I built my first computer X58 MoBo, i7 CPU, 2x 1TB HDD I loaded Win 7 onto the HDD, but did little else. Now I have added a 120GB SSD. I want to use it for my OS and for programs, with data on my HDDs in RAID 1. I loaded Win 7 on the SSD, but I realized, maybe I should have a system partition separate from a programs partition? 1. Should I partition the SSD at all? 2. If I do, what size do I need for Win 7 and prospective service packs, and system files?

Better to use the HD for Windows and use the SSD for Readyboost instead That will be the fastest use of the hardware My MVP is for the Windows Desktop Experience, i.e. Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 IT Remote Assistance is available for a fee. I am best with C++ and I am learning C# using Visual Studio 2010 Developer | Windows IT | Chess | Economics | Hardcore Games | Vegan Advocate | PC Reviews

Definitely put your \windows on the SSD. Install your programs on the SSD. You will notice a remarkable improvement in performance. I have an SSD instlled in my Toshiba laptop. I follow my own advice. I have \windows and all programs on C. I also have \documents, \music, \video, \pictures \download on my D:\ My SSD is partitioned as follows: C:\ 50 GB D:\ 69 GB

It will be better if you use HD for windows. SSD for other programs. According to my knowledge Microsoft has not released any OS which will work from SSD. ( Still it will work for you. But in future you may receive hardware problems) -AJAloysius Jegan

Every os from Microsoft will run on an SSD (Solid State Disk). I have personally only installed XP and Win 7 on an SSD. I guarantee you they work. No tricks or anything to play. This msdn blog dates back to may 0f 2009, but is still rather valid. http://blogs.msdn.com/b/e7/archive/2009/05/05/support-and-q-a-for-solid-state-drives-and.aspx

Although certainly not the yellow from the egg, but--- WIN | type Windows Experience Index | click on Re-Run the Assessment to get your current scores Now install and SSD with Windows installed on that SSD. Run the assessment again. Compare the scores. But the real killer is simply to be amazed at the performance improvement. You will not get anywhere near the same result by putting your database files on the SSD. Data files can occupy much space. Presently my C, with Windows and Programs, requires 17.8 GB. My data, and I'm not a video, music or pic freak, require almost twice as much space. True video and music fans can quickly consume all of the space on a reasonably priced SSD. Save money and get better performance by putting your Windows and programs on the SSD drive.

I like the hybrid hard disk that is now coming to market. Seagate has the Momentus XT with some flash memory to perk up performance. WDC should have something by now too The Seagate drive is transparent, the drive's firmware does the caching. This approach will likely be the best. A SSD would be good with a database where there are lots of records being processed each day. Random access of the tables would be quick. My MVP is for the Windows Desktop Experience, i.e. Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 IT Remote Assistance is available for a fee. I am best with C++ and I am learning C# using Visual Studio 2010 Developer | Windows IT | Chess | Economics | Hardcore Games | Vegan Advocate | PC Reviews

After years of trying "the best approach", I've settled on Windows and core applications, even favorite games on the system drive, no partition. This means Windows, Adobe CS4, Office, all of the stuff that makes my systems, "systems" installed in one easy to backup (image) drive. Pictures, video, audio, and most everything else goes on other drives, and I tend to keep them manageably sized as well, all so I can image them individually, and restore my complete system in tens of minutes instead of whole days of reinstalling, having to fix broken registry info, and all the other stuff that normally makes recovering from disaster (or even simple hiccups) a chore from hades. Images are stored on E-SATA drives that are large enough to keep several copies of each machine's separate images, and one of those images is always "raw" Windows with all updates and patches installed, even before adding my heavy apps like CS4. Then I'l do an image of the "raw" plus Office, "raw" plus Office, plus CS4, "raw" plus Office, CS4, etc... This lets me choose to restore to "raw", or "raw" plus Office, etc, It makes little sense to install main apps on a separate drive, if you have a system drive failure, you have issues unless thebackup is VERY recent (things get changed in the registry daily, anytime you use an app in many cases. So having them "external doesn't help as much as we'd like to think. My current editing system is using 101GB of a 300GB VelociRaptor, my "main" machine is using 71GB of a 150GB "old" Raptor, both would do on a 128GB SSD, even better would be a 160GB or larger. Trouble for me with SSDs right now is a few seconds of patience is rewarded by a significant cost saving, but I appreciate folks like you keeping the SSD folks in business (seriously). I figure eventually I'll get a couple, enjoy the significant boost in speed for a time, then come to realize every other machine I use will be comparatively, painfully slow. I'd like that to happen when the prices come down a bit further, and when write leveling will have made significant advances in drive life, but I hold out hope for vastly improved write cycle "lifetimes" for the NAND devices themselves, negating to some extent the currently imperative nature of the write-leveling function itself. I guess what I'm saying is, for now, a few seconds faster boot, instantaneous launch instead of a few seconds delay is acceptable to me, with cost being the overall deciding factor. In the 30 years I've been into computing, I've had exactly 3 drive failures, and since I have a solid backup (image) plan in place for evey machine, I have near zero fear of drive failure bringing me to the brink of tears. Drive fails? Recover from an image, maybe 18 minutes TOPS to fully functional. Got an older version (CS4) and want to restore to "raw" in order to install a new Office and CS5 or CS6? 6 minutes or less, then install the new stuff, image those according to the "plan", and keep rocking. I use Acronis for imaging, but have used Ghost from Symantec, and even Ghost from Binary Technologies before that. (that one came on a floppy I still have...) DAS

Karl Snooks , Thanks for the info. -AJAloysius Jegan

Better to use the HD for Windows and use the SSD for Readyboost instead That will be the fastest use of the hardware My MVP is for the Windows Desktop Experience, i.e. Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 IT Remote Assistance is available for a fee. I am best with C++ and I am learning C# using Visual Studio 2010 Developer | Windows IT | Chess | Economics | Hardcore Games | Vegan Advocate | PC Reviews 120GB SSD drive used as Readyboost, you cannot be serious!

ReadyBoost also compresses the files so with say 32GB of storage it becomes 64GB in effect. ReadyBoost can use USB flash, SD flash, or SSD disks as they all have available capacities of 2GB or more. My MVP is for the Windows Desktop Experience, i.e. Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 IT Remote Assistance is available for a fee. I am best with C++ and I am learning C# using Visual Studio 2010 Developer | Windows IT | Chess | Economics | Hardcore Games | Vegan Advocate | PC Reviews

It may compress the cache that it contains but that has no effect whatsoever on the original data living elsewhere. Did you nick this quote from MS by any chance? "ReadyBoost can use USB flash, SD flash, or SSD disks as they all have available capacities of 2GB or more."

ReadyBoost will place copies on the flash memory and use them. This will speed up the system assuming the SSD is faster enough. My MVP is for the Windows Desktop Experience, i.e. Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 IT Remote Assistance is available for a fee. I am best with C++ and I am learning C# using Visual Studio 2010 Developer | Windows IT | Chess | Economics | Hardcore Games | Vegan Advocate | PC Reviews

A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. For general informed answerrs and your edification: ReadyBoost Keep tabs on ReadyBoost with Windows 7's Performance Monitor _ Microsoft Windows _ TechRepublic.com Monitoring ReadyBoost on Windows 7 - Saveen Reddy's blog - Site Home - MSDN Blogs ReadyBoost - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ReadyBoost - Windows 7 features - Microsoft Windows ReadyBoost Performance Test _ Windows Vista and Windows 7 Help Take a closer look at ReadyBoost features in Windows 7 _ Microsoft Windows _ TechRepublic.com Windows 7 Readyboost Really Boosts _ Connected Internet