S/HDD FOR Bitcoin Core

[Kulahin]

what is the best ssd for fast loading bitcoin code ? and how to improve speed technically

[1714885912]

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[1714885912]

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[Rath_]

I can't recommend you any SSD without knowing your budget, computer specs and desired capacity. SSDs can utilize either SATA ports or m.2 slots. m.2 SSDs can either use SATA III or PCIe for data transfer. The latter is significantly faster.

If you don't have much money then you can buy a small SATA SSD (256 GB) for the operating system, programs and Bitcoin Core. You don't have to keep blocks database on the SSD. Leaving the chainstate (~4 GB) on it should speed up a node a little.

[NeuroticFish]

For improving the syncing speed you'll also need fast internet (preferably wired), good CPU and probably enough RAM too. SSD comes only after these are checked (and of course, it matters at load up).

[dothebeats]

I'd say wait for a year or two and SSD prices per gigabyte would lower significantly. Using an old magnetic HDD would still do the trick, and I recommend a Blue or a Black WD 250GB and up for better r/w speeds. Never get the green ones as they are only designed for media/file storage and not constant read/write as what blue and blacks are designed for. If you're still planning to go for an SSD though, the suggestion of BitCryptex is entirely helpful to save space while on the SSD and giving you an extra oomph for the performance of Core even though the block database is entirely saved into a regular HDD.

[fillippone]

I definitely suggest SSD over HDD.
In my experience any SSD will provide a steep improvement in loading and syncing time over any HHD kind of disk.
Of course a lot of variables are involved, so it is impossible to give you any hint without knowing your specific HW configuration.
Currently  i run a node on a raspberry 3+.
I have an SSD attached via USB3, and I think disk has never been the bottleneck operating the node.

[dothebeats]

and I recommend a Blue or a Black WD 250GB and up for better r/w speeds.

Bitcoin's blockchain size recently passed 250 GB (it's about 265 GB on my drive), so you need to get at least 320GB.
But at current average block size, 320GB will be full in less than a year while 500GB will be full about in 2 years.

On a side note, WD Black is quite expensive, IMO you better get cheaper HDD or cheap SSD (with less capacity, but far faster than any HDD).

From where I'm at, I can snatch a WD Black for at least $60, and that's already a 1TB drive, brand new. If the user wouldn't be picky enough and know how to clean a drive properly, one can get a 1TB Black drive for about $40-$50, with 90-99% health. I might have overlooked the current blockchain data but yeah one must go for 500GB or 1TB and I don't think they are selling 320GB drives brand new anymore--or I haven't stumbled upon anything within the past few years of changing systems. Anyway, if someone isn't that picky a Blue/Black drive secondhand would suffice and just transfer the chainstate on the OS drive which, in this case is a SSD.

[ABCbits]

From where I'm at, I can snatch a WD Black for at least $60, and that's already a 1TB drive, brand new. If the user wouldn't be picky enough and know how to clean a drive properly, one can get a 1TB Black drive for about $40-$50, with 90-99% health.

It's a bit more expensive in here & price difference between regular 7200 RPM HDD and WD Black is quite wide while there's no significant performance difference on daily usage.

and I don't think they are selling 320GB drives brand new anymore--or I haven't stumbled upon anything within the past few years of changing systems.

So does 250GB HDD which you mentioned earlier. But if you're lucky, you could get one which never used because no one buy it

Anyway, if someone isn't that picky a Blue/Black drive secondhand would suffice and just transfer the chainstate on the OS drive which, in this case is a SSD.

I agree, but i wouldn't risk buy second-hand/used drive, even if it's properly tested before it's sold.

[Jet Cash]

I've got a Samsung 860 2Tb, and it is great. I chose the 860 because it has a longer life. I'm also advised that you will extend the life of the drive if you use one that has twice the capacity you require. This is because of the method used bt SSDs for rewrites.

[fillippone]

I'm also advised that you will extend the life of the drive if you use one that has twice the capacity you require. This is because of the method used bt SSDs for rewrites.

This is something completely new to me. Do you have a reference for this?
2TB means 1TB blockchain, so at least 2023 I would say.

[pereira4]

I've got a Samsung 860 2Tb, and it is great. I chose the 860 because it has a longer life. I'm also advised that you will extend the life of the drive if you use one that has twice the capacity you require. This is because of the method used bt SSDs for rewrites.

I think this is an exaggeration. As long as you have around 10% of free space, you should be good to go. Look for Drive writes per day (DWPD) and total bytes written (TBW) data for insight. Buy any manufacturer should be competent enough to not have your drive to derp out if you star using more than half of it.

You shouldn't count on SSD for long term storage anyway. It's probably safe to replace them every 5 years so I wouldn't stress about having a perfect long term deal.

[Kulahin]

How to speed up loading?
"scan" ~20 mins at M2 960 PRO ssd
https://i.imgur.com/I480YVa.png

[Rath_]

How to speed up loading?
"scan" ~20 mins at M2 960 PRO ssd

20 minutes is a reasonable time for a rescan. The image seems to be cut and I can't see on which step the program is stuck. Did you remove -rescan from your config or startup parameters?

[AdolfinWolf]

How to speed up loading?
"scan" ~20 mins at M2 960 PRO ssd

The screenshot doesn't really explain your problem; do you have issues opening the wallet, or syncing it?

If syncing; that's normal, most people won't be able to download 200 GB in 20 minutes.

If opening; there's definitely an issue. Core shouldn't take 20 minutes to open.

[Kulahin]

i have full sync blockchain, opening my old version wallet.dat for 20 min

[AdolfinWolf]

i have full sync blockchain, opening my old version wallet.dat for 20 min

Debug log? Does it (bitcoin core) open at all? When did you open it for the last time?

Edit: this is better to do indeed.

I suggest you make new thread about your problem, since it's not directly related with this thread. Don't forget to read [READ BEFORE POSTING] Tech Support Help Request Format

Checking SSD health might be helpful since you don't need 20 min to open Bitcoin Core. Even on HDD, i only need to wait a minute (at most).

[Carlton Banks]

I can't recommend you any SSD without knowing your budget, computer specs and desired capacity. SSDs can utilize either SATA ports or m.2 slots. m.2 SSDs can either use SATA III or PCIe for data transfer. The latter is significantly faster.

If you don't have much money then you can buy a small SATA SSD (256 GB) for the operating system, programs and Bitcoin Core. You don't have to keep blocks database on the SSD. Leaving the chainstate (~4 GB) on it should speed up a node a little.

this

any speed advantages are almost entirely dependent on the chainstate directory being on a fast disk, flushing the chainstate to a big slow mechanical disk does not impact performance of the node at the present time. running chainstate from a big slow mechanical disk hurts node performance alot (i.e. startup, IBD, tip validation)

if you buy an SSD big enough to fit the blocks too, it's somewhat of a waste of money. the chainstate directory is only ~2-4GB, so really you can buy a very small cheap SSD. 64GB is more than enough