More RAM or SSD?

Which would make logos run better,

8gigs of RAM and 500 gig hd at 7200 or

4 gigs of RAM and SSD (128)?

Upgrading computer and thinking of going for SSD even though it's only 128 because this machine will be primarily a logos 4 machine and that's plenty of space it seems to me.

thoughts appreciated

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Matt

Hi Michael, because you stated that your machine is going to be primarily Logos centric, I would say that the SSD would be the way to go because faster access to the disk and indexes will be of far greater benefit than additional RAM, especially considering that unless you have many programs running simultaneously, 4 GB of RAM will be plenty for a 32-bit application such as Logos 4.

Matt

TCBlack

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/176151#Comment_176151

Be mindful that if you normally have a large number of books open, that more RAM will be beneficial. I have 4GB and hit the lid on occasion with upwards of 30 books open.

Mark Barnes

It's tricky to say. If you have lots of RAM, then Windows will cache your Logos files in RAM, which will be even quicker than the SSD. But it will never be able to cache everything, so it will only help if you're frequently doing the same sort of thing. (For example, if you had the same 20 books open for a whole session, and all the time you were switching between them, making notes, etc., RAM could probably make quite a difference.)

On the other hand, an SSD will make most difference with searches, Passage/Exegetical Guides and BWS, and Parallel Resource switching, all of which use the HDD intensively.

You've also got to consider the impact on the rest of your system, too.

Michael March

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/176179#Comment_176179

Well this is a fine kettle of fish. My thinkpad x201 which I ordered last wed and cancelled on thursday because of a concern about integrated graphics with logos4 shipped. Now instead of wondering about whether to get ssd or hd on the replacement, I have to decide if the integrated graphics are going to be too big of a bottleneck and whether to replace it at all. Could just send it back unopened but I really like the form factor of a powerful 12 inch notebook, and if it could run logos 4 I'd prefer it. I may have to try it and see.

toughski

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/176181#Comment_176181

I would recommend to get SSD first, as it will greatly speed up not just LOGOS but the whole system, and the extra RAM later, but get both.

BillS

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/176680#Comment_176680

get both

[Y]

Simon

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/176713#Comment_176713

I experminented with both.

Experiment 1: 8GB + normal HDD
Experiment 2: 2GB + SSD (Windows + Logos installed on the SSD)

Experiment 2, the one with the SSD, was multiple times faster.

When buying a SSD, make sure to buy the right one. There are great differences in speed. I would recommend the OCZ Vertex 2, which is both fast and reasenable priced (120GB is around 220 EURO)

Scott S

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/176841#Comment_176841

Simon,

Please post your system specs; What operating system, processor, graphics card, etc.

Thanks.

Michael G Parry-Thomas

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/177481#Comment_177481

I am using a USB flash drive as my virtual RAM, I've seen a big improvement in performance size 1950 MB

not using any of the hard drive for the virtual RAM

the flash drive is a two gig Corair Voyager

Acer laptop Aspire 5620

hard drive 160 gig

4 gig memory

dedicated graphics card ATI mobility Radeon x1300

processor Intel centrino dual core 1.66Hz

windows XP service Pack 3

I'm very pleased with the performance I am using the platinum library

mick

Jerry M

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/177515#Comment_177515

I am using a USB flash drive as my virtual RAM, I've seen a big improvement in performance size 1950 MB

I am not very computer literate, but I was wondering if you could elaborate about this. Is this something I should check into?

I have platinum on a Sony Vaio laptop. Intel T4400 2.2 GHz

4 gig memory

320 gig hard drive (5400 rpm)

Intel graphics 4500m

I would be nice to get a moderately priced performance gain.

Kevin Becker

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/177531#Comment_177531

I am using a USB flash drive as my virtual RAM, I've seen a big improvement in performance size 1950 MB

I am not very computer literate, but I was wondering if you could elaborate about this. Is this something I should check into?

I have platinum on a Sony Vaio laptop. Intel T4400 2.2 GHz

4 gig memory

320 gig hard drive (5400 rpm)

Intel graphics 4500m

I would be nice to get a moderately priced performance gain.

If you are running Vista or Win7 you can use a USB flash-drive to function as RAM (I don't know if you need a 64 bit system if you already have 4 GB of ram though), it's called ready-boost and you need a fast flash drive for it to be worth it. Your best bet on improving your computer's performance is a faster hard drive; a 7200 RPM drive should be the minimum.

