~128GB SSD: C300 vs Force vs Nova vs Vertex2

[Toshio]

Which one should I get? I intend to get 2 for my Desktop OS/Programs and Laptop OS/Programs

- Crucial C300 128GB *
- Corsair Force F120
- Corsair Nova 128GB
- OCZ Vertex2 128GB

*Note: I know the 256GB model is way faster, but my budget is limited to 128GB.

TIA!

 

[Zap]

Running Windows 7 on both? Since most notebooks only have one drive, do you intend to put media (movies, music, pictures) on it?

If there is media involved, then the Corsair Force and OCZ Vertex 2 are NOT the best choices. In this case the Crucial would probably be the best.

If there is to be a lot of writing to the drive, especially if it isn't media, then the Corsair Force and OCZ Vertex 2 are probably the best choices.

Otherwise, coming from a normal hard drive any of these would be great. If one is significantly cheaper, then go for that one.

 

[Toshio]

@Zap: yeah Win7.

laptop has very heavy Outlook files (10GB+), desktop mostly used for gaming (but won't install games on such a small SSD!) and movie watching.

my main concern is about firmware/TRIM issues, I'd rather sacrifice a little performance for stability.

thx!

 

[pjkenned]

So saying a Sandforce drive is BAD for compressed data is not exactly accurate. It is more like the Sandforce drive is not amazing for compressed data. Then again... how often are you transferring many GBs of media files?

 

[Zap]

@Zap: yeah Win7.
...
my main concern is about firmware/TRIM issues, I'd rather sacrifice a little performance for stability.

There really aren't any known Trim or firmware issues with any of the current batch of SSDs. You do want to fresh-install Win7 however, because cloning an existing install over will likely result in improper partition alignment.

For stability, remember the old saying "nobody ever got fired for buying IBM?" For SSDs, Intel is considered at this time to be pretty darn solid with their current G2. Don't think, however, that Intel is immune from problems. IIRC their original G1 had a glitchy firmware release that was pulled. Then again, all the "good" SSDs have had firmware issues at the start.

Hmmm, maybe this means you shouldn't be an early adopter when the next gen of controllers comes out?

So saying a Sandforce drive is BAD for compressed data is not exactly accurate.

Thankfully I never said they were "bad for compressed data." :biggrin: I said they were "not the best choice" and I stand by that statement.

 

[Toshio]

thanks for the advice people, i'll availability and prices between those 🙂

 

[Emulex]

turn on whole disk compression and re-run the tests except sandforce please..

Why not let that extra core do the heavy lifting of compression? then you don't have to send the data down the wire (3gbs sata)