SSD + HDD in New MacBook Pro?

[DaveOZ]

Anyone know if it would be feasible to order a new MacBook Pro with the SSD then pull out the SuperDrive and stick in a 320Gb HDD for data? I have the SSD in and I'm sure a Pro with system and apps on the SSD would just fly but this is just not enough space for all my files.

Yes I know and external drive would help but I like to take all my files with me otherwise why have a laptop? I tried living with the Air for a few weeks as my only computer using a 320Gb USB drive but I just got bored with having to plug it in all the time and carry around with me. The above system would be the ultimate setup for as I rarely use the Superdive on my laptop and I have a USB one if I need it.

Thoughts....

 

[Baffles]

The SSD doesn't really offer much at all over a traditional spindle drive.

 

[mathcolo]

The SSD doesn't really offer much at all over a traditional spindle drive.

I've heard boot time is decreased which may be a significant advantage for some people who need quick access to their laptop.

 

[hayduke]

I'm interested to know the same. Basically, can you install two hard drives, with one in the SuperDrive's position?

 

[Baffles]

I've heard boot time is decreased which may be a significant advantage for some people who need quick access to their laptop.

People actually shut down? I just keep mine in sleep all the time, of course I use it every day.

 

[Eidorian]

I have a feeling that a third party will probably make an adapter to allow the easier installation of 2.5" SATA drives to the SuperDrive connector.

 

[mathcolo]

People actually shut down? I just keep mine in sleep all the time, of course I use it every day.

Well me too, however if one does shut down and they want quick startup, then SSD is for them.

 

[DaveOZ]

It's not just start-up, applications launch MUCH faster on my Air than they do on my MBPro.

 

[8767092]

The SSD doesn't really offer much at all over a traditional spindle drive.

Benefits of SSD:

1) Durability: No moving parts.
2) Power consumption: SSD use less power than similar speed spindle drives.
3) Indirect power consumption: SSD generate less heat which could increase battery life by not heating the machine as much.

The following is a performance comparison of various drive speeds taken with Xbench:

Let's compare Xbench stats between the 128GB SSD in a Macbook Pro, a 80GB 5400rpm disk in a Mac Mini, and a 200GB 7200rpm HD in a Macbook Pro:

Mac Mini (80GB 5400rpm):

Sequential 67.22
Uncached Write 69.74 42.82 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 68.11 38.54 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 55.76 16.32 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 79.68 40.04 MB/sec [256K blocks]

Random 27.02
Uncached Write 9.39 0.99 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 65.57 20.99 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 63.56 0.45 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 94.63 17.56 MB/sec [256K blocks]

Macbook Pro (200GB 7200rpm):

Sequential 80.05

Uncached Write 82.40 50.59 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 96.00 54.32 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 56.37 16.50 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 103.38 51.96 MB/sec [256K blocks]

Random 26.24
Uncached Write 8.10 0.86 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 100.76 32.26 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 88.54 0.63 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 127.53 23.66 MB/sec [256K blocks]

Macbook Pro (128GB SSD):

Sequential 71.28

Uncached Write 107.34 65.91 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 69.55 39.35 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 36.98 10.82 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 185.97 93.47 MB/sec [256K blocks]

Random 115.88
Uncached Write 45.71 4.84 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 102.46 32.80 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 1187.04 8.41 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 490.77 91.07 MB/sec [256K blocks]

These test results show the SSD holds it's own pretty well just in terms of performance.