HDD vs. SSD? - but not what you think

[doh123]

according to what we just talked about in this thread... the 15" 2012 model has a full 6gbps in the optical bay, so yes, its best to leave the hard drive in place and add in your SSD in the optical bay. Historically the optical bay has always been 3Gbps max, but apparently not in the new 15"er. There would be zero performance difference switching them around.

 

[splinteredFish]

according to what we just talked about in this thread... the 15" 2012 model has a full 6gbps in the optical bay, so yes, its best to leave the hard drive in place and add in your SSD in the optical bay. Historically the optical bay has always been 3Gbps max, but apparently not in the new 15"er. There would be zero performance difference switching them around.

thank you for the confirmation! This is what I was hearing also. I'm it makes me very happy...the less I have to mess around in there, the better!

 

[ugp]

I just ordered Crucial M4 256GB with the Transfer Kit from Amazon. Will be here tomorrow. Can't wait to see the performance difference.

Until I need the extra storage I am not going to bother with replacing the Optical Drive in mine. I don't plan on storing any music on my MBP. Only my iPhoto Library and what ever Video Project I am working on.

 

[awer25]

sorry for the hijack... but...
how do you backup after moving the Home folder to the second HDD ?
im using SuperDuper, is it going to make the backup normal (seeing this setting as one HDD), or do i need to backup the 2 HDD separately ???
and what happen if im using Symbolic link only for few folders (would like to keep the Home Library on the SSD) from the Home folder ???
or should i move to the second HDD only the data (music, movies, projects...) , and then to make 2 backups for each HDD separately???

im planing to make this move the next days, as soon as my optibay will come... and not shore with one of the options is the best way with the backups...

I just use Time Machine and it works great.

 

[Melbourne Park]

I reckon for SSDs, the Retina is the "Go"

If one buys the base Retina, you get the SSD much cheaper. You get 1GB VRAM as well. And use an external USB-3 drive for a second drive. Its still more compact than the non Retina, which is thicker. You get the Retina screen thrown in it seems to me.

 

[bockscar]

The 15" Support 6Gbps in the Optical Bay.

OWC recommended not to use them on the 13" right now for the 2012 Models.

Regardless your SSD I would say would be better off in the main bay and then the secondary in the Optical Bay.

I'm planning to do what OP does.

But it will be on the 13" Pro.

Based on what you're saying: I would have to put the SSD in the HDD bay (because the optical bay doesnt support 6Gbps), and then put the HDD in the optical bay?

But would the 3Gbps in the optical bay significantly slow down the speed of the HDD?

Thanks in advanced.

 

[Mr MM]

I'm planning to do what OP does.

But it will be on the 13" Pro.

Based on what you're saying: I would have to put the SSD in the HDD bay (because the optical bay doesnt support 6Gbps), and then put the HDD in the optical bay?

But would the 3Gbps in the optical bay significantly slow down the speed of the HDD?

Thanks in advanced.

not it wont, the HDDs we have now barely saturate the sata 1.5

 

[bockscar]

not it wont, the HDDs we have now barely saturate the sata 1.5

Thanks for the response. I'll just put the SSD into the HDD bay and use the optical bay for the HDD then.

 

[zeraien]

thank you, zeraien! I had no idea about one slot being better for vibration than another. Excellent point! So you're suggesting I not keep my photos on the HDD then? That would mean making sure my SSD is large enough for all of my photos (and music, and movies, etc.). That could end up requiring the SSD to be really large, like 512GB at least. And that could get expensive!

Mr Fish - I personally keep my photos on the larger HDD drive because I have about 160gb worth of photos.

With iPhoto it is very easy, just move you iPhoto library to the external drive, and doubleclick on it to open iPhoto, it will now always open that library.

(ps: to move it, just drag it, and while dragging press and hold the CMD key)

As for the being better for vibration - I only assume so, since there are some interestingly constructed screws and holes with rubber padding in the usual HDD slot, this also probably reduces the noise from the HDD.

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Someone mentioned TRIM support - Check out this tool to enable TRIM on a non-Apple SSD:

http://www.groths.org/?p=308

I've used it and it works very well.