Jerry M

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/177554#Comment_177554

Kevin,

Thanks for the response. I have thought about investing in a SSD or Word Biblical Commentary... Decisions, Decisions

David Ames

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/177560#Comment_177560

Kevin,

Thanks for the response. I have thought about investing in a SSD or Word Biblical Commentary... Decisions, Decisions

Get the Books - Fast is nice but if you have no where to go?

Bob Schlessman

Tests done by Maximum PC magazine show that increasing RAM gives the greatest overall boost to a system. They compared doubling RAM from 4 to 8 gig and addind an SSD. The speed benefit of an SSD was actually not as much as expected and didn't justify the higher cost. Also, be sure that your motherboard supports higher than 4 gig.

Doug

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/176841#Comment_176841

Oh my! I just built a new system back in January with an i7, 8 gigs of ddr3, 1 gig ddr3 nvidia 9800 and a TB or storage and thought I had it all. I use L4 on two 17" LCDs and this system really does run sweet but now I'm wondering how much faster would it go with the SSD?

Stephen Coles

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/177840#Comment_177840

Logos4 struggles so much on my PC (a top of the range laptop two years ago, running Vista Business - 2GB RAM and a two core CPU at 2.2GHz) that I've decided to give up on it - Logos 4 that is, not the PC. The PC runs everything else just fine - it's only Logos4 that troubles it (it's also the only program that regularly crashes the display - not even Photoshop CS4 troubles it).

I'm switching back to Libronix 3.

Bob Schlessman

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/177983#Comment_177983

Logos4 struggles so much on my PC (a top of the range laptop two years ago, running Vista Business - 2GB RAM and a two core CPU at 2.2GHz) that I've decided to give up on it - Logos 4 that is, not the PC. The PC runs everything else just fine - it's only Logos4 that troubles it (it's also the only program that regularly crashes the display - not even Photoshop CS4 troubles it).

I'm switching back to Libronix 3.

Stephen,

I feel your pain but I am surprised that you are experiencing this with your system as it stands. I had similar problems on my office computer with a Pentium 4 system but now I am running Dual core Pentium E5200 with only 2 gig of RAM and I am fairly happy with it. However I am running Windows 7. But a few questions. Is your display driver for your laptop up to date? Are you running Logos 4 with Internet access enabled and if so what is the speed of your connection? Are all of your other drivers up to date? One thing that may help is to add more RAM although it should run fine with 2 gig.

These are probably questions you have already addressed but I thought I'd ask just to be certain.

Kindest regards,

Bob Schlessman

Home - Core 2 Duo - E8400 @ 3.5 Ghz, two 500 Gig SATA Hard drives, 4 gig RAM, EVGA GT200 PCIE Discrete Graphics, 19" Widescreen LCD Display

Office - Dual Core Pentium E5200, 80 gig SATA primary & 250 Gig SATA secondary Hard drives, 2 gig RAM, Intel 945GC integrated graphics, 18.5" Widescreen LCD Display

Bob Schlessman

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/177840#Comment_177840

Oh my! I just built a new system back in January with an i7, 8 gigs of ddr3, 1 gig ddr3 nvidia 9800 and a TB or storage and thought I had it all. I use L4 on two 17" LCDs and this system really does run sweet but now I'm wondering how much faster would it go with the SSD?

Doug,

It depends on whether your usage is more drive or RAM intensive. When the software is reindexing you would see some benefit with an SSD. If you are up and running with several resources open the SSD wouldn't make that much difference.

How do you like the dual displays on Logos? I have thought about doing something similar even back in Logos 3 days but have been holding off.

Regards,

Bob Schlessman

TCBlack

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/178232#Comment_178232

How do you like the dual displays on Logos? I have thought about doing something similar even back in Logos 3 days but have been holding off.

Once you've gotten used to the extra realestate, it's hard to go back. I have three monitors now and mentioned to my wife this morning I wanted a fourth. I wonder why she just rolled her eyes at me.

Bob Schaefer

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/176181#Comment_176181

Michael,

I adore my new X201, and have been quite happy with the performance of Logos on it. The integrated graphics in the Intel i-series processors are a considerable improvement over previous chips. I think you'll find the X201 to be a very capable machine, and the benefits of the form factor and build quality are worth whatever tradeoff there may be in the graphics performance. It's also wonderful to be able to run my computer all day on a single charge, using the 9 cell battery! It's amazing how your perception of mobile computing changes when you no longer need to consider where the nearest power outlet is whenever you move to a new location.

