Install SSD+HDD or Seagate Momentus XT on laptop?

Hey guys, maybe you can help me out on this. I have a Samsung Q430 laptop, currently with a 500gb 5400rpm factory installed hard drive in the primary hdd bay. I am thinking of doing some hard drive upgrades and need some help. Here are my options.

Option 1: Seagate Momentus XT 750gb, 7200 rpm in the primary HDD bay =$150

Option 2: Crucial 64gb SSD in primary bay PLUS old 500gb, 5400rpm hdd in converted optical bay =$100

--the 5400 rpm would just contain the music/video, and the ssd will have the os and programs

Option 3: OCZ synapse 64gb Cache SSD in primary bay PLUS old 500gb, 5400rpm hdd in converted optical bay =$70

My question is, what is the better option for me in terms of speed and data storage.
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Edit: Thanks everyone for your input! I think I am going to go with option 2 with a 128gb SSD + my 500gb in the converted optical bay.
Here is what I am using and the cost:
--Hard Drive Caddy Bay [ebay.com] $12
--Crucial M4, 128GB SSD [amazon.com] $119

Edit 2: Now considering the OCZ synapse cache drive [amazon.com]. See post #25 for discussion.

Option 3: OCZ synapse 64gb Cache SSD in primary bay PLUS old 500gb, 5400rpm hdd in converted optical bay =$70

Option 2 is most likely faster.

Option 2 is clearly the fastest option, but in the event that you prefer going with the Seagate spinner, it'll still be a nice speed boost over your present 5400.

PS: Here is a screenshot that shows the performance differences between a new 5400 rpm drive, a new 7200 rpm and an SSD.
5400 = Yellow
7200 = Blue
SSD = Red.

I have a 60GB SSD + 500GB 7200RPM HDD in my desktop and a 500GB XT Hybrid in my laptop. The SSD+HDD option is noticeably faster. The two systems do have hardware differences, but not nearly the speed difference that the SSD makes.

The hybrid drive is a greate option, especially for budget minded non technical users, but if I were you, I would go the SSD+HDD route.

Option #2 will definitely be faster......but I don't know if you should consider that Momentus XT at that inflated price as it goes on sale at Newegg at least once a month.

This is when I bought three of them two weeks ago:




It was priced $89 with a $20 instant off code per Newegg. If you wait, it'll be that again, soon.

And that Momentus XT revived an old Thinkpad T61 that was slower than molasses.....really sped it up. If and when it goes on sale again, and it will, it'd be the more cost effective solution.

Those SSD drives are nice. It looks like the capacities are starting to finally creep up. I'd love to be able to put a 500GB in my laptop and have a 500GB SSD for backup as well.

How about a Caching SSD:
Corsair Accelerator [corsair.com]
OCZ Synapse [ocztechnology.com]
Crucial Adrenaline [crucial.com]

This option allows you to have a much larger cache than the Seagate Momentus has for a lot less money while reusing your current hard drive. You can get a 32GB (as a cache) OCZ Synapse for $50 AR. The Momentus XT only has 8GB of caching SSD space although the Momentus does use faster and more expensive SLC flash.

Good read: SSD Caching – “SSD, but my friends call me cache” [techwarelabs.com]

Quote from gforce32 : Hey guys, maybe you can help me out on this. I have a Samsung Q430 laptop, currently with a 500gb 5400rpm factory installed hard drive in the primary hdd bay. I am thinking of doing some hard drive upgrades and need some help. Here are my options. Option 1: Seagate Momentus XT 750gb, 7200 rpm in the primary HDD bay =$150 Option 2: Crucial 64gb SSD in primary bay PLUS old 500gb, 5400rpm hdd in converted optical bay =$100 --the 5400 rpm would just contain the music/video, and the ssd will have the os and programs My question is, what is the better option for me in terms of speed and data storage.

Without a doubt the SSD setup will be faster, but in my opinion, not so much that the additional complexity would make it worth it. I have 2 identical laptops - one with a 120GB SSD only and the other with only the Seagate you are considering. While the SSD indeed boots a few seconds faster, you really can't notice any speed differences while using the systems.

I would just image the existing drive to a new Momentus and be done with it. You will notice a speed improvement immediately because of the 7200 and cache. Keep it simple..

option 2
problem is the size. I would go with a 120 ssd
Seagate Momentus 320 is 59.99 at microcenter
I notice a big increase in opening speeds of programs and os startup

Quote from stufine : I notice a big increase in opening speeds of programs

ABSOLUTELY ! 100% correct.
We frequently see people saying that the only real difference is boot up time, but that simply isn't so. Everything is faster except the internet itself, and even then, the machine with the SSD can often get the webpage "painted" faster than one with a spinner.
All you have to do is go back to the previous hard drive after using the SSD for a week, and then it becomes evident, how big a difference a good SSD makes.

Option 3: 64 gb msata SSD with OS and important apps installed. Keep everything else on your original HD

edit: Costs $60

Quote from stufine : option 2 problem is the size. I would go with a 120 ssd Seagate Momentus 320 is 59.99 at microcenter I notice a big increase in opening speeds of programs and os startup

i agree, 60GB is a bit small for my size. i currently have a 120GB and i wish ive gotten bigger. But thats if u do some gaming...

Quote from Albort : i agree, 60GB is a bit small for my size. i currently have a 120GB and i wish ive gotten bigger. But thats if u do some gaming...

I prefer to have bigger myself, but in this case, the laptop is hardly a gaming machine, so the OP won't have any gigantic games (I think). He would have the OS and his programs on the SSD which would take less than half, even after bloating a bit, and all his data on the 500 gig spinner, so it seems like a great idea to me.

Quote from RockySosua : I prefer to have bigger myself, but in this case, the laptop is hardly a gaming machine, so the OP won't have any gigantic games (I think). He would have the OS and his programs on the SSD which would take less than half, even after bloating a bit, and all his data on the 500 gig spinner, so it seems like a great idea to me.

Idea is good. I have same problem as albort would with a 60g.
win7-updated, office 2010, acrobat 9, quickbooks, AV, Paragon and couple other progies leaves me with just at 9g left. my 64g formats out to 55.8. somewhat to match desktop for mobile. not much room to play. My dell 17 has 2 bays for drives but the 15 doesn't.
Yes these are progies I want on my ssd