How to Build a PC - Selecting Storage and Optical Drives

Previously, in the How to Build a PC segments, we have covered how to plan your build, how to select a CPU, how to select a motherboard, how to select memory, how to select a graphics card, how to choose a case, how to select case fans, how to select a CPU cooler, and how to select a power supply. In this segment we have detailed the criteria for selecting storage, both fixed storage and drives that use removable storage.  

Optical Drives

Optical drives have come a long way since the early days of writable CDs. At one time,  10 writable CDs would cost you about $100 or so. Those were surely some expensive 700mb coasters if you had a failed burn, which was unfortunately common. 

Boddaker and DarthBeavis at the Maker Faire

The Maker Faire is very interesting event. Here is a quote from their website that explains it very well:

"Part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new, Maker Faire is an all-ages gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, authors, artists, students, and commercial exhibitors. All of these "makers" come to Maker Faire to show what they have made and to share what they have learned."

As part of their support for the 2013 Bay Area Maker Faire, NVIDIA had galactically renowned modders Brian "Boddaker" Carter and Richard "DarthBeavis" Surroz on hand to display their incredible computer building and modding skills. Speaking of skills, Boddaker made this Maker Faire sign from scratch.

The Corsair SSD Toolbox

Corsair proudly brings you the Corsair SSD Toolbox. This helpful utility provides users with several powerful and useful tools for use with Corsair SSDs. Let's take a look.

The Corsair SSD Toolbox will run on:

• XP SP3 (32-bit)...(64-bit version not supported)
• Vista 32-bit w/ latest SP (all functions)
• Vista 64-bit w/ latest SP (all functions)
• Win 7 32-bit w/ latest SP (all functions)
• Win 7 64-bit w/ latest SP (all functions)
• Win 8 32-bit (TRIM is not supported, all others functions are)
• Win 8 64-bit (TRIM is not supported, all others functions are)

We have provided a detailed help file which can be accessed by clicking on the question mark symbol shown here circled in red on the upper left side of the screen.

No More Clone Wars, the SSD & Hard Disk Drive Cloning Kit is Here

When we originally introduced the Corsair Notebook Upgrade kit, we were really impressed with the Apricorn software. In fact, we used the term "chimple" to describe just how easy the kit was to use. It was so simple, a chimp could use it.

Customers related to us that they wanted a software cloning kit like this without having to buy the entire SSD based kit. So, we've created the new Corsair SSD & Hard Disk Drive Cloning Kit which utilizes the same great software but also has an improved USB 3.0 connector.

The kit includes a USB 3.0 to SATA connector and the Corsair Data Migration software CD. The original connector was USB 2.0 but the new connector shown here is USB 3.0. The new connector is much faster than the original allowing up to 180MB/s read and write speeds.

Corsair SSDs With Zero Overprovisioning Space

Much has been written about overprovisioning and its implementation on SSDs. In short, overprovisioning, or OP, is a portion of storage space on an SSD that is reserved for use only by the SSD controller. The three most common uses for this space are wear leveling, the replacement of bad blocks, and read-modify-writes. Overprovisioning serves to help increase both the longevity and performance of SSDs and it is a very common practice among SSD manufacturers.

However, some users would like to be able to buy their SSDs without the built in overprovisioning and make the decision to OP, or not to OP for themselves. They prefer the flexibility of deciding for themselves when to OP and how much space to use based on their specific needs. Corsair has announced and is now offering SSDs without this overprovisioned space.