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Mushkin Catalyst Cache SSD review
Posted by Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 08/26/2012 01:00 PM [ 0 comment(s) ]
Installation
On this page we want to share some thoughts on the installation.
The dynamic is really simple. you can add the SSD to an existing HDD based setup. In our case a PC with a 2TB HDD. Mind you that Windows 7 and newer are a requirement. If you start from a fresh install, just install the OSS on the HD just like you normally do. Once you have installed Windows you'll notice your ATA HDD drive and SATA cache drive being added. Now simply go towards disk management, the HDD is already formatted as you installed Windows on it, but you also need to make a simple standard partition on the SSD partition. After you initialized it do a quick format on the SSD partition and finish the process.
We now have the partitions active but do need to activate some actual caching, for that you once again need to visit a website and download DataPlex software. Mushkin does not supply a CD-Rom with this software with the package. That is mildly annoying as it requires you to register with keys and everything.
During installation your target drive is the drive you want to cache thus choose the boot drive (in our case the 2TB HDD) there.
Obviously the SSD partition should be selected as cache drive. Once the process has finished you need one more reboot and you are good to go. The system is now setup to cache our 2TB drive.
In windows if you go to Start menu Dataplex and click on the icon you can quickly verify if the cache function is properly activated.
Reboot your system twice, note down the 1st boot time, and then the second boot time .. yep the actual startup time just halved itself thanks to the working data-cache. its one of the first things you'll immediately notice.
Mushkin Catalyst Cache SSD review
Mushkin now introduces the Catalyst Cache solid state drive. It's in fact an optional 50 or 100 GB SSD intended just for caching. Combined with Dataplex cache application software and your own HDD, the combination could be just what you have been looking for.
Mushkin Blackline Ridgeback 2000 MHz DDR3 8GB review
Mushkin offers their dual-channel Blackline Ridgeback in 8GB kits at $125 (USD), and to spice that up .. it is offered as a 2000 MHz kit, with granted not the most sexy timings but at a CAS latency of 9 versus 2000 MHz versus two 4GB high-density DDR3 modules. At 125 USD , and that's 15.6 USD per GB, you can understand that this kit might be a nice alternative to low latency 1333 and 1600 MHz kits. Muskin even tops that off by a lifetime warranty on this product so all in all that can't be a bad deal, no Sir.
Mushkin now introduces the Catalyst Cache solid state drive. It's in fact an optional 50 or 100 GB SSD intended just for caching. Combined with Dataplex cache application software and your own HDD, the combination could be just what you have been looking for.
Mushkin Blackline Ridgeback 2000 MHz DDR3 8GB review
Mushkin offers their dual-channel Blackline Ridgeback in 8GB kits at $125 (USD), and to spice that up .. it is offered as a 2000 MHz kit, with granted not the most sexy timings but at a CAS latency of 9 versus 2000 MHz versus two 4GB high-density DDR3 modules. At 125 USD , and that's 15.6 USD per GB, you can understand that this kit might be a nice alternative to low latency 1333 and 1600 MHz kits. Muskin even tops that off by a lifetime warranty on this product so all in all that can't be a bad deal, no Sir.