This doesn't sound good..
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There is 4GB soldered to motherboard and 8GB / 16GB on pcie slot. 8GB for xp and 16GB on Linux versions.
The 4GB part is the master so OS is installed on that...
..I'd rather get only 8GB / 16GB than 4GB for os and separate for files...
This will make problems for non tech users..
Let's see where this is going.. and hope there is something good on this setup.
UPDATE: looks like the 4GB internal SSD has been upgraded to 40MB/s !
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Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Asus Eee PC 900 to have 2 seperate SSDs
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21 comments:
I would swap the windows license for an on-board flash memory socket, so I could use the PCI-e slot for an 3G or HSDPA module, and change the original 4G for some more flash memory...
This could be the achillies of the new eee pc and could cost them alot of sales. I know I will definately no longer consider the eee pc 900. I am willing to bet they used SLC nand chips in the 4GB for performance and then went to MLC chips in the 8/16GB to cut back on price.
i dont know computers that much but i would like to understand why is this a bad thing? can someone explain to me? thank you!
As the first drive is for operation system, like XP and only 4 GB, it will be full really soon.
Then when you try to install softwares etc. your computer starts to complane about low disk...
,, this is easy for advanced users, but not for beginners.
You will need to install all softwares to second disk, which is not always that easy...
..that's why it's not a good thing.
this is some what expected as i have never seen a flash drive/ssd with a capacity other than a power of 2
Is there any sign of either an ExpressCard slot (like MSI Wind / HP 2133) which can take a 3G HSDPA datacard, or even an internal 3G Datacard in the 900?
Any news of Bluetooth?
thanks
no ExpressCard or bt.
you have to get a mini bt dongle or usb modem..
This is obviously not common practice, but isn't it better to have your OS on a separate partition anyway? When you install programs it always gives you the option of where you want to install it so I don't think it will be that difficult for anyone to simply choose the other drive between the two.
Plus the OS should run more efficient.
The main problem I see with using soldered flash memory is how long will it resist in terms of read/write cycles?
Maybe we should forget that memory (use it just the small MBR zone once for boot menu) and install everything else (including the OS) on the swappable flash module.
Anyway, if we can use the 4G onboard for the linux OS and mount the other swappable flash memory for "/home" data it can work like a personal drive where your customization to the machine is stored.
Unlike windows registry, in linux all personal applications settings documents are stored in /home disk (or partition/directory)
This way one can remove it's personal data from an Eee and plug it on any other Eee without needing to reconfigure any settings so that all applications automaticaly behave like it was first configured in original computer (including desktop background, firefox plugins, all email, etc)...
It's also easier to wipe those first 4G and try other linux distros without loosing your personal data...
If the difference between a expert and beginner is someone who understands what Mike just wrote then I'm screwed.
Maybe this two hard drive thing is too complicated.
Don't worry, I was talking about fine tuning storage options we get with the machine.
Since I havn't seen any reports of corrupted onboard flash memory (yet) maybe this memory can handle normal operations for a long time.
In the windows Eee PC I supose you will see a C: drive with about 3.9G where the windows files and program files are stored (also where all programs default to install their files) so if you install skype, firefox, OpenOffice, etc, you can easily get out of space on drive C:
But since there is other drive with about 7.8G (or so) free space, you can instruct all user installed programs to place their files in D: (during instalation just select D:\ instead of default "C:\Program Files" location).
Even though you can specify all inataled files to go to D: some are still placed in C: (like DLL's, windows drivers, etc).
In linux there sould be less storage requirements for OS + Programs (since there is a 2G Eee PC version that have all software already installed, 4G should be enough for most) and advanced users can always install their favorite distro in other 16G SSD.
Anyway, let's see how asus did their space distribution using those 2 separated SSD drives.
In windows they could point Documents and Settings to the 8G D: drive.
In linux they can mount /home in seccond 16G SSD memory.
Anyway, for some one new to computers I think the original Linux Eee is still the best choice (and best value overall software + hardware).
For advanced users the Linux Eee PC will get better hardware than the same priced Windows Eee, and can install any other OS (Windows, ReactOS, Ubuntu, etc) later on.
For Microsoft shareholders I'll advice to wait for the Windows Vista Eee or Windows 7? HHH PC :)
Sorry, when I said original Linux Eee, I mean original Eee software (Linux OS + Instaled Programs) running on the new Eee 900 hardware, because the new 8.9" screen can really improve things like web browsing and word processing.
While this won't help non-tech users (who will use the default config), I would imagine that there is nothing stopping you from re-installing the OS yourself. Then you can install Windows on the larger device (8 or 16 GiB), and using the 4GB onboard for secondary storage. You can do this with Linux too, of course.
Is there any reason to actually use the 4GB onboard flash for the system boot disk? Does it have faster flash chips, or some other sort of performance benefit?
yep, advanced users could use the second sdd..
yes, there is a good reason:
Asus have upgraded the internal SSD with faster flash. It's now 40MB/s where it's 27MB/s on old 701s.
second SSD ( 8 / 16gb ) is same 27MB/s
http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=263320
Interesting. That does indeed give an incentive. If you're using Linux, though, it's less trouble to put some stuff on one drive and other stuff on another drive. If you're using Windows, you can always use a junction link to move program files entirely to a different drive.
What those benchmarks are lacking, though, are the 16GB secondary drive. If the 16GB secondary drive is as fast as the onboard 4GB, then it's all moot and you might as well just JBOD them into one big 20GB partition :)
40MB/sec Intresting indeed ;)
Ading the +300Mhz of CPU speed and some improvements (like paralell service startup - SSD HD heads are FAST:) in future linux versions.. and boot time can be reduced again.
Most people look at Eee disk capacyty (12G or 20G) and think it's still too small compared to other computers, but they don't know how important and how much faster seek times in SSD's are when compared to a conventional Harddisk. Thousands of times faster (can really improve booting time when loading several things in parallel)
jkk and mike, i have just purchased a black 20G 900. and have had a strange experince. the first time i installed windows xp i used the designated 4gb storage and then when i loaded it up the system was not showingthe reminder 16g memory, then i reinstalled windows xp and placed that on the 16g space and have had strange very strange experinces with the overall running of the device. it seems the whole computer is running soo slow, slower then even my old 701!
is there any thing you could advise me on here? am i doing something wrong? have i misunderstood? also i tried to compress the disk drive and even that took ages.
mike and jkk i would be greatful if anyone is able to help advise me and also let me know if you want pictures of my brand spanking sexy new black asus 900!
email me on emkwan@gmail.com
many thanks!
Hi mike n jkk i faced the same problem with anoymous when installing the OS on my 16gb it kept lagging. but when i install on the 4gb it seems ok but when i do update of win xp i dun have enough space for update to continue. Pls advice and help as i had been reinstalling more then 10 times already. Im at wits end. U can email me at welisha@gmail.com thanks much
Hi jkk and mike. i have a question. the onboard 8/16gb pcie slot, could you possibly take it out and replace it with a bigger flash memory? pls respond asap. thanks, lincoln
there are no bigger ssd for eee 900.. if there was you could replace it.
Is it possible to upgrade the second drive to a larger size, i bought a whole sale asus eee 900, that only has the 4bg, and not the second drive, so I am assuming the slot where the second drive goes is open, Can i put a drive in this spot, and if so what kinds of drives, i have a laptop harddrive, would that work, thanks.
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