Planning on getting an SSD [would like to get this sorted by tonight]

d3fu5i0n

Senior member
Feb 15, 2011
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Hey all,

I'm planning on getting an SSD.

I'd want a reasonably large one and was originally planning on a 480GB or 512GB SSD, but with the price it would cost, I was also thinking of getting two 240GB SSDs and putting them in RAID, although that would still be dear and I've heard TRIM doesn't work in RAID setups.

My decision has been somewhat finalised on the OCZ Vertex 2 240GB SSD --- sort of...

[I've got a SATA II based motherboard anyway: P5Q Premium, so 6GB/s SSDs don't matter, and they're too expensive anyhow].

For the same price (£280-ish) I can get either a 2.5" Vertex 2E 240GB, or a 3.5" Vertex 2 240GB.

Now I wouldn't have to pay extra for a 2.5" to 3.5" bracket if I got the 3.5" SSD model. Although... the 2E model has less of the 'saved space' taken away and given back for the user. I have heard that (as far as I can remember) garbage collection is better when you have more of the saved space available [less space for the user to store data though], but of course, I will have less space.

Should I purchase the 2E model and a bracket and get a bit more space (I'll be pretty much using all of the space and have my mechanical drive linked to the Downloads, Music, Films and Documents folder with a few important backups also on the SSD). My main games will be on the SSD, and older and/or less important games also stored on the mechanical drive.

What should I go for?

Cheers,
Alistair
 

happy_gopher

Junior Member
Apr 11, 2011
12
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0
Alister,
My Vertex2 2.5" drives all came with a bracket in the retail package, is that not the case for you?
I am real happy with my vertex2 2.5" drives, but I have never had a 3.5".

I have a spare bracket I will send to you if ya need it. Im in Texas....it will take a few days.....
Happy_gopher
 

d3fu5i0n

Senior member
Feb 15, 2011
305
0
0
Alister,
My Vertex2 2.5" drives all came with a bracket in the retail package, is that not the case for you?
I am real happy with my vertex2 2.5" drives, but I have never had a 3.5".

I have a spare bracket I will send to you if ya need it. Im in Texas....it will take a few days.....
Happy_gopher

Hmmh, well I do live in the UK.

I'm not sure. I believe it is still a retail.
But what I'm asking is as to whether I should get the 2E or 2 version, I'm not that worried about purchasing a bracket if necessary.
Although the 2E version has less of the 'saved space' and more storage available to the user, I've heard that leads it to being more unreliable and susceptible to failing. I'm not sure how true that is though.
The new SATA III models have got the 13%[lower] saved space (like the 2E) rather than the higher amount, which is 28%[higher]. (That's as far as I can remember; not sure as to how accurate my numbers are).

What to do... what to do...

Hmmh?
 

alaricljs

Golden Member
May 11, 2005
1,221
1
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There is no difference between the 2 and 2E. OCZ states the available disk space as the drive model so they both have 240GB available from the 256GB of NAND onboard.
 

d3fu5i0n

Senior member
Feb 15, 2011
305
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There is no difference between the 2 and 2E. OCZ states the available disk space as the drive model so they both have 240GB available from the 256GB of NAND onboard.

Hmmh, I read differently. I know there's 256GB NAND. But look at this page for example: http://www.anandtech.com/show/3690/...andforce-more-capacity-at-no-performance-loss
...The table/chart on the first page.

I trust what you say ;) ...and it does seem that the IDEMA capacity is actually 240GB as stated, and as you said; on the OCZ website.

But still, what would you go for?

The 2.5" 2E is still newer in design I believe. And I suppose when technology improves I'll have a better drive, I therefore could put it in a laptop/notebook, whereas I couldn't with the 3.5"

So I should go for the 2.5" 2E then?
 
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d3fu5i0n

Senior member
Feb 15, 2011
305
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Okay.

After reading numerous issues with returns [if necessary] and literally 'dangerous' customer service with OcUK. (Note, that is what I have read and does not express my personal opinion or experience as I have yet to be a customer of OcUK)

I've ordered for £280-ish a 3.5" Vertex 2 240GB from another site; eBuyer if you must know.
Even if I do receive less space, due to the larger 'saved space', I don't think I shall worry too much, as I've just recently had a fairly pleasant return-replacement with eBuyer [a PSU] which holds a good customer service.

I'll just have Win 7 on the SSD with my main "big"/important games, such as: Crysis, Crysis Warhead, BF:BC2, all of my Steam games, The Witcher 2, AC: Brotherhood, Colin McRae DiRT 2. Then my Music, Photos, Downloads and Documents on my HDD. (You know how you can link the folders to whatever directory you want - even have no C: location and just have one location from the C: to another drive... brilliant!).

Hope this works well, shall do the firmware update as well [v1.33 as of being written] if it's not on the latest version. I've heard you can lose your data on SSDs when updating the firmware (the way it was written sounded as if it was quite possible/likely). So could I keep my HDD in and update the SSD's firmware whilst the HDD is in? I'm hoping it wouldn't cause any damage or flash the wrong drive; although it should search for the right storage device. That way I wouldn't have to install Windows on it just to update the firmware and re-install Windows. I'm not sure if the "losing data" is unlikely or if I've misinterpreted it.