Micro Center M4 SSD - incorrect specs?

[dmoney1980]

Crucial M4 256gb SSD:

MC version: http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0364547
415 / 260 MB read & write speeds
$189


NE version: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820148443
500 / 260 MB read & write speeds
$209

Other than price, what is the difference? What am I missing here?

 

[philipma1957]

Crucial M4 256gb SSD:

MC version: http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0364547
415 / 260 MB read & write speeds
$189


NE version: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820148443
500 / 260 MB read & write speeds
$209

Other than price, what is the difference? What am I missing here?

the micro center may have the older firmware which ran the ssd a bit slower. the box in the mc photo is the old style box around april or may the box changed.

the box in the newegg photo is the new box with the new firmware. there is a link on crucial on a how to upgrade the firmware


http://www.crucial.com/support/firmware.aspx

 

[dmoney1980]

thanks! I'm in need of upgrading from my current 64GB m4 (I have about 8 gb free space left at the moment) but I'm wondering if it's worth waiting for the m4 to be a shellshocker deal

 

[ShintaiDK]

I´m sure they are both identical. One website is just not updated. Cant blame em really. Imagine having to keep track of performance due to firmware/BIOS releases.

 

[Burner27]

I would keep an eye out for the shellshocker deals. They just had one for the 128 GB Samsung this week for $90

 

[bryanW1995]

$189 seems to be the "deal" on 256gb m4's these days. If you can find it for that price then I'd grab one (or 2).

I think that MC has the 128gb m4 specs posted. My m4's improved a bit when I installed the latest firmware, but not from 415 to 500 mb/s reads.

edit: http://www.anandtech.com/show/4253/the-crucial-m4-micron-c400-ssd-review/ It looks like they did just use older firmware, apparently the release firmware has been improved upon quite a bit over the past couple of years.

 

[dmoney1980]

the only thing stopping me from buying it now at $189 is the sales tax (I'm in IL)

 

[bryanW1995]

What is your sales tax rate? Even $11 tax would only put it at $200, which is still a killer deal. If you can wait indefinitely for a "better" deal then I would watch until BF and see what comes available.

 

[dmoney1980]

It is $11, I will have to think about it.

 

[Burner27]

$189 seems to be the "deal" on 256gb m4's these days. If you can find it for that price then I'd grab one (or 2).

I think that MC has the 128gb m4 specs posted. My m4's improved a bit when I installed the latest firmware, but not from 415 to 500 mb/s reads.

edit: http://www.anandtech.com/show/4253/the-crucial-m4-micron-c400-ssd-review/ It looks like they did just use older firmware, apparently the release firmware has been improved upon quite a bit over the past couple of years.

When i went from FW 0001 to 0009 mine took a huge performance leap. I am currently on FW 000F and still have phenomenal performance:

 

[sequoia464]

Let me see if I understand this correctly - while Plextor, Samsung, Intel and everyone else is coming out with newer updated drives - Crucial came out with a new box and a new sticker for their drives?

Don't get me wrong, I have two M4's and I'm happy with them and appreciate the newer firmware (still on 0309 myself), but ... isn't it about time for Crucial to refresh their drives? Not just the box and sticker.

I do love the new sticker though - anyone know how I can upgrade my stickerware to it?

 

[bryanW1995]

They appear to be clearing out the m4's in anticipation of the next gen models.

 

[sequoia464]

They appear to be clearing out the m4's in anticipation of the next gen models.

Curious what Crucial will do to improve on the M4 - Plextor just came out with a drive that uses the same Micron 25nm nand as the crucial - they have more cache than crucial though, Plextor is still using the 9174 controller - same as the M4.

The newer 9187 Marvell controller was announced in March - I'm curious why Plextor didn't use it.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6087/plextor-releases-m5s-ssd-series

 

[bryanW1995]

SOMEBODY is already using it, but I suspect that the others are letting them beta test the new controller and get all of the kinks worked out (cough: OCZ: cough). From what I've seen/heard, the next round is supposed to be pretty good.

 

[philipma1957]

as sata III will still be the next round of ssd's I am more concerned that they work then if they are 550 mbs vs 500 mbs for speed.


the m4's work

the sammie 830's work

and intels 520's or 330's work

I personally have had luck with the mushkin toggle nand the 2 I have still work.