Best SSD for samples library?

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dkslim
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2011/07/14 03:05:54 (permalink)

Best SSD for samples library?

What characteristics of a SSD are most important for a samples library drive?
 
I had a look at the soundsonline.com forum, and most people there seem to agree that 4k random read (or IOPS) is the most important statistic. Because that's how samples drives do reads.
 
Also it seems samples libraries are normally compressed, so SSDs that read incompressible data quickly are better suited. This means Intel and Crucial SSDs (which don't perform any better with compressible data) are more suited than sandforce-based SSDs (which perform better with compressible data).
 
What do you people think? What do you think is the best kind of SSD for samples libraries?
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    LpMike75
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    Re:Best SSD for samples library? 2011/07/14 09:17:34 (permalink)
    Below is the PC spec that the EastWest guys use.  I would tend to trust their specs and harddrive choices as they use this PC to test their software libraries.  ( http://www.soundsonline-forums.com/showthread.php?t=34227 ). 

    Case
    Compucase HEC, 6C28B Black Mid-Tower Case, No PSU, ATX

    Power Supply
    Cooler Master, Silent Pro M 850W Power Supply w/ Modular Cables, 80 PLUS Bronze, ATX12V 2.3 EPS12V 2.92, 6x 8/6-pin PCIe

    Motherboard
    ASROCK, X58 Extreme6, LGA1366, Intel X58, 6400 MT/s QPI, DDR3-2000 (O.C.) 24GB /6, PCIe x 16 SLI CF /3, SATA 6Gb/s RAID 5 /6, USB 3.0 /4, HDA, GbLAN, FW /2, ATX

    Display card
    ASUS, EN210/DI/512MD2(LP), GeForce® 210 589MHz, 512MB GDDR2 800MHz, PCIe x16, VGA+DVI, HDMI, Low-Profile

    Processor
    INTEL, CoreTM i7-980X Extreme Six-Core, 3.33GHz, LGA1366, 6.4 GT/s QPI, 12MB L3 Cache, HT EM64T EIST TB VT XD, 32nm, 130W

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    KINGSTON, 24GB (6 x 4GB) HyperX PC3-12800 DDR3 1600MHz CL9 1.65V SDRAM DIMM, Non-ECC

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    WESTERN DIGITAL, 1TB WD Caviar® BlackTM (WD1002FAEX), SATA 6 Gb/s, 7200 RPM, 64MB Cache
    WESTERN DIGITAL, 1TB WD Caviar® BlackTM (WD1002FAEX), SATA 6 Gb/s, 7200 RPM, 64MB Cache
    CRUCIAL, 128GB RealSSDTM C300 SSD, MLC Marvell 88SS9174, 355/140 MB/s, 2.5-Inch, SATA 6 Gb/s
    CRUCIAL, 128GB RealSSDTM C300 SSD, MLC Marvell 88SS9174, 355/140 MB/s, 2.5-Inch, SATA 6 Gb/s,
    CRUCIAL, 128GB RealSSDTM C300 SSD, MLC Marvell 88SS9174, 355/140 MB/s, 2.5-Inch, SATA 6 Gb/s,

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    LG ELECTRONICS, GH22NP20 Black 22x DVD R/RW Dual-Layer Burner, IDE/ATAPI

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    MICROSOFT, Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Edition installed on 1TB WD


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    #2
    Jonbouy
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    Re:Best SSD for samples library? 2011/07/14 09:45:58 (permalink)
    I'm using standard SATA drives for my samples and hadn't really considered using SSD's there as short of initial load time I don't find them much of a bottleneck, space is more of consideration to me for samples than speed.

    I have thought about mounting the business end on an SSD though (i.e OS and DAW software).

    Glad the question has been raised though as I look forward to the much greater wisdom than I have that comes with these kinds of threads.

    "We can't do anything to change the world until capitalism crumbles.
    In the meantime we should all go shopping to console ourselves" - Banksy
    #3
    The Maillard Reaction
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    Re:Best SSD for samples library? 2011/07/14 09:55:04 (permalink)
    "What do you people think? What do you think is the best kind of SSD for samples libraries?"


    I think you should divide the terrabytes of library space you need by the number of drive bays you have available and see what happens.

    best regards,
    mike





    #4
    Jim Roseberry
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    Re:Best SSD for samples library? 2011/07/14 21:35:54 (permalink)
    What characteristics of a SSD are most important for a samples library drive?

     
    The same spec that's important for conventional HDs that stream samples... 
    That being sustained transfer on reads (MB/Sec).
     
    BTW, Those specs on the EastWest test machine are really nothing to get overly excited about.
    They're trying to simulate a typical "test" (customer) scenario... not necessarily create the ultimate sample-streaming machine.  If it were the later, you'd see much higher end SSDs being used.
    Newest generation units (expensive) sustain well over 400MB/Sec.  Obviously this isn't cost effective for most users... 
     
    I'd define what you need as far as disk-streaming polyphony.
    If you're talking 128-256 simultaneous voices, you don't even need SSD.
    If you're talking 500-1000+ simultaneous voices, that's when fast SSD shines.
    As with conventional HDs, using multiple SSDs will afford even greater performance

    Best Regards,

    Jim Roseberry
    jim@studiocat.com
    www.studiocat.com
    #5
    dkslim
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    Re:Best SSD for samples library? 2011/07/16 10:53:53 (permalink)
    Thanks for all the replies!

    The reason why I want to use SSD for sample libraries is so I can reduce the sampler buffering, freeing up more memory and maximising the number of virtual instruments I can have pre-loaded. Also, the fast loading times really help to keep the creative process going.

    It looks like there is a combination of random and, as Jim pointed out, sustained transfers going on when streaming samples. It depends on the samples being played. If they are small in size, then random speed is important. If they are big in size, then sequential speed is important.

    Seeing that most sample sizes are bigger than 4k, I guess it starts to look like sequential read speed is more important. But why then is everyone in the East West forum saying that random read speed and IOPS is most important, I wonder.

    One thing is for sure though, that is, most samples especially Kontakt ones are in compressed format. This means that we should be getting SSDs that do well with incompressible data. And the SSDs that do that well at the moment, are the Crucial M4s and Intels. Perhaps this is the answer.
    #6
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