Most reliable SSD under $125?

[XLNC]

Putting an SSD in an HP laptop for a friend. Laptop has i3-2330M CPU and 6GB RAM. Looking to avoid firmware issues, lock ups, stuttering, and the like... not just drive failures.

Reviews don't/can't really focus on reliability, so I'm just wondering what the word on the street is. I know Intel held the reliability crown for previous gen, has anything changed recently? I'm suspicious of Sandforce drives in general. Thanks for your input.

 

[Burner27]

Crucial M4 64GB

 

[videopho]

Crucial M4 64GB

+1

 

[max347]

I have had great success with multiple V100 Kingston drives (not the fastest in the world, but tons faster than hd), and C300 drives. If you want a 128gb drive, this is near your budget- http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=567...n&promoid=1316

 

[dmoney1980]

+2 on the Crucial M4

 

[chimaxi83]

Love my M4. Zero issues, reliable, fast, and even a free performance boost (to already great performance) via firmware upgrade. Using my old 64GB to cache a 2TB drive, and now using a 128GB as main.

 

[Emulex]

kingston 128gb - got 2 two for $80 - 96gb for $95 - they are 100% pure samsung and what apple uses exclusively.

 

[XLNC]

Hmm... before posting this, I thought the M4 was a no brainer until some newegg reviews warned of stuttering. I realize newegg reviews are worth their weight in horse manure, but they're good at highlighting common problems. However, if this forum votes on M4, I'll go with it.

kingston 128gb - got 2 two for $80 - 96gb for $95 - they are 100% pure samsung and what apple uses exclusively.

I had no idea Samsung made Kingston drives. Is that true for all Kingston drives, including the one max347 linked to above?

 

[darckhart]

older kingston drive models were intels. think the 40gb ones.

 

[edfcmc]

How about a samsung ssd? Im sure you can find a version less than $125

According to Anand, he states "Not only does it make its own controller, DRAM and NAND, but it also has an incredible track record in terms of reliability. Samsung SSDs were among the first I reviewed and while they weren't anywhere near the fastest back then, every last one of those drives is still working without issue in my lab today. It's also worth pointing out that Samsung SSDs are also one of the two options Apple rebrands and delivers in its Mac lineup. To continue to hold on to Apple's business for this long is an impressive feat on Samsung's part."


http://www.anandtech.com/show/4863/the-samsung-ssd-830-review

 

[XLNC]

^^I remember that review, was happy to read it since I luckily chose the Samsung 470 128GB for my main rig. My first choice was to stick with what I know and go for the 64GB version of the 470, but the M4 looks like a better bet today.

Hmm... proven reliability with Samsung vs purported reliability + better performance with the Crucial M4. What do you guys think? I'm guessing I'm over thinking this and both would be excellent buys for light usage. Still, being tech geeks, aren't these the kind of inconsequential decisions we love to fret over?

 

[sequoia464]

I have a couple of 128gb M4's as well as two 96 gb Kingston V+100's (Toshiba controller).

The V+100's use the same controller as the apple version per Anand's review .. Link..http://www.anandtech.com/show/4010/kingston-ssdnow-v-plus-100-review.

They have both been reliable - as well as my Intel's.

Newegg has the new Samsung 830 on sale right now - might want to check it out as well .. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820147133 - this is the drive that I would get if I was looking at a 64 gb capacity (dependent on price).

Edit: - the one reviewer didn't have much luck with the 830 - just noticed that. Might be worth waiting on a few reviews before considering an 830.

 

[Coup27]

Available now:
Intel 320
Crucial M4

Available anytime now:
Samsung 830

Any of them should be sound buys.

 

[XLNC]

The Samsung 830 looks nice but in IMO it's a bit early to be calling it reliable.

Went ahead and ordered the M4 64GB. Thanks to everyone for their input.

 

[Coup27]

The Samsung 830 looks nice but in IMO it's a bit early to be calling it reliable.

Fair point. Given their current track record I would be prepared to take a punt on it.

I work for a small company and we have 10 office based staff. Come March we are all having new computers and I am hoping to use the 830 in those machines. Either that or the M4 or 320.

 

[Emulex]

we can rule out sandforce - their product is consistently reliable? Why ? the oem doesn't control the quality of nand and the firmware - the same logic might infer the samsung(kingston) is made with samsung nand/controller/ram = works better, the same logic might infer intel does the same (and has lowest market return rate).

sadly the only ssd that have failed me are x25-m's - catastrophic failures with no warning or smart. so i have no data other than sandforce was unreliable when hibernating so i removed that variable (no hibernate)

 

[Brutus04]

Intel