I'm excited to be taking my new computer to my first Camp Logos in two weeks. It'll be nice not to lug around a ginormous beast, and run on battery power the whole time.

Now, all that said, please bear in mind that I was upgrading from a mid-level 2006 laptop which ran Logos 4, but chugged quite a bit when doing so. My expectations for Logos' performance on my new ThinkPad may have been pretty low, accordingly.

Open the box! You'll love it.

Bob Schlessman

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/177531#Comment_177531

I am using a USB flash drive as my virtual RAM, I've seen a big improvement in performance size 1950 MB

I am not very computer literate, but I was wondering if you could elaborate about this. Is this something I should check into?

I have platinum on a Sony Vaio laptop. Intel T4400 2.2 GHz

4 gig memory

320 gig hard drive (5400 rpm)

Intel graphics 4500m

I would be nice to get a moderately priced performance gain.

Jerry,

Just to clarify for you. Readyboost is not the same as what Michael is refering to. Michael is talking about using flash memory to put his page file on. In WIndows XP which is what Michael has, you don't have a Readyboost option. Readyboost is strictly for Vista or Windows 7. Readyboost is in addition to your standard page file (or virtual memory whichever you prefer) and it didn't work that great for Vista or so I understand. But I use it for WIndows 7 on my home system and there does seem to be a performance boost. But as Michael said, you can set up virtual memory on your flash drive and remove the pagefile from your hard drive and gain some speed. As long as you don't forget to plug in the flash drive before starting your laptop this works great.

Regards,

Bob

Bob Schlessman

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/178236#Comment_178236

I have three monitors now and mentioned to my wife this morning I wanted a fourth. I wonder why she just rolled her eyes at me.

I know that look to which you are refering Thomas. I get that from my wife any time I get excited about "computer geek stuff". But then she does lovingly refer to me as her "live-in tech support". :-)

Michael March

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/178241#Comment_178241

Oh my is this x201 awesome. Really amazing. After 15 years of Dells, I didn't know what I was missing. Don't get me wrong, I loved my dells, they make a fine product. But this small form and power and long battery life are truly amazing. Logos 4 just hums right along on it, exactly as fast as any computer I've used it on. You're right Bob. This machine changes the game. Just right.

Doug

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/178232#Comment_178232

How do you like the dual displays on Logos? I have thought about doing something similar even back in Logos 3 days but have been holding off.

Regards,

Bob Schlessman

I do like having two monitors. They are both 17" LCDs. I have a friend who has a single 24" Widescreen monitor and he appears to have about the same amount of screen space. Now, having two of those would be great. But I am thankful just to have the rig I have. It makes for a pretty good experience with L4. I don't have to wait around very long to get things done. Just thought the SSD would speed the entire system up.

Doug

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/178236#Comment_178236

Once you've gotten used to the extra realestate, it's hard to go back. I have three monitors now and mentioned to my wife this morning I wanted a fourth. I wonder why she just rolled her eyes at me.

I get that too. Totally disrespectful! [;)]

Doug

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/178260#Comment_178260

Oh my is this x201 awesome. Really amazing. After 15 years of Dells, I didn't know what I was missing. Don't get me wrong, I loved my dells, they make a fine product. But this small form and power and long battery life are truly amazing. Logos 4 just hums right along on it, exactly as fast as any computer I've used it on. You're right Bob. This machine changes the game. Just right.

Congrats! I'm going to be in the market for a new laptop soon too. You've maybe broadened my range of acceptable machines. Enjoy the new machine.

John Duffy

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/178236#Comment_178236

I've gone for a compromise with 500GB hard drive and 4GB RAM within a hybrid hard drive (Seagate Momentus XT http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopDetail.asp?ProductID=9410&NOT=OK).

Moving from 5400rpm to this as a fast and responsinve 7200rpm, along with the 4GB for (almost ) instant access of frequently accessed files, resulted in a doubling of speed (subjective, I know) after cloning my old hard drive across to the new one (i.e. same operating system and files on the new drive). It is the difference in speed that I would have expected from getting a new laptop. Excel opens a blank sheet in about 0.2s, Word opens in just a few secs, scrolling ESV seems a lot faster, etc. It's a relatively expensive upgrade, but it saves so much time. Even those files that aren't cached are so much faster.

