SSD newbie looking for advice

Hi all,

My current desktop is an HP d5000t with roughly the following specs:

Core 2 Quad 9450
6GB RAM
2 internal sata drives (750GB, 1TB)

Anyway, I want to add an SSD, specifically for Lightroom 3 processing and Photoshop CS5 scratch disk.

For LR, I would basically plan to have my catalog and previews on the SSD, with the actual RAW files on a regular drive.

Any suggestion for brand / size?

The short answer:
Intel X25-M G2 or one of the Indilinx-based drives: OCZ Vertex, Corsair, Patriot Torqx, Super Talent, G. Skill, etc.

The long answer:

Read this first
http://www.anandtech.c​om/show/2738

Then follow up with this
http://www.anandtech.c​om/show/2829

One from this place. Not sure if it's this model in particular you'd want.

If I had an SSD i'd also keep the current set of working images on the SSD, but i'd move it off once processing was done. I'd expect it to be pretty quick that way. It's easier with Bridge rather than Lightroom, because it doesn't care if you move images around, Lightroom might because of its catalog.

tim wrote in post #10601252
One from this place. Not sure if it's this model in particular you'd want.

That's what I have and it's very nice.

Budget?

The indilinx stuff is still great and with the introduction of a new generation stuff there have been some price drops and more coming.

If you can afford it...go with the new Intel Generation 2 or SSD using the NEW SandForce controller. I picked up a new Vertex 2 from OCZ using the new sandforce and wow... I have been using various SSDs since they first started up and it is exciting right now.

Definitely an Intel G2 drive

I've got one - they hardly degrade (so even if you use a non trim OS like Vista it's no problem - how do I know, I have one in my laptop with Vista)

Also do look here
http://forum.notebookr​eview.com …s-brands-news-advice.html

Wow. Lots of great info in those links.

If I were going to use this as my boot / applications drive, or in my notebook, no doubt I would just get the Intel X25-M G2 and be done with it.

Being that I want to use this for my LR catalogs and previews though, the Indilinx looks very tempting.

I'd wait until Christmas when Intel releases the next generation SSDs, which use a smaller fabrication process, meaning you get more capacity per chip, that in turn meaning more capacity per $£€.