External SSD for Database

Josebr · November 08, 2021, 05:46:22 PM

I am considering buying an external SSD to put my database into as a way to speed things up. Currently my database runs from the C: drive which is not SSD, just a regular hard drive. I have read post on this forum where people put their database into an internal SSD. Which I know would be ideal. Except my computer does not allow for any other internal drive. It's about 3.5 years old.

So would getting an external SSD (usb) be worth it? Or does it have to be an internal SSD to get a speed boast?

Mario · November 08, 2021, 06:15:14 PM

Check https://superuser.com/questions/1563057/will-an-ssd-external-drive-be-faster-than-an-hdd-external-drive-on-usb-3-0

voronwe · November 09, 2021, 01:11:49 PM

Quote from: Josebr on November 08, 2021, 05:46:22 PM
I am considering buying an external SSD to put my database into as a way to speed things up. Currently my database runs from the C: drive which is not SSD, just a regular hard drive. I have read post on this forum where people put their database into an internal SSD. Which I know would be ideal. Except my computer does not allow for any other internal drive. It's about 3.5 years old.

So would getting an external SSD (usb) be worth it? Or does it have to be an internal SSD to get a speed boast?

As far as I understand,you run Windows on a HDD. I do not know how big this HDD is, but have you considered to replace it completely with an SDD? The advantage of Speed is remarkable (also in the time Windows needs for bootig up).

Mario · November 09, 2021, 01:24:51 PM

A agree.
And you can (at least from Samsung) buy a SSD "kit" which also includes the adapter and software required to clone your existing hard disk.
This assuming your computer is not some notebook, which usually severely limits what you can change.

Josebr · November 09, 2021, 02:24:40 PM

I opened my computer and leaned that I can add an SSD Drive. So I purchased the 1TB SSD but was disappointed to find out that the cables did not come with the SSD. But then I realized that I have a hard drive dock and I inserted the SSD on it. This will do until I figure out which cables to buy to use in putting the SSD inside my computer. I will seriously consider swapping out my 1TB computer hard drive with an SSD. I will probably try it next week after I get my pension check.

I did notice that my database compacting and optimization went from 90 minutes to 20 minutes. I also took off the protection which my Acronis Cyber Home does on an ongoing, always on basis. I think that more than anything was slowing down IMATCH. I might make a separate post on Acronis. Thanks you all for getting back to me.

Mario · November 09, 2021, 03:22:36 PM

Your PC will feel like a new computer when you switch from the HDD to the SSD. This is the best performance tuning you can do.
IMatch will perform massively better when the database is on the SSD.
Windows will boot much faster, everything will run much more smoothly.

In 95% of all "IMatch is slow" support requests, the installed virus checker (or similar) is the culprit.
A virus checker constantly scanning the database folder or scanning IMatch can harm performance badly.
Making the folder (!) containing the database an exception from on-access scanning usually solves the performance problem in these cases.

See also IMPORTANT: Virus Checkers in the IMatch help.

ms9601 · November 10, 2021, 12:37:25 PM

Quote from: Josebr on November 08, 2021, 05:46:22 PM
I am considering buying an external SSD to put my database into as a way to speed things up. Currently my database runs from the C: drive which is not SSD, just a regular hard drive. I have read post on this forum where people put their database into an internal SSD. Which I know would be ideal. Except my computer does not allow for any other internal drive. It's about 3.5 years old.

So would getting an external SSD (usb) be worth it? Or does it have to be an internal SSD to get a speed boast?

My PC has an SSD for the internal drive, but have all my recent photos plus my IMatch DB on an external SSD. I do this because I want to be able to edit on my desktop and laptop. Has been working great for over a year. Just make sure the drive letters are static and you should be fine. The SSD I use is a Samsung T5 1GB.

gkknipp · November 15, 2021, 01:11:56 AM

If using an external SSD with the database on it (my image files are on a NAS) so I that can work from either my laptop or my desktop, do I still need to copy the settings database and other applicable file options each time that I switch machines as explained in the "Traveling with IMatch" section in Help?
Thanks,
Greg Knipp

Mario · November 15, 2021, 08:49:08 AM

Sure. If you run IMatch on another computer, you need to copy the settings to that computer.
Or you cop the settings database to the portable SSD and configure IMatch to use the settings database on that drive. Or you copy the settings database to your NAS.
The settings database concept in IMatch is flexible and supports that. Searching the help for the word settings leads to Sharing a Settings Database which explains that and also how to configure IMatch to load the settings database from another location. Don't forget to do backups!

gkknipp · November 15, 2021, 02:59:44 PM

Thanks for your response.
Greg Knipp

Josebr · December 10, 2021, 03:47:09 PM

UPDATE:
I took a large leap (for me) and cloned my computer's hard drive to my new SSD. It worked like a charm! And things run faster now. I am thinking about buying an SSD with double the space and then clone my current SSD to that so as to garner more space on that drive. Thank you all for your advice!

Mario · December 10, 2021, 04:33:50 PM

Modern SSDs are the best thing since sliced bread and IMatch.