New SSD/HDD/RAM?

[anishannayya]

Alright, got 3 laptops that I'm contemplating upgrading. Thing is that I'm not sure if I should, and I wanted to hear what you guys have to say.

What's your take on the Vertex Plus? I can't seem to find any reviews besides Anand's. The prices on those are really sweet. $50 for the 60GB and $110 for the 120GB.

What about 8GB vs 4GB RAM? I have a computer with 8GB, and mostly the extra RAM is used for standby. RAM is really cheap now. I'd spend $20 on one computer, but I'd have to spend $40 to upgrade the other because it has 2 2GB DIMMs in it. How about 6GB?

I've got one new laptop with an mSATA slot. Any good sub-$100 mSATA drives?

Lastly, how about 500GB Momentous XT vs 120GB Vertex Plus. Obviously there is the storage space, but put that aside.

All computers are Win 7 x64.

 

[corkyg]

The poll really makes no sense. It really depends on your $$$ resources. For me, it is not a this or that. I would check them all if I had the cash. But if I only had $150, I would check the Vertex.

 

[Coup27]

The poll really makes no sense. It really depends on your $$$ resources. For me, it is not a this or that. I would check them all if I had the cash. But if I only had $150, I would check the Vertex.

+1

 

[anishannayya]

The $$$ is there, but it isn't there ya know? Means, I'd rather not spend it.

I'm just hesitant to jump on a Barefoot controller.

And really, my question is that would the extra RAM really be noticable, especially if I upgrade to an SSD.

What about a different SSD brand/type? Would I really notice it?

 

[jjmIII]

Newegg has 4gb G.Skill DDR3 SoDimms for $18 in todays email. Load 'em all up with those, and cheap SSDs. Save $10 with promo code EMCYTZT699, ends 8/25.

Sell everything you pull out.

When I think upgrade, ocz never pops into my head!

 

[anishannayya]

^That's what sparked today's discussion.

And why is everybody down on OCZ as of late? I've been under the impression that OCZ makes some great hardware.

 

[Jeff7]

I'd say to get the SSD. The HDD is likely the slowest subsystem left in your laptop, unless you're using a floppy drive or 56k modem.

An SSD gives a very good improvement in overall performance.


At work, I regularly run Pro/Engineer and Adobe Illustrator, and I rarely run low on RAM.
(I've got 4GB, but I'm also stuck with WinXP, which only lets me use 3GB. I've got the most powerful computer in the building, perhaps with the exception of our network server, which now has over 5TB of usable space - my computer is 6 years old. )

 

[corkyg]

... And why is everybody down on OCZ as of late? I've been under the impression that OCZ makes some great hardware.

Take a few minutes and read through this entire thread . .

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2182881

 

[Zap]

What's your take on the Vertex Plus? I can't seem to find any reviews besides Anand's. The prices on those are really sweet. $50 for the 60GB and $110 for the 120GB.

They're withing a few percentage points of any other Indilinx Barefoot based drive. Nothing exciting these days, but still faster than any HDD. I use a 256GB Indilinx Barefoot drive and it is much, MUCH faster than the WD Scorpio Black it replaced. Not even close.

What about 8GB vs 4GB RAM?

Since you already know your software doesn't take advantage of it, 100% waste of money.

Lastly, how about 500GB Momentous XT vs 120GB Vertex Plus.

SSD will overall be faster.

And why is everybody down on OCZ as of late? I've been under the impression that OCZ makes some great hardware.

Their customer service has been off and on, plus they have a tendency to release SSDs with essentially beta firmware just to be first to market. Also, they are really big on Sandforce controllers which has had ongoing firmware issues.

 

[anishannayya]

Alright, so what do ya'll have to say on the mSATA drives?

I would really like to go with a reputable retailer, because I want to be able to return the device if there is an issue.

There is almost nothing to be said on this (that I have heard).

 

[Eug]

I'd probably get just the SSD, but a different brand, so I didn't check any of the options in the poll.

The poll really makes no sense. It really depends on your $$$ resources. For me, it is not a this or that. I would check them all if I had the cash.

So you would get 4 GB and 8 GB, and you'd get an SSD and a hybrid drive?

 

[anishannayya]

Yea, I didn't know that the poll wouldn't allow people to select multiple choices.

Anyways this is my current state (possible changes in bold):

Laptop 1:

2x2GB
160GB 5,400 60GB Vertex Plus

Laptop 2:

4GB 2x4GB
320GB 7,200 750GB drive from Laptop 3
mSATA (empty) ???

Laptop 3:

2x4GB
750GB 5,200 500 Momentus XT

And obviously, I'd get two external drives out of this.