Considering 120-256GB SSD

[mikeymikec]

I would consider an Intel 5xx but I believe that series uses the SandForce controller, so I'm unsure about it. I vaguely recall threads on this forum arguing about it.

The other two I'm considering are the Crucial M4 series and Samsung 8xx series. I've been looking at benchmarks on techreport and anandtech this morning for the first "I'm seriously looking" time and I'm feeling a bit inundated by benchmark results.

One thing (I think) I understand from SSD benchmarks is that a basic rule of thumb is the higher capacity drives perform better than their lower capacity counterparts.

I'd like to know how the Intel ranges compare to each other. From what I've seen the 3xx don't perform as well as the 5xx range, but IIRC there are also key differences amongst the 3xx models.


My PC spec:

AMD Phenom II X4 960T (3.0GHz with 3.4GHz turbo mode) with two unlockable cores (currently locked)
ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3
Kingston 4GB (2x2GB) HyperX DDR3-1600
Gigabyte Radeon HD 5770 1GB
Seagate 500GB 7200.12 SATA
Samsung DVDRW SATA
Corsair VX450W
Coolermaster Elite 330
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1

The board can do SATA 6Gbps. I would demote the 500GB to a data only drive, storing everything I don't want to lose on it. My uses of the computer are the basics (office apps - nothing hugely demanding, web, e-mail, music/video playback, some modern games: SC2 Batman AA/AC). I was thinking of installing the demanding games on the SSD and the rest on the HDD.

Advice appreciated

 

[GarfieldtheCat]

In general, the 240/256Gig drives are a bit faster then the 120/128Gig drives, but nothing really major.

The commonly recommended drives are the 830 and M$ like you mentioned, but also look at the Plextor M3S or M5S. Both are fast and have good reputations (well, the M5S is new, but the M3S has been out a while)

Don't know much about the Intel drives, I don't trust Sandforce drives, although many people say all the problems are fixed and are running them without any issues.

But pretty much all current generation SSD's are really fast, and will be almost indistinguishable from each other once put in a PC. So don't worry about small unnoticeable speed differences, go with size, reliability and pricing.

 

[mikeymikec]

Another question - I understand that if the free capacity of an SSD drops below a certain point, it will affect the performance. Any ideas what that percentage is?

- edit - I'll take a look at the Plextor prices as well, thanks.

 

[Jocelyn84]

Most people will recommend keeping 10-15% free, while I like to overprovision and keep ~25% free in total. It's not going to be noticeable, but even a drive that's 20% full will be slower than an empty drive. This is true about any two SSDs that are the same, where one is more full than the other.

 

[mikeymikec]

Does anyone here know if Crucial M4s typically come with the mounting kit required to fit into a desktop case (2.5" to 3.5" bay)?

Also, does anyone know what's with some Crucial M4s being "slim" with a 7mm profile and some being 9mm? I thought that the disk form factor dictated the dimensions of the disk...

There's also a v4 Crucial and M4...

 

[OlafSicky]

Does anyone here know if Crucial M4s typically come with the mounting kit required to fit into a desktop case (2.5" to 3.5" bay)?

Also, does anyone know what's with some Crucial M4s being "slim" with a 7mm profile and some being 9mm? I thought that the disk form factor dictated the dimensions of the disk...

There's also a v4 Crucial and M4...

M4 don't come with desktop mounting kits. I know intel 330 does

 

[imusorka]

I almost jumped on a great 830/M4 offer recently but decided to wait until Black Friday to see whether the Plextors would come down. They look like even better quality.

 

[Cerb]

M4 don't come with desktop mounting kits. I know intel 330 does

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820148526

M4 do not all come with an adapter, though, so be careful when ordering them. Newegg, FI, has five M4 2.5" 256GB models listed, each slightly different.

 

[lehtv]

Crucial M4 256 $160
+ bracket $5

 

[felang]

Crucial M4 256 $160
+ bracket $5

Best deal currently by far... I wouldn´t wait to long

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

Crucial M4 256 $160
+ bracket $5

Yea I would say get this.

 

[mikeymikec]

It's unfortunate that I live in the UK

Ah hah! I found the difference between the v4 and m4:

http://www.facebook.com/CrucialMemo...comment_id=24540481&offset=0&total_comments=7

"Simon, good question! The main difference between our two drives is that the m4 runs on a SATA 6Gb/s bandwidth and the v4 runs on a SATA 3Gb/s bandwidth"

 

[Cerb]

It's unfortunate that I live in the UK

Ah hah! I found the difference between the v4 and m4:

http://www.facebook.com/CrucialMemo...comment_id=24540481&offset=0&total_comments=7

"Simon, good question! The main difference between our two drives is that the m4 runs on a SATA 6Gb/s bandwidth and the v4 runs on a SATA 3Gb/s bandwidth"

No. The main difference is that the V4 uses a different controller, and offers significantly different performance. The V4 is slower, but it's not because of 3Gbps v. 6Gbps SATA.

 

[bryanW1995]

Another question - I understand that if the free capacity of an SSD drops below a certain point, it will affect the performance. Any ideas what that percentage is?

- edit - I'll take a look at the Plextor prices as well, thanks.

Most people will recommend keeping 10-15% free, while I like to overprovision and keep ~25% free in total. It's not going to be noticeable, but even a drive that's 20% full will be slower than an empty drive. This is true about any two SSDs that are the same, where one is more full than the other.

This is also true with hdd's, btw, in fact it is worse.

Intel is also solid, I'd look at the intel/crucial/samsung/plextor, then buy the cheapest one. If there are a couple within $10 of each other, then I'd go 1. Samsung, 2. Plextor, 3. Intel, 4. Crucial.