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Author Topic: IS a dedicated scratch disc needed  (Read 2393 times)

mdijb

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IS a dedicated scratch disc needed
« on: March 09, 2017, 07:01:40 pm »

I am using a 2009 MAc Pro with Photoshop CC 2017, and am considering upgrading my machine with an SSD , a new video card with #gb of RAM, and adding RAm to total 32 GB from the folks at OWC.

My current config uses a dedicated, 10,000rpm hard drive as a scratch disc.

If i upgraded my machine with  the above, do I even need a dedicated scratch, or is the added Ram enough to give better performance?

MDIJB
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rdonson

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Re: IS a dedicated scratch disc needed
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2017, 10:55:45 am »

I think this was answered in another spot on the forum.  Anyway, what size SSD are you contemplating?  If it's adequately sized I don't think there's a need for a dedicated rotational scratch disk. 
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Ron

mdijb

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Re: IS a dedicated scratch disc needed
« Reply #2 on: March 10, 2017, 03:55:13 pm »

I am considering a 1TB  SSD and about 50-60% will be used--so have a lot of extra, unused space.

MDIJB
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rdonson

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Re: IS a dedicated scratch disc needed
« Reply #3 on: March 10, 2017, 04:41:07 pm »

I'm not sure that provides lots of extra unused space. You may want to check with some SSD performance gurus and sites. Most I've read recommend keeping 50% of the SSD capacity available. Rotational media and SSD drives differ greatly on how they reclaim free space.

I'll search and see if I can find some articles that confirm this or debunk this. SSD tech seems to move quickly.
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Ron

rdonson

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Re: IS a dedicated scratch disc needed
« Reply #4 on: March 10, 2017, 04:54:44 pm »

I found some forum posts on Tom's Hardware recommending not to fill an SSD beyond 80% but that it varies by SSD. 
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Ron

Joe Towner

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Re: IS a dedicated scratch disc needed
« Reply #5 on: March 12, 2017, 01:24:48 pm »

How big a file are you working with?  Generally speaking, unless you're working with huge files, you'll be fine with a single SSD.  The reason for a separate SSD would be for taking out the 3Gb/s limit on the SATA port.  I will state that PS really is a pig on free space, so keeping a good amount of free space is critical.
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mediumcool

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Re: IS a dedicated scratch disc needed
« Reply #6 on: March 15, 2017, 05:13:55 am »

You could try creating a Fusion Drive via Terminal, though I believe it would benefit a slower spinner more than it would your 10K drive. Downside is that when one of the drives dies, everything is gone. But that’s what backups are for! ;)

How to roll your own Fusion drive.
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