Hybrid Drives

[neo314]

Is Smart Defrag compatible with Seagate Momentus' XT Hybrid drive? Is it compatible with these drives in RAID 0?

 

I know the drive is supposed to stop using it's SSD during defrag operations, but I'm not sure if auto defrag looks the same to the drive as a defrag operation, and I don't want the SSD to not get used because it thinks the drive is always in defrag.

[Toppack]

I think the 'Seagate Hybrid' acts like a normal Solid-state (flash) drive,

so it seems to me that there should be no problems.

But I'm certainly not an expert on hybrid drives.

I've used SD to defrag flash-drives several times.

 

I know that there's no problem with defraging drives in RAID configuration,

since they just look like one large drive to defrag software,

so it seems that SD should handle it also.

Give it a Try, and let us know what happens?

[neo314]

I think the 'Seagate Hybrid' acts like a normal Solid-state (flash) drive,

so it seems to me that there should be no problems.

But I'm certainly not an expert on hybrid drives.

I've used SD to defrag flash-drives several times.

 

I know that there's no problem with defraging drives in RAID configuration,

since they just look like one large drive to defrag software,

so it seems that SD should handle it also.

Give it a Try, and let us know what happens?

 

I don't think so. It is a regular hard drive with a solid state "cache" that it uses for read only. It caches the most used blocks of the hard drive for rapid access. I understand that it is supposed to suspend using the SSD portion during defrag operations, but I am no expert on how it works either.

[Toppack]

The thing is that All hard-drives have an onboard solid-state Cache. (8 to 32MB usually)

The Hybrids just have a larger cache that is accessed differently. (similar to flash drive)

 

Not many of us have 'Had the Nerve' to try Hybrids yet,

so be sure to let us know if you try it? :grin:

[neo314]

Well, the drive is awesome! I can tell you that now. I won't try iobit with it, however, unless I know it won't be harmful to the drives or rob me of the drives features.

[Toppack]

Hey, Don't you want to be a 'Hardware Tester' ? ;-)

To do your Part, to let the rest of us Geeks know what to expect? :grin:

Everyone appreciates a 'Guinea-Pig'! :lol:

[neo314]

If performance were my only concern (and if I had the diagnostics to check) I would be happy to, but I am not sure about damage/corruption, or how to test the SSD part.

 

:roll:

[Toppack]

I understand, Maybe someone else has tryed it.

It seems the website admins have not encountered that question before?

 

I don't suppose we can fault IObit, since Hybrids are still not widely used, for some reason?

It's good to hear that you like them, tho.

I may try one in my next PC, if I have time to build it before the 'Next Technology Change'. :-D

[neo314]

I am certainly not faulting anyone. Just trying to find out the information in advance. The only real risk, I think, is loss of the SSD advantage. It is also just a killer laptop driveat 7200 RPM with a 32 MB cache.

[Toppack]

. It is also just a killer laptop drive at 7200 RPM with a 32 MB cache.

 

Oh, it Only has 32MB! I thought they had a much Larger RAM cache.

Well then, I do have several recently purchased drives with 32MB onboard, that operate at 7200.

So maybe, there's not really much difference.

 

Can it be that this 'Hybrid Solid-state' stuff is mostly 'Sales-Hype' and Not really all that different than new SATA models produced by other companies?

If that's true, then SD will definitely be compatible.

[neo314]

I noticed a huge difference over the Scorpio Black in my wif's PC.

[Toppack]

You could try to do an Internet search to get more Info on hybrids.

But, if they are really the same as other makes, I doubt that Seagate will be offering any Info. ;-)

Maybe the hardware Review sites will have something.

[neo314]

There is no info on this yet. Trust me I looked. My question is SmartDefrag specific though.

[Toppack]

I hear ya!

You never know, there May be a 'SeagateHybrid/SmartDefrag Expert' out there somewhere.

But I wouldn't Hold my Breath. :lol:

[Toppack]

I found out that Seagate Momentus-XT Hybrid SSDs actually have 4.GB of RAM memory, in addition to the 32.MB I/O cache memory.

So they are definitely Not the same as normal 32.MB-cache SATA drives.

 

Yep, these are looking more like a Good Christmas Present to Myself. :lol:

[Toppack]

I've been reading Reviews of the Seagate Hybrids and the only real complaint I've seen is that they get 'Very Hot' compared to conventional drives.

(some failures , that they thought were caused by excessive heat)

So they need to be mounted in a well ventilated case area, which most laptops are not.

 

I think the largest size available is 500.GB (no TB drives), but that's Okay for my use. Altho the price is coming down (checked at Newegg) they still cost about twice as much as conventional drives.

 

Alto Seagate advertises 80% performance improvment, most reviewers say thay are seeing much less difference.

 

I may still get one tho, just to see if SD is compatible. :lol:

I hate Unanswered questions like this. :???: