Will SSD improve performance?

[zaplon]

Hi Guys,

Setting up my first emulator PC. My questions is this: Will storing ROMS on my SSD improve performance over storing them on my external HDD (5400 RPM)? The emulator itself will be stored on the SSD.

Also would appreciate comments on the rest of my setup.

Thinkpad T430s with:
-Intel Core i7-3520M Processor (4M Cache, up to 3.60 GHz)
-16GB DDR3
-NVIDIA Optimus Graphics (NVS 5200M, 1GB), Intel® Core™ i7-3520M Processor (4M Cache, up to 3.60 GHz)

Thanks!


*EDIT*
Running Windows 7 64bit. Have not set up a version of Dolphin yet.Main intention is to play Super Smash Bros Mele and Brawl

[masterotaku]

Yes and no. The general performance will be the same. You'll get the same fps. BUT when the emulator needs to access the ISO, it will be instantaneous compared to a normal HDD. For example, Brawl sometimes stutters for half a second to load new effects in the middle of a combat.
If you place your Dolphin folder in the SSD, it will help a lot in case you use HD texture packs.

[RachelB]

Save states will save/load significantly faster too!

[NaturalViolence]

masterotaku Wrote:If you place your Dolphin folder in the SSD, it will help a lot in case you use HD texture packs.

I highly doubt this. Has this been tested/confirmed?

[masterotaku]

(09-06-2013, 08:42 AM)NaturalViolence Wrote:

masterotaku Wrote:If you place your Dolphin folder in the SSD, it will help a lot in case you use HD texture packs.

I highly doubt this. Has this been tested/confirmed?

I don't know (I don't have an SSD). But with Zelda TP and the 3GB texture pack, loading times increased a lot. Example: I loaded my save at Kakariko, then I moved the camera to point at the village and the game became static, waiting for the HDD for 4 or 5 seconds to load textures (the HDD LED was pretty much on all that seconds).

A friend of mine has a SSD and that texture pack. I told him to move Dolphin to his SSD. I'll ask him if that improved something, when I can contact him.