microcenter ssd?

[razaice]

Anyone know anything about the newest 64gb sandforce microcenter branded ssd? Seems like a good price for the performance. Also another question. Would puting two ssds in raid 0 make it so you can use the storage size of both combined? Like two 64gb drives in raid 0 being 128gb total storage space?

 

[nanaki333]

i was tempted by the microcenter SSDs, but i frequently see "open box" items on those drives. and to answer your other question, yes, you can raid0 both drives and get the capacity from both drives, as well as double the speed. losing 1 drive will result in a 100% failure of all data stored on those drives. you also lose TRIM support, but you can do other cleanup methods to keep your drives healthy.

 

[amanoai]

I think the 'open box' SSDs "may" be from customers either using MC to "freely" test out the hype regarding SSDs with no intention of keeping them or customers that buy and return when the SSDs are on sale. The MC branded SSD is frequently on sale, more so than any other brand at MC.

 

[gamefreakgcb]

I have one, I'd suggest going for some other now as they have firmware issues still (I was able to flash mine but its a big headache and many couldn't get it to flash). It will most likely have sleep issues but its fast and I paid 99 for it in December. Now I have 2x Kingston 96GB in RAID 0.

 

[kmmatney]

I have bought 2 for other people - they've been OK. I did flash both of them to the latest firmware straight away, which was a bit of a pain. I think I used firmware from for an Adata SSD.

 

[Meghan54]

I think I used firmware from for an Adata SSD.

Not surprising given MicroCenter's brand of memory is repackaged A-Data memory. So, makes sense to use A-Data's SSD's, too.

 

[gamefreakgcb]

Not surprising given MicroCenter's brand of memory is repackaged A-Data memory. So, makes sense to use A-Data's SSD's, too.

Yes, but the process is a big headache at best and an absolute nightmare at worst. Mine was a headache (lucky me) but now I don't have the sleep issue.

 

[razaice]

Thanks for the helpful replies guys. What would be the ssd these days with the best balance of reliability , performance and price?

 

[Emulex]

intel is solid and has industry standard rates of failure lower than anyone else.

kind of like AMD versus INTEL - which one are you going to buy for the boss?

 

[gamefreakgcb]

If you can order one ASAP, get this one with promo code: EMCKEJK36

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820148357

$99 shipped.

 

[hans007]

i had the regular a-data brand and sold it becasue they had that BSOD problem on sleep / resume.

other people have had other problems. A-data still hasnt fixed this. there are so many problems with a lot of varieties of sandforce drives (drives anandtech continues to recommend in reviews which is BS) that if you are going to buy one maybe buy a 2nd gen sandforce, or pay a bit more money for a crucial or intel one.

or even get a lower performing jmicron jmf618 or one of the toshiba controllers. the level of problems with sandforce firmware (there were issues with ocz drives too) is just absurd.

 

[Emulex]

what makes you think 2nd gen fixed it?

 

[razaice]

If you can order one ASAP, get this one with promo code: EMCKEJK36

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820148357

$99 shipped.

This code won't work for me for some reason. Says i don't meet the criteria for it.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

I think the 'open box' SSDs "may" be from customers either using MC to "freely" test out the hype regarding SSDs with no intention of keeping them or customers that buy and return when the SSDs are on sale. The MC branded SSD is frequently on sale, more so than any other brand at MC.

MC does have restocking fees, so they might not be getting free testing.

 

[Emulex]

no they have the sandforce sleep issue which results in high return rates .

1: cold boot no drive detected - keep powering on/off many times
2: panic mode
3: sleep mode fail to wake back up BSOD.

all sandforce drives based on SF-12xx still have these issues and folks return products that aren't perfect. Intel would be perfect - and just as fast

 

[gamefreakgcb]

This code won't work for me for some reason. Says i don't meet the criteria for it.

Its over, it ended last night 12 PST.

Amazon currently has the C300 128GB for $200.

 

[razaice]

So if I went with the c300, I wouldn't be going wrong? I have a sata II mobo.

 

[Emulex]

as long as its not sandforce sf-12xx - you should be good!