Question 1

In the title is says only 32gb cache capacity.  I read that when configuring Intel Rapid Storage Technology, you can designate the whole entire drive for caching (In this case 64gb).  Is the 32gb cache capacity on this 64gb ssd only pertinent when installing the OS on the same drive?  My plans are to use all 64gb of this drive for caching.  Is it possible? Thanks!!!

Accepted Answer

First off once the software is installed, the drive itself is invisible for all intents and purposes. My understanding is that 32 gigs is for what you might call "active caching" where things go in and out on the fly and the other half is for the more long term, pattern based things that get cached.

As for the Intel Rapid Storage question, you would not use that you. You would want to use the software bundled with this drive, as it is specific to the hardware. When setting up this drive you just chose which drive letter you want it to cache files from and that's really about it. You should know that if you have to hard reset or have a power failure it will have to rebuild part of the cache at boot.

Overall I have been very pleased with this drive. I've had traditional SSD setups with windows directly on the drive and that was fine but I got sick of managing my space so carefully and I didn't have a lot of cash to spend. You obviously aren't going to get full SSD speed but I definitely think this drive is the $40.

Hope that helps!

Question 2

So thanks in advance for any help. But am I to understand that I should install this to my HDD, is that correct?

Accepted Answer

You will attach the SDD using a SATA cable to one of your internal SATA ports (hopefully SATA 3, but it's backwards compatible ...if you have an older power supply without SATA power adapters, you will need to supply a Molex to SATA power cable adapter).

The OCZ Synapse comes with a nice little 2½ to 3½ adapter tray, so you can mount the SDD in an existing 3½ drive bay.

PRIOR TO attaching the SDD to the tray, you should copy the Dataplex License Key off the bottom of the SDD.

You will need that key to download/register the Dataplex caching software that makes this work (google it). Download the software while you're about this (before installing the SDD).

You should back up the data on your existing HDD before you do ANYTHING though; better to be safe than sorry.

Once you've backed up your HDD, and downloaded the software, power down your system and install the SDD.

Reboot your system.

Windows will give you a popup on your desktop about the drive. Just ignore it. Install the software and restart.

After the restart, you basically do nothing. You won't "see" the SDD (that's not how a caching drive works) in Drive Manager.

But after you've restarted your system 3-4 times, you will notice that Windows is booting *much* faster. As you open your usual applications, you will find *those* opening faster.

That's what a caching drive does.

Hopefully you will not have any issues.

(Since this is a caching SDD, in the event the SDD fails, *all* your data on the HDD will be fine. But back it up anyway.)

This works just as it should (creating in effect a "hybrid drive" - the SDD is used to augment your current, slow, HDD, not replace it) giving your 32GB of fast solid state cache.

Did I mention you should backup your data first?

Good luck.

Question 3

Any thoughts on; or point in adding the extra 32Gb of available cache from this drive to my (refurbished) 480Gb OCZ Vertex2? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820228078 The Synapse is faster but I may not actually “feel” the difference. At only 40 bucks would it be worth reducing the cache usage on the Vertex? My Mobo is sporting a P-35 and ICH9R chipsets; 8Gb DDR2-800 (4-4-4-12); OS is Win7 Pro. TIA, tim

Accepted Answer

Honestly Tim, I don't think there'd be much sense in you putting a solid-state cache in to supplement your solid-state drive. You might notice a tiny improvement since your current drive is only SATA II, but whether you wanna drop $40 for what'll be little more than a benchmark is up to you. :)

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