SSD For TimeShift (1 Viewer)

[bowers01]

Hi,
I have a tv-server setup with only 4 cleints at the moment, within the next few weeks i will have 20. There is a show coming up that everyone watches(an Australian horse race) the new computers that will be connected are only coming a few days before that.

Will a standard WD 250gb be able to run timeshift for 20 clients? Its going to be a nightmare if the computers come and it doesnt work so i need to order a ssd now if it will not be able to run it.

How many MB/s does timeshift actually use?

Cheers,
Nick

 

[regeszter]

Hi,
How many MB/s does timeshift actually use?
Cheers,
Nick

It depends the the video bandwidth (SD/HD). And it depends the number of tvtuners. If you need big performance you can use one hdd/ one tvtuner. Or ramdisk (you need big ram and small time window).

 

[tourettes]

Also some SSDs aren't suitable for timeshifting since they have "pauses" in their operation.

 

[bowers01]

Hi,
How many MB/s does timeshift actually use?
Cheers,
Nick

It depends the the video bandwidth (SD/HD). And it depends the number of tvtuners. If you need big performance you can use one hdd/ one tvtuner. Or ramdisk (you need big ram and small time window).

Hi,
It currently has one digital tuner, which is what we will be using for this show.
In time we plan to get 3 dual tuners so we can run 6 channels, they are good ones we are looking at ($250 AUD each)

Thanks for the replies

 

[Jay_UK]

Hi there,

To play completely safe (assuming the rest of your TVServer is upto spec), use a RAM drive for the Timeshift.

I'm running a 5-6GB Timeshift (size will depend on SD/HD and duration of the buffer required)

If you want a decent SSD (try an intel e series, or an OCZ Vertex 2 EX) - probably an overkill for a HTPC

J.

 

[kkozma]

Also some SSDs aren't suitable for timeshifting since they have "pauses" in their operation.

Sorry to bump this from the dead, but is this still an issue? I just fried a 2nd timshifting drive in my machine and I was thinking of replacing it with an SSD. I read through a bunch of old threads from 2008 talking about "pauses" but that was due more to cheap MLC SSD drives than anything.

A ramdrive is not an option as we need more of a buffer than I'm willing to purchase ram for.

Thanks in advance!

 

[tourettes]

Also some SSDs aren't suitable for timeshifting since they have "pauses" in their operation.

Sorry to bump this from the dead, but is this still an issue? I just fried a 2nd timshifting drive in my machine and I was thinking of replacing it with an SSD. I read through a bunch of old threads from 2008 talking about "pauses" but that was due more to cheap MLC SSD drives than anything.

Haven't any specific knowledge what SSD models did have that issue or what might still have - so it might be buy and try thing.

What comes to timeshifting to fry a HD, well it is a bad luck. Torrent client for example is ten times bigger risk for the HD's healt (constant random write & read, where as timeshifting is quite linear). And I would say that all HDs survive from that, unless they have some manufacturing fault.

 

[mbuzina]

There are some people on the forum that use USB sticks for time shifting. It has to be a proper one that can hold a proper constant bitrate. You might also have a look at the XDHC card reader and use a type 6 or 10 card of 16 / 32 GB. That is quiet, quick & cheap enough. Haven't done this myself, but it should work allright.

 

[kkozma]

Interesting. Thanks for the help.

Any idea what a "proper" usb stick would be? That might be an even better option than an SSD.

 

[JiRo]

Another idea...

I've used in my TV server IDE/CF adapter and CF 8GB. My configuration is with two or three concurrently working clients with live TV. More then two years without any problem. Good solution when IDE interface isn't used - all my server disk (7pcs) are with SATA interface only - IDE remained unused.

JiRo