What is the best size for your SSD?

[bzollinger]

After digging all around my system drive, I copied my home drive to my RAID1 set, then redirected it. That cut my usage on the system drive down to ~25GB. So I ordered the OWC 120GB 6G (future proof) drive, and another 8GB for RAM.

I can't wait to see this baby scream!

 

[disconap]

All of my computers run on SSDs. They vary in size between 32gb (my server and our mailroom computer) to 64gb (my main tower, my mac mini, and my netbook). If you're not keeping data (ESPECIALLY writing to constantly) on your main drive, unless you have a jillion necessary apps (like 6 different video editing suites with gigs of pulg-ins, for example) you're fine at 64gb for now. None of my main machines have less than 38gb available at any given time.

(on my main machine I even have my mail directory aliased to another drive to cut down on writes to my main drive)

 

[Young Spade]

All of my computers run on SSDs. They vary in size between 32gb (my server and our mailroom computer) to 64gb (my main tower, my mac mini, and my netbook). If you're not keeping data (ESPECIALLY writing to constantly) on your main drive, unless you have a jillion necessary apps (like 6 different video editing suites with gigs of pulg-ins, for example) you're fine at 64gb for now. None of my main machines have less than 38gb available at any given time.

(on my main machine I even have my mail directory aliased to another drive to cut down on writes to my main drive)

Good God tell me you're joking. 64 gigs? But that's given you're using the computer for a specific purpose; for normal people with normal uses, 128 is definitely the minimum if they plan on using that machine for years.

Normal implying a good set of applications, media files (music, pictures, video), and a few games.

 

[disconap]

Good God tell me you're joking. 64 gigs? But that's given you're using the computer for a specific purpose; for normal people with normal uses, 128 is definitely the minimum if they plan on using that machine for years.

Normal implying a good set of applications, media files (music, pictures, video), and a few games.

Why would you keep media files on an ssd? That's what eats up the most space, and it's totally unnecessary as there's no benefit to it vs. using a second drive or an external.

My machines are everyday use machines, they aren't sole purpose. I run graphics apps, audio/video editing apps, and day-to-day business as well as web browsing, email, etc. I have a lot running on my machines constantly and I've never run into a problem (of course, I have a server at work and light needs at home).

 

[Young Spade]

Why would you keep media files on an ssd? That's what eats up the most space, and it's totally unnecessary as there's no benefit to it vs. using a second drive or an external.

My machines are everyday use machines, they aren't sole purpose. I run graphics apps, audio/video editing apps, and day-to-day business as well as web browsing, email, etc. I have a lot running on my machines constantly and I've never run into a problem (of course, I have a server at work and light needs at home).

To have higher read/write speeds; isn't that generally the reason people use them? Because they're faster?

But you're saying it like people, normal people, lug around external hard drives with them or even have them to store backups on; the average consumer uses his computer and "maybe" an external monitor, if that.

Nobody puts files on external drives. Maybe "we" do, as we are enthusiasts to soem point, that's why we are here.

The average person does not. I'm making assumptions and basing opinions on the majority of the population, hence my stating of "normal".

 

[-hh]

Do you keep your iPhoto libraryon the SSD drive? If you didn't is iPhoto just as slow as if it were on a spinning drive?

I haven't pulled the trigger on a new system (yet), but my planning is to only work on the boot drive .. possibly two small SSDs in RAID 0.

From there, I'd use a Unix-based symbolic link to "repoint" the media hogs in one's home folder to a second (and conventional) disk for bulk storage. Sure, it will be a bit slower than an SSD, but even the simple act of separating the spindles for OS tasks vs. Application data will improve performance.

My iPhoto is over 60GB, so that's a lot of SSD space and $$!

Only 60GB? Its too early for you to complain


-hh

 

[disconap]

To have higher read/write speeds; isn't that generally the reason people use them? Because they're faster?

Higher read/write speeds do not effect mp3s or video/photo files, as the actual file size nullifies it in any practical way (other than copying in bulk, I suppose).

But you're saying it like people, normal people, lug around external hard drives with them or even have them to store backups on; the average consumer uses his computer and "maybe" an external monitor, if that.

This is the Mac Pro forum. There is no lugging, these are gigantic machines with four drive ports that are not portable...

EDIT: well, I suppose there MAY be some lugging. I'm actually always amused by colleagues and even friends who lug these huge NEW towers (I'd understand if it was cheap, older hardware) for remote recording. Have they not heard about laptops? They're not just for internet porn anymore...

Nobody puts files on external drives. Maybe "we" do, as we are enthusiasts to soem point, that's why we are here.

The average person does not. I'm making assumptions and basing opinions on the majority of the population, hence my stating of "normal".

The average person also doesn't need an ssd, it's a waste of money on their part. If you're enough of a gaming enthusiast to be buying parts specifically for gaming than you are enough of a techie to understand file structures and how to separate system and application from media.

For that matter, average users probably shouldn't buy a Mac Pro. Like ever. The tower line is pretty much solely for pros at this point; not being snobbish or anything, just saying you're wasting around $1k minimum when an iMac, at this point in the technology, will give the average user pretty much everything they want and need at a price that makes buying a more expensive SSD (should you want one) feasible...