Currently using 2 x 600GB WD VelociRaptors in RAID-0 (inb4 "loloverkill" for my C-drive, on which I only use ~250GB for my OS, Steam Games and assorted MS/Adobe programs.
As such, I'm looking at changing to a simple SSD, and maybe if I have enough SATA ports chucking that RAID setup as a secondary backup (as I already have a 2TB to store all movies/music).

Anyone recommend a good SSD? Looking for bang for buck sorta thing.

Also, any reading articles on how to split your steam folder?

Cheers!

Vertex 3 mate, very good SSD.

Otherwise Corsair F60


Keen to know this as well.

AFAIK it's impossible to do this and to be honest it should be something the guys at Steam Works should be working on >.<

You could how ever just split up your AppData folder and move them around which contains the games you want to play.

I've read something about splitting your steam folder across different hard-drives before. Think it was over on GotGames, but afaik it's possible.

Link 1: http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1138731
Link 2: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=420200

Link 2 refers to SteamTool Library Manager: http://stefanjones.ca/steam/

However, safe thing to do would to just uninstall the games I don't play, since I have like 180GB of games installed on steam, 80% of them I haven't even launched once. #wasteofspace

Vertex3 look good, but pretty pricey. Not sure that 120GB would be enough if I couldn't manage to split my steam folder

Grumpy, would it even be a speed upgrade going from 2 Raptors RAID 0 to the Vertex 3?

Edited once, 11/8/11 - 12:13pm.

Yup

What SSDs improve greatly on are the RANDOM read/writes - which is the main value you want to look at when you pick an SSD. Sequential reads/writes mean nothing unless you are consistently transferring and accessing large files from your SSD (in which SLC is better than MLC - google it if you like )

Hope it helps.

FYR: I have an SSD as my main boot device, it has Windows + COD4/BO + STEAM (CSS)

i've had a split steam library, no idea how it happened, it just happened. Reformatted and tried to installl my steam games onto my corsair F60 and ran out of space. So now i just have the main games i play installed.

Ooooo, Anand just put up a roundup on various SandForce SSDs: http://www.anandtech.com/show/4604/the-sandforce-roundup-corsair-patriot-ocz-owc-memoright-ssds-compared/1

Just skimmed through it, fantastic article.

So vertex3 still the go?
Going to order it and a few other assorted items either tonight/tomorrow. I bought a HAF X and the top fan clicks as though its hitting the edge or something for the first 5 minutes after I boot it up cold. So annoying.

Looking at the Vertex 3 120GB MAX IOPS for $299.

Is it wrong to assume that 2 x 60GB Vertex 3's for $159 each in RAID-0 is faster than a single MAX IOPS 120GB?

Just remember, currently, when SSDs are in RAID0, there is no TRIM as of yet. TRIM is basically rubbish collecting (more serious issue in SSDs, compared to HDDs) ~ read up on it, pretty interesting.

I remember reading somewhere that the MAX IOPS drive have bad random reads ...

Found it: Twitter from one of the best overclockers in the world + reviewer for a few Australian magazines:

https://twitter.com/#!/teamau/status/85106131965444096
https://twitter.com/#!/teamau/status/84864059488468992
https://twitter.com/#!/teamau/status/85190450914398209

I have no personal experience, so please take this as a guide only. In the end, SSD > HDD for main drive (if you can afford the loss of space)

So Vertex 3 (non max iops) for the win then?

I've read that the Vertex3 doesn't go well with my mobo (Asus P6X58D-E), something to do with a marvel controller... is that referring to RAID or what? (Basically, will buying a single vertex 3 and putting it into my Asus P6X58D-E 6GB SATA3 slot be a waste of the hard-drives potential?)

From my own reading it seems the marvel controller doesn't even support trim. I don't see the point in upgrading any more tbh

Edited 7 times, last edited 11/8/11 - 8:36pm.

I have two vortex3's in raid 0 on a rampage III extreme mb running W7 64bit pro..........I have been having a BSOD issue, only seems to happen after a few hours of inactivity. Researching the problem i have found that i'm not alone......still looking into it but apparently the vortex3's are having same difficulty. I think it wont be too hard to fix, but just something to keep in mind.

But the speed is AMAZING!!! lol

Corsair Force 3 is tearing shit up for me at lightning speed for me atm

Vertex 3 or Force 3, price is really the determining factor.