New Computer -- Question

[rjundi]

For work I am replaced my ailing but trusty 5 year old T500 with a W530 Lenovo.

W530 I am getting a 256GB SSD drive as primary. However it has a $100 option of using a 500GB drive in the "ultrabay" (eg DVD rom drive).

My question is it the performance of USB 3.0 with decent drive going to match up well to the $100 option of using a ultrabay drive?

My intended use is to virtualize Linux and and other operating systems for work development projects.

 

[webfors]

Depends on use. What do you plan on using the secondary drive for?

What is the spec of the internal storage controller, sata3?

Are you planning on installing an SSD 500GB drive as secondary or a 7.2k sata?

 

[97prizm]

If you plan on transferring large or a large number of Files go with either another SSD or 7200 rpm secondary hard drive. They make 10,000 rpm drives for laptops only seen one in person at Best Buy a couple years back. It was 50% more than a comparable 7200 rpm but had less capacity.

 

[rjundi]

The plan for the 2nd drive is to use for backup of primary SSD which is 256GB. Also another intention is to virtualize Operating systems/servers for development purposes.

This is one version of caddy product:


I am unclear if SATA2 or SATA3. That being said is USB 3.0>=SATA2 or no?

 

[webfors]

Originally Posted By: rjundi
The plan for the 2nd drive is to use for backup of primary SSD which is 256GB. Also another intention is to virtualize Operating systems/servers for development purposes.

This is one version of caddy product:


I am unclear if SATA2 or SATA3. That being said is USB 3.0>=SATA2 or no?


SATA2 < USB3.0 < SATA3

But since you'll never have a drive that can read/write 5Gbps anyway the point is moot. I think in this scenario is comes down to versatility. Do you want to have the second drive built into the chassis, or have to lug around a cable and external drive?

 

[webfors]

I would be surprised if that laptop is SATA2. All modern laptops are running SATA3 nowadays.

 

[BearZDefect]

Originally Posted By: webfors
.... I think in this scenario is comes down to versatility. Do you want to have the second drive built into the chassis, or have to lug around a cable and external drive?

I second this. If it will be useful to have that second drive detached (so you can easily connect it to another computer, for example) then the external drive with USB 3.0 is a good choice. Otherwise, the internal drive is a better choice because you have fewer pieces to carry around or lose.

 

[PandaBear]

While USB3.0 may be faster than SATA2, don't be surprised that the controller cannot support the bandwidth internally and is bottled necked. Also don't be surprised that an OS is not responding as fast to USB in general than SATA so as a result things slow done inside the OS drivers.

I've completely migrated away from 1394 as a result of the poor driver implementation in Windows.

 

[rjundi]

Sounds like ultrabay is better solution all around. Ultrabay = removable DVD, HDD or whatever.

I will purchase this:
http://www.newmodeus.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=400

And then find a 1tb drive to use as backup for primary 256GB SSD. The balance for building images for virtualized servers for software development purposes.

I am guessing 7200RPM is the way to go after reading and searching away I believe it is SATA3 drive in ultrabay but hard to tell as its forum posts.

 

[Subdued]

I used to run a linux VM in virtual box off an old 2.5" USB2 ext hard drive on an ancient HP laptop. It wasn't super speedy, but the performace was more than acceptable. This proposed setup would have run like a dream.