HD or solid state

With something like the Ti – which is best HardDiscs or solid state?

SSD every time, even if a machine can’t take full advantage of the maximum read speed of an SSD for large sequential files, the reduction in latency for small random reads makes a vast difference compared to a conventional hard drive – particularly on RISC OS which has lots of small files.

SSD every time, even if a machine can’t take full advantage of the maximum read speed of and SD for large sequential files, the reduction in latency for small random reads makes a vast difference compared to a conventional hard drive – particularly on RISC OS which has lots of small files.

And because of RISC OS’ lack of meaningful file caching, reducing access latency is even more important.

I have a Samsung SSD inside my Titanium machine, and it is really blazingly fast for all RISC OS needs.

And because of RISC OS’ lack of meaningful file caching

which does mean you’re much less likely to get disc corruption if the power goes off, than can occur with other OSs.

which does mean you’re much less likely to get disc corruption if the power goes off, than can occur with other OSs.

Read caching? I think not.

What does the Pinebook Pro use?

Read caching? I think not.

It’s deferred write that does the damage.

It’s deferred write that does the damage.

Yes. Still looking for the connection to Druck’s comment on “maximum read speed” and “small random reads” that I quoted and commented on.

This is complicated by the fact that some drives have on-board read ahead and write behind caching using on board RAM and post write consolidation (the latter I think is interruptable). It makes them much faster, their write speed drops as the disc fills up.

This is complicated by the fact that some drives have on-board read ahead and write behind caching using on board RAM and post write consolidation

A typical laptop¹ drive from a number of years ago² has read and write caching, with the write caching off by default. General advice is to only use the write cache if you absolutely need the speed and to consider your increased chance of data loss and disc corruption in the event of power loss.

¹ DELL Latitude E6410