Best practices for dual drive setup? (SSD + 500GB MCE Optibay)

[icanhazapple]

I recently ordered an MCE Optibay and will be putting a 500GB Western Digital drive where the optical drive once was, and a 40GB Intel SSD (320 series) in the hard drive bay.

Was wondering if anyone could recommend some best practices for moving user data (iPhone Library/iTunes library) and keeping the OS and applications (Google Chrome/Xcode/Office 2011) on the SSD.

any tips?

 

[MacsOnAnabolics]

That is they way I have mine set up. For itunes just move your itunes folder to the HDD and in itunes>preferences>advanced under media folder location change the location to your itunes library to the location on your HDD.

Some people use the method of moving their home directory, however, I don't think that is the best way because the OS would constantly be accessing your home folder which would be on your HDD, cutting down on performance and battery life.

 

[awer25]

Tip - buy a $10 optibay from eBay, and spend the extra $90 on a larger/faster SSD

Either way, move the home folder to the HDD. Making that change will still keep the default app installation directory on the SSD, and I haven't noticed any difference in speed or battery life.

 

[gaps]

i looked on ebay for an optibay for an early 2008 MBP 17" and cannot find one. the only one i can find are the ones for unibodies. can anyone help?

 

[McGiord]

Isn't it better to leave the HDD in the original location and install the SSD where the optical drive was? More damping for the HDD?
I bought my SSD from OWC and got their kit.

 

[gaps]

down

 

[gaps]

i know mce has optibays for non unibody mbps but i was wondering if there are inexpensive ones on ebay for the non-unibodies? i couldn't find any and was wondering if anyone else has? thanks for any help

 

[BigEvil]

another thing I've done (running a SSD 480 as my main drive and threw my 7200 RPM 500Gb in the optical [used the max upgrades one that comes with the free optical drive enclosure] is to create a "movies" alias that lies in my users/movies folder thus moving ALL my videos to the HDD as well and freeing up space. The main SSD is really for system/pro apps like Pro tools and the corresponding VIs i use with it.

 

[zero85ZEN]

...move the home folder to the HDD. Making that change will still keep the default app installation directory on the SSD, and I haven't noticed any difference in speed or battery life.

This. 100% the right way to do it. Also, I'd recommend cloning the SSD (once you get the OS and apps installed on it) onto the original HD (if you're not putting it in the optibay, I always put a 7200 drive in the optibay and never pay extra to Apple for a 7200rpm drive when I buy, they're cheap through Newegg, etc.) as an easy and quick swap out in case the SSD craps out on you.

 

[BigEvil]

This. 100% the right way to do it. Also, I'd recommend cloning the SSD (once you get the OS and apps installed on it) onto the original HD (if you're not putting it in the optibay, I always put a 7200 drive in the optibay and never pay extra to Apple for a 7200rpm drive when I buy, they're cheap through Newegg, etc.) as an easy and quick swap out in case the SSD craps out on you.

though that will save a ton of space would that not hinder your daily usage as all of the documents/files you'll access will be reading from the HDD? Perhaps my usage of audio recording makes my strategy slightly different but I like the concept of having my home folder(sans iTunes) on the SSD so that the typical stuff I'm accessing the most is off the SSD.


that being said, quick question going back to the original poster. which of the bays is faster for your SSD? both of mine (MBP 2010 i7) show 3GB capable but one of them shows 1.5GB negotiated(whatever that means)

 

[zero85ZEN]

another thing I've done (running a SSD 480 as my main drive and threw my 7200 RPM 500Gb in the optical [used the max upgrades one that comes with the free optical drive enclosure] is to create a "movies" alias that lies in my users/movies folder thus moving ALL my videos to the HDD as well and freeing up space. The main SSD is really for system/pro apps like Pro tools and the corresponding VIs i use with it.

I use the MaxUpgrades optibay caddy as well, the external USB superdrive case is a decent and inexpensive solution.

 

[zero85ZEN]

though that will save a ton of space would that not hinder your daily usage as all of the documents/files you'll access will be reading from the HDD? Perhaps my usage of audio recording makes my strategy slightly different but I like the concept of having my home folder(sans iTunes) on the SSD so that the typical stuff I'm accessing the most is off the SSD.


that being said, quick question going back to the original poster. which of the bays is faster for your SSD? both of mine (MBP 2010 i7) show 3GB capable but one of them shows 1.5GB negotiated(whatever that means)

Every users unique needs will vary...I use an external eSATA raid 0 HD configuration for my render files, capture and scratch disk when Video editing. But yeah, If you need to access large files quickly off the HD it could be a bottleneck in the system.

 

[Hydrocity]

So should the home icon be on the HD or SSD for the best performance?

 

[awer25]

So should the home icon be on the HD or SSD for the best performance?

If you're only asking about performance, then everything should be on the SSD. If you need more space though, then you have to compromise.

 

[awer25]

though that will save a ton of space would that not hinder your daily usage as all of the documents/files you'll access will be reading from the HDD? Perhaps my usage of audio recording makes my strategy slightly different but I like the concept of having my home folder(sans iTunes) on the SSD so that the typical stuff I'm accessing the most is off the SSD.

What kind of recording do you do? For many situations, the computer can't necessarily process the data any faster than the transfer speed of a standard HDD, so there would be no benefit of using an SSD.

 

[BigEvil]

I record audio to the HDD, I use the SSD for the applications themselves as well as the virtual instruments.