Is more RAM or an SSD more beneficial for my uses?

James Devenberg · Jun 13, 2013

I am buying a laptop to use for school (either Comp Sci or Info Tech Systems) and am pretty sure I want the HP ENVY TouchSmart 15t-j000 Quad Edition because it seems to have all the power I want at a decent price, and since I am doing my classes online and don't need it to be more portable than going from the living room to the bedroom, its thickness and weight don't bother me. My only question is you can choose either 8 GB of RAM and a 24 GB caching SSD ($29) OR you can choose 12 Gb ($50)or 16 GB ($80) of RAM, but can't also equip an SSD. Either configuration, I will have a 1 TB hybrid hard drive, a GT 740M graphics card, 4th gen i7 4700MQ, and 1920x1080 touchscreen.

My main uses will be online classes, which will include writing code and developing software, and some gaming.

So my question boils down to should I get the SSD or should I get the RAM? Or should I skip both and add RAM or an SSD on my own after I get the laptop?

metalmachinist · Jun 13, 2013

RAM first, then SSD

James Devenberg · Jun 13, 2013

metalmachinist :

The laptop only has enough room to add one or the other, so would you still do the RAM if it would eliminate the SSD option?

metalmachinist · Jun 13, 2013

in that case, i would definitely go SSD

James Devenberg · Jun 13, 2013

metalmachinist :

That is the direction I was leaning too, just wanted confirmation.

USAFRet · Jun 13, 2013

metalmachinist :

But I'd go with a regular size and use SSD, rather than that small cache drive. There is already a 1TB hybrid drive, so the cache outlined above would seem to add little benefit.

James Devenberg · Jun 13, 2013

USAFRet :

I'm not real sure what you mean by "go with a regular size". I thought the main benefit of a cache drive was the speed, not upping the capacity. It seems to me a cache would be of large benefit to a 5400 rpm 1TB drive

USAFRet · Jun 13, 2013

James Devenberg :

Initially, you said: "I will have a 1 TB hybrid hard drive"
That drive presumably already has an SSD function. A small amount of flash to act as the cache for it. Adding another will 'help', but possibly not enough to make a real difference.

A full SSD boot drive (128GB or so), OTOH, will make a huge difference.

James Devenberg · Jun 13, 2013

USAFRet :

James Devenberg :

Initially, you said: "I will have a 1 TB hybrid hard drive"
That drive presumably already has an SSD function. A small amount of flash to act as the cache for it. Adding another will 'help', but possibly not enough to make a real difference.

A full SSD boot drive (128GB or so), OTOH, will make a huge difference.

Ah, that makes sense. Maybe I will order it without either the RAM or SSD upgrade and buy an SSD when I find a good price on a 128GB+ drive and add it in myself.

jcduron · Jun 15, 2013

James Devenberg :

Interesting that I had the same exact question about the same exact model - this thread helped a lot, thanks. I wonder about upgrading later. Hp does not let you configure an option with 16 gb ram and the ssd together. If you were to opt for a full ssd at a later time, could you still add the 16 gb of ram you think? For me, I'm always using several applications at one time with dual monitors so the ram is key. I wonder if there are issues using a full ssd like you're considering James, and upping the ram too?

James Devenberg · Jun 15, 2013

jcduron :

I don't think there will be an issue upgrading to a full SSD in the future. From what I have been able to figure, the limitation is with the Intel software, Intel Smart Response, used for the cache drive. It is basically divided into two partitions, one of equal size to the amount of RAM you have, which is used to save the information on your RAM when your computer hibernates, so that it can rapidly restore that information to RAM once you wake the computer, and the other partition is used as a cache to accelerate the 1 TB hard drive. In order to work as a cache, there is a minimum space needed in the second partition of the SSD, and if you add more RAM, the drive is not big enough to function as both a cache for the hard disk AND to cache the RAM upon hibernation, which is why HP caps you at 8 GB if you want the SSD Cache. Now, if you upgrade your RAM on you own, you can choose (via an Intel software download) to resize the 8 GB partition up to 16 GB and still use the fast wake but lose the hard disk cache, or you can keep the hard disk cache and choose to lose the quick wake, the only way to keep both is to replace the SSD with a larger one, either as a cache or as a boot drive.

Personally, I'm going to purchase it with the 16 GB of RAM and wait for a good deal on an SSD that I can use as a boot drive, probably a 256 GB unit so I can have the OS and most installed programs on it as well.

Emerald · Jun 15, 2013

Get 16GB of RAM

with Hybrid drive the SSD might only really be used to store info when going into sleep or hibernate mode.

add a 256GB SSD drive later when you find a good price

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Is more RAM or an SSD more beneficial for my uses?

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