size. I'd just pick the best deal for my budget

I'm moreso wondering what the performance is like, and if it's much improved over a 7200rpm HD for handling large sample libraries, perhaps VST performance, recording, and general system performance. In particular, I feel there's a bottleneck occuring that I'd be very interested in alieviating.

From anyone who uses an SSD in their setup, is there a clearcut boost in performance of your DAW/ system that u noticed?

[noblewordz]

I have an SSD I couldn't have a PC without one. I use a mechanical drive at work, it depresses me, sometimes, when I'm alone... at night... I cry.

I run my OS and DAW/Plugins from it, you'll notice the performance difference straight away.

And my SSD is quit old now but marginally faster than regular drives.

[~X~]

With my OS, yes, hell yes. with large sample libraries, vsts, recording, eh yea its alot better but i could live without it. If I could go back in time i'd get a smaller one and use it as my primary hdd for my OS.

[logic7]

I'm not too concerned about price though. I'm aware any halfway decent sized one runs from between $200-$500 depending on size. I'd just pick the best deal for my budget

I'm moreso wondering what the performance is like, and if it's much improved over a 7200rpm HD for handling large sample libraries, perhaps VST performance, recording, and general system performance. In particular, I feel there's a bottleneck occuring that I'd be very interested in alieviating.

From anyone who uses an SSD in their setup, is there a clearcut boost in performance of your DAW/ system that u noticed?

unless the VST is streaming absolutely enormous sample libraries in 100% realtime, you're probably not going to see much of a benefit for the price.

VSTi's that are synths that are completely self contained will see zero benefit.
Likewise, unless your audio track count is in the hundreds at 24/192, you'll see no real benefit.

If you're running a massive database tied to a correlation engine (i.e. an enterprise wide SIEM environment with many log collection points), you'll immediately see benefits... and will likely see failure sooner as SSD's have a limited number of r/w's they can handle (hard drives have no limit).

[noblewordz]

unless the VST is streaming absolutely enormous sample libraries in 100% realtime, you're probably not going to see much of a benefit for the price.

VSTi's that are synths that are completely self contained will see zero benefit.
Likewise, unless your audio track count is in the hundreds at 24/192, you'll see no real benefit.

If you're running a massive database tied to a correlation engine (i.e. an enterprise wide SIEM environment with many log collection points), you'll immediately see benefits... and will likely see failure sooner as SSD's have a limited number of r/w's they can handle (hard drives have no limit).

Thats not my experience at all.

[logic7]

Thats not my experience at all.

It was mine when doing validation testing for a project I was on. For usage outside of massive data streaming from dozens of databases and having to correlate all of that data and display it, ther was no real benefit to SSD's. The average person, even the engineers, saw no real benefit other than a slight bump in speed getting files to open. Once I completed a cost/benefit analysis, the data we pulled together showed that, for the money, even with grossly exaggerated failure/replacement costs, there was no real benefit to using SSD's in any scenario outside of heavy duty transactional use.

[CPhoenix]

Thanks noble, that's really good to know.

It's interesting. I'm starting my research on it, and it seems that when people talk in terms of theory, they tend to be very cautious towards SSDs, claiming they are not as reliable and not worth the risk. However... everybody who says they have one talks about how they see big system improvements OS-wise, load-time wise, etc.... and pretty much the same response you gave.

I'm thinking when I add it to my system (iy probably will be in 3-4 months at the earliest), i'll grab a 60-80GB one for the OS, and the largest I can afford for sample libraries. From the tests that I saw, it looks like a standard HD will outperform the SSD for audio writes.... but in a "read"-mostly environment, that's when it's a clearcut performance boost.

Hopefully by the time I grab one this summer the price/GB will drop a little more. I'm not too too confortable dropping essentially $1.50 per GB lol. That's a new TV!

---------- Post added at 01:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:02 PM ----------

It was mine when doing validation testing for a project I was on. For usage outside of massive data streaming from dozens of databases and having to correlate all of that data and display it, ther was no real benefit to SSD's. The average person, even the engineers, saw no real benefit other than a slight bump in speed getting files to open. Once I completed a cost/benefit analysis, the data we pulled together showed that, for the money, even with grossly exaggerated failure/replacement costs, there was no real benefit to using SSD's in any scenario outside of heavy duty transactional use.

Well this is the main reason I think I'd like one... for quicker reads of large sample libraries for loading and playback, and for OS speed and stability.

I wasn't expecting my synths to process faster in my DAW lol. That seems like a job for the CPU.

I think I want that added performance benefit though to relieve my main HD of having to do all the work. The more i think about it.. the more I'm amazed the head is still operating. As much as it has to go back n forth to do everything. Poor little guy lol

Couple hundred bucks isn't bad if it means a superior work experience.

[logic7]

Thanks noble, that's really good to know.

It's interesting. I'm starting my research on it, and it seems that when people talk in terms of theory, they tend to be very cautious towards SSDs, claiming they are not as reliable and not worth the risk. However... everybody who says they have one talks about how they see big system improvements OS-wise, load-time wise, etc.... and pretty much the same response you gave.

I'm thinking when I add it to my system (iy probably will be in 3-4 months at the earliest), i'll grab a 60-80GB one for the OS, and the largest I can afford for sample libraries. From the tests that I saw, it looks like a standard HD will outperform the SSD for audio writes.... but in a "read"-mostly environment, that's when it's a clearcut performance boost.

Hopefully by the time I grab one this summer the price/GB will drop a little more. I'm not too too confortable dropping essentially $1.50 per GB lol. That's a new TV!

I think part of that could be over compensating for disappointment in a recent purchase. You know how some people will over inflate things to justify a purchase that didn't live up to its expectations.

Well this is the main reason I think I'd like one... for quicker reads of large sample libraries for loading and playback, and for OS speed and stability.

I wasn't expecting my synths to process faster in my DAW lol. That seems like a job for the CPU.

I think I want that added performance benefit though to relieve my main HD of having to do all the work. The more i think about it.. the more I'm amazed the head is still operating. As much as it has to go back n forth to do everything. Poor little guy lol

Couple hundred bucks isn't bad if it means a superior work experience.

but how long are you waiting now for these libraries to load? If it's counted in seconds, does it really matter if it loads any faster?