What to look for in a SSD?

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xj0hnx

xj0hnx

Diamond Member
Dec 18, 2007
9,262
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So I think I'll finally get with this decade and get a SSD for my OS drive. Running Windows 7 x64 it seems like the 120GB would be a good size considering the whole WinSxS, and I've got some big programs, Office, Adobe CS5, a couple games (8-13GB). So my question is, which features should I pay attention to, and which ones should be dismissed as marketing BS?

My rig:
Intel i7 920 lightly OC'ed, will probably return to OEM clocks
EVGA x58 SLI E758-A1
12GB RAM Crucial 6x2GB
HIS HD6870 1GB
650w Antec
3x 1TB/1x 1.5TB and right now using a 150GB WD Raptor for OS

Here are the ones I was looking at, and comparing ...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...211%2D569%2DTS

Now looking at my install on C: All folders is only 50.7GB, but "My Computer" is reporting C: as 139GB with 60.4GB free, which leaves 27.9GB missing, where's it hiding? If I can figure that out maybe I can get by with an 80GB SSD.
 
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Kusnierek

Kusnierek

Member
Jul 3, 2012
48
0
0
When was the last time you emptied your recycle bin, just out of curiosity?
Also, I thought 120GB would be enough for my OS and programs a couple years ago, but today I'm left wanting more. Your link doesn't work so I don't know what your price range is, but you can get a nice 256GB SSD for around $200 if you look on Amazon.
Or if that's too pricy, this 180GB SSD might be up your avenue, at $129 after rebate:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227789
However, please note that the Agility 3 line (and OCZ in general) are not a preferred brand around these parts, due to a perceptible higher fail rate. But otherwise, they're not AWFUL. Not Seagate awful.
 
Coup27

Coup27

Platinum Member
Jul 17, 2010
2,140
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You need to look out for one called a Samsung 830 and then stop your search.
 
Kusnierek

Kusnierek

Member
Jul 3, 2012
48
0
0
Well since the OP is coming from Texas, I imagine buying from a UK site would be impractical, but not always! The UK Amazon site occasionally has blu-rays that are cheaper when converted to US dollars, even shipped.

Here is that same Crucial drive you linked on Amazon.com, at $389.99, which converts to £251 total (No tax if you're not in an Amazon warehouse state, and free shipping!)
http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-2-5-Inch-Solid-State-CT512M4SSD2/dp/B004W2JL3Y
 
K

Kippa

Senior member
Dec 12, 2011
392
1
81
I didn't intend the OP to buy from my link, I was just using it as an example of how the cost of 512gb has come down a lot recenlty. :)
 
xj0hnx

xj0hnx

Diamond Member
Dec 18, 2007
9,262
3
76
Kusnierek said:
When was the last time you emptied your recycle bin, just out of curiosity?
Also, I thought 120GB would be enough for my OS and programs a couple years ago, but today I'm left wanting more.
Click to expand...

I keep the Recycle Bin empty, it's kind of my OCD. the reason I am thinking 120GB will be fine is I have been using the 150GB Raptor for years, and always have about 70-40GB free on it. I use my storage drives for pictures, movies, etc ...I do use my C: drive when I am doing encodes, or downloading something, but it gets moved once it's done. Also my price range is $100, at least I'd like to stay around there.
 
cantholdanymore

cantholdanymore

Senior member
Mar 20, 2011
447
0
76
I'm basically 50% on my 120Gb with win7 64, XP mode, Open Office,PS CS5 and few utilities. Actually I'm in the process of moving stuff I installed in a second HD back to the SSD.
 
J

JBT

Lifer
Nov 28, 2001
12,094
1
81
Missing space is probably in your page file and Hibernate files.

At any rate . I would go for 180GB or above. With SSD's typically the larger the drive the faster it is. This may not be true for Sandforce drives but it is typically for Marvell and Samsung's.
 
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S

StarTech

Senior member
Dec 22, 1999
859
14
81
Look for brands with good reputation. The 830 recommendation above is right on target.
 
