SSD for a SATA 2 connection?

[XFlameWithin]

I haven't followed the computer market for a while now, been busy with school. I'm thinking of buying a SSD soon seeing that prices will probably fall to 2GB/$ soon (which was the limit I set for myself before I would buy). What SSD should I buy these days that would saturate a SATA2 connection without the connection becoming too big a bottle neck? (I cheaped out on my motherboard (H61) and it doesn't have sata3)

I'm pretty sure that any SSD will be an improvement from my current hard drive... a 320GB seagate 7200.10, still going strong!

[Busybuyer888]

There is no issue getting a SATA3 SSD and using it with a SATA2 motherboard.

Infact, I'd get a SATA3 SSD so the SSD could be used in a future system. (I'd also only get 120GB and larger SSD.)

[Mark77]

Busybuyer has it right -- just buy the fastest/most reliable/cheapest SSD you can. The SATA level you're running really doesn't matter, as most of the 'awesomeness' of a SSD relates to its ability to do 10,000-50,000 iops, rather than the 150-300 iops that most magnetic/mechanical hard drives are apable of.

The H61 isn't the end of the world. Chances are, even if you had a H67, you wouldn't notice the difference.

[XFlameWithin]

Are the low end SSDs these days not fast enough to saturate a SATA2 connection yet? Wouldn't it be a waste if I bought one of the new generation SSDs that have really high transfer rates that I can't utilize?

[Mark77]

Are the low end SSDs these days not fast enough to saturate a SATA2 connection yet?

It doesn't matter; the slowness of most hard drives is in their random I/O, not in their sustained transfer rates. SSDs obviously overcome this problem as they use solid state chips, rather than mechanical parts that have huge rotational latencies.

Wouldn't it be a waste if I bought one of the new generation SSDs that have really high transfer rates that I can't utilize?

No. You're generally not paying extra for the newer technology, and the newer drives are more stable. Plus they give you an upgrade path.

[XFlameWithin]

It doesn't matter; the slowness of most hard drives is in their random I/O, not in their sustained transfer rates. SSDs obviously overcome this problem as they use solid state chips, rather than mechanical parts that have huge rotational latencies.



No. You're generally not paying extra for the newer technology, and the newer drives are more stable. Plus they give you an upgrade path.

Alright, thanks for your help!