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Solid State advice

Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 5:29 am
by strikingtwice
Hey. I'm replacing my 2nd unused optical bay in my 2009 mac pro w/ a solid state. I will be having DP, Final Cut Pro and Logic installed on it. I know DP's footprint is pretty much just the application, but does anyone have any advice on what size I should get for it? It's going to basically be a boot drive.

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Thinking of 60 or 115. Any thoughts are welcome. All 4 hard drive bays are taken up.

Re: Solid State advice

Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 2:05 pm
by mikehalloran
I am in the "get the largest you can afford" camp. I do not know about you but my projects can get pretty big. Even assuming that I would off-load the project to a storage drive when done, I just can't see going with less than a 240G drive. 480G would make me feel comfortable.

Your question made me curious so I looked at recent projects. Average size is 55G just for the project folder - my largest is 103G. VIs, Applications, System etc. are all in addition. I bet that I am a lightweight compared to many in this forum. I don't use Final Cut pro so I have no idea how big those files are but I imagine they are pretty hefty.

I don't have your need for speed - at least, not yet - but now I am looking. My wife is desperate for a new system as her G4 MacMini just isn't doing it. If I can afford the nut, I may trick out a new iMac TB with an OWC SS drive and give her this one. If not, I'll get her one of the bare bones 27" ones (her needs are not as intense as mine). Gotta do something this summer...

Re: Solid State advice

Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 2:11 pm
by strikingtwice
Thanks for the reply mike. While I'm usually in that camp, I think I may feel different about this one. I'm using it most for a boot/application drive, but want enough for my content libraries. Most of the installers can be re-routed to other locations, so that may be a thing too. You're right about the DP projects, as with SS it's not an issue of read and write and spin time as it is w/ traditional.

Re: Solid State advice

Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 2:20 pm
by mikehalloran
I would run Get Info on my Applications, System, Library, User Library and my largest project folder. Multiply by 2. That would be my bare minimum for size.

So many apps now want to be installed on the boot drive and cause problems when they're not that I no longer put them anywhere else. Offloading most of your User folders data such as Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Movies etc. does save space, of course.