ShintaiDK

ShintaiDK

Lifer
Apr 22, 2012
20,378
146
106
Crucial M4. And get a good size from the start. Like the 256GB.

Avoid SSDs with SandForce controllers at any cost.
 
xj0hnx

xj0hnx

Diamond Member
Dec 18, 2007
9,262
3
76
Problem with most, if not all, at least that I have found, SSD's that are over the 120GB is that they seem to quickly break away from my budget, even faster when you start talking about the top names, and larger capacities.

I've heard people complaining about SandForce controllers (as well as Marvell), what's the real issue? Who's the more consistent Marvell? JMicron? Samsung? Intel? My problem is that everything I have found in my budget is SandForce. My dads RevoDrive 3 is a SandForce, and it seems to be pretty well behaved.

These are the SSD's from the comparison in my first post ...

ADATA S510 OEM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820211588
Mushkin Enhanced Chronos - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820226236
ADATA S510 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820211569
OCZ Solid 3 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227729

Heavily leaning towards the Mushkin
 
S

StarTech

Senior member
Dec 22, 1999
859
14
81
I would keep an eye on newegg's specials. The 128GB 830 and Crucial are available periodically at very good prices.
 
Kusnierek

Kusnierek

Member
Jul 3, 2012
48
0
0
xj0hnx said:
Problem with most, if not all, at least that I have found, SSD's that are over the 120GB is that they seem to quickly break away from my budget, even faster when you start talking about the top names, and larger capacities.

I've heard people complaining about SandForce controllers (as well as Marvell), what's the real issue? Who's the more consistent Marvell? JMicron? Samsung? Intel? My problem is that everything I have found in my budget is SandForce. My dads RevoDrive 3 is a SandForce, and it seems to be pretty well behaved.

These are the SSD's from the comparison in my first post ...

ADATA S510 OEM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820211588
Mushkin Enhanced Chronos - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820226236
ADATA S510 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820211569
OCZ Solid 3 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227729

Heavily leaning towards the Mushkin
Click to expand...

Don't worry about it, Samsung, Sandforce, and Marvell controllers are all pretty good these days. Samsung uses their own controller and we all know Samsung drives are at the top. Sandforce controllers are widely used and recent firmware updates make it both speedy and stable. Marvell controllers are a less widely used competitor that used to be a bit buggy because it didn't have a good dedicated firmware team, but they've come a long way too. Companies like Plextor have their own firmware team and made custom firmware for their Marvell drives, and they rival anything Samsung or Intel have out. Micron/OCZ have a controller out that many Crucial drives also use. I'd recommend the Crucial drives, but take any OCZ drive under heavy consideration first.
 
Charlie98

Charlie98

Diamond Member
Nov 6, 2011
6,298
64
91
I have a 60GB Agility3 that's been in use since December, installed with the current firmware and it has given me few problems. I know OCZ gets a bad rap (deservedly so... I'm not arguing...) but it seems like they have a handle on the SF-2281 drives now. Having said that, I would consider another Agility3 but not a Vertex3... the V3's seem to have had more than their share of problems (and I don't know if that's because there are more V3's out there vs Agility3's or what.)

OCZ came out with the Agility- and Vertex4's recently, they are giving away the Agility3's now... I've seen the 240GB Agility3 on sale for around $150 or less. I made the stupid mistake of getting a 60GB drive thinking that would be plenty... WRONG! So now I'm in the market for a 256GB this time; don't make the mistake of getting too small of a drive, save your loot until you can get the size you think you need... and then go one size more up.
 
C

copeman

Member
Jul 6, 2012
28
0
66
Not trying to steal thread here.. but is it wise to put say, a game(I play WoW) on the SSD with your OS?
 
P

perdomot

Golden Member
Dec 7, 2004
1,390
0
76
From my research, the most important factor in choosing an ssd is how fast the random 4K reads are. I just replaced my Crucial C300 64GB ssd with the Samsung 830 and although my sequential reads/writes jumped considerably, my 4K reads dropped a little. This site has awesome recommendations for the best ssds: http://www.storagereview.com/best_drives
 
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