I also partitioned it to 100GB for system and files with other media (large files like photos, music, rarely used downloads, etc) in the other partition. This is because the access times are faster for the first 20-25% of the drive. It's made a hugh difference.

I'm shortly going to upgrade to Win 7, so that I can see all of my 4GB RAM used, instead of the limit at 3GB that XP has.

However, in L4 I still have to wait for up to 5s to see the words I type appear in the notes, but that is another matter...

Bob Schaefer

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/178624#Comment_178624

Upgrading my X201 one day to a hybrid or solid state drive might be a good way to keep it from getting long in the tooth. I've thought for quite a while that hybrid drives made a lot of sense - it's good to hear someone's finally making a drive that capitalizes on this technology.

Stephen Coles

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/178230#Comment_178230

Drivers are as up to date as Sony will provide (by that I mean I have Sony's Vaio Update running and it reports everything at latest. I run with the MB/Intel graphics option because that actually gives me a more solid system (with dual display) than the higher speed option. Works fine with Ligtroom and Photoshop - may take a few seconds to process occasional display updates but only Logos4 actually crashes it and pushes it to a 16bit restore. I find it hard to accept that a well programmed application like Logos4 should find 32bit graphics an issue!

Internet connected and broadband speed typically 4MB/s - fast enough for live TV (BBC iPlayer).

Such is technology. I've also got Logos4 installed on my "netbook" - a Sony SX with the top spec Atom CPU, 2GB RAM and 160GB SSD; Logos4 runs but not comfortably (as I'd expect, considering the issues with my main PC) - it's there as a backup, just in case...

It's disappointing that Logos4 seems to need a games spec'd PC rather than a business or home/student one.

TCBlack

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/178644#Comment_178644

I understand Stephen, in large part this is due to the WPF foundation. Hopefully this will position Logos to be effective for a long time though.

Michael G Parry-Thomas

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/177515#Comment_177515

Hi everybody

I've just been doing some more testing

please see image for the search results, I am using 2 monitors

I've searched my whole library for behold Lamb of God

in the whole of the library and I have several books open

I've also got running in the background Dragon naturally speaking 11

anti-virus is switched on but I've set it so it will ignore libronix and Dragon

books 2,759

mick

Nathan Madison

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/177983#Comment_177983

Stephen: Try windows 7 it does a better job handling the memory resources in the computer

Francis Jeffries

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/179556#Comment_179556

Just a thought. What Anti virus software are you guys using? I recently switched from NIS 2010 to McAfee and finally GData. During the course, I discovered that even though these programs are less resource hungry they do effect your application performance. Meaning they are checking threads and procedure calls to ensure that no spyware, rootkit nor virus has compromised your system. Anyway, in GData I decided to control my firewall manually. All my applications process faster. In particular my Nero 9. This program would hang upon closing, but now it opens quickly and shutdowns quickly. Perform a test with and without the Antivirus software. Just a thought.

Jerry M

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/179696#Comment_179696

In some anti-virus spyware you can go into the settings and have it exclude Logos by pasting the path into the exclusion box, this may speed Logos up some, I am not sure.

Rosie Perera

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/178241#Comment_178241

I'm excited to be taking my new computer to my first Camp Logos in two weeks. It'll be nice not to lug around a ginormous beast, and run on battery power the whole time.

You can run on battery power all day at Camp Logos, but you don't need to. They set up the room with extension cords and powerstrips all along each row of tables, so everyone can be plugged in all day, if they so choose.

Bob Schaefer

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/179711#Comment_179711

You can run on battery power all day at Camp Logos, but you don't need to. They set up the room with extension cords and powerstrips all along each row of tables, so everyone can be plugged in all day, if they so choose.

I sorta suspected that would be the case. It would be very hard to conduct that sort of workshop without providing AC to the participants. Still, it's nice only to be tethered if I choose to be. [:)]

Bob Schlessman

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/179556#Comment_179556

Stephen: Try windows 7 it does a better job handling the memory resources in the computer

That is very true Stephen. And there is no better time than now to buy it. For a limited time Microsoft is again offering the three pack of WIndows 7 Home Premium upgrade for $149.95 (Dell is even offering it for $139.95). That is how I upgraded to WIndows 7 last year when it was first released. Saved a bunch of money since I had three computers to upgrade. My home system, my wife's and my church office system.