Which SSD for my impending netbook purchase?

PrinceXizor

Platinum Member
Oct 4, 2002
2,188
99
91
First off, thanks to Zap for an awesome series on SSD's! I feel like I have a much better grasp of what's going on with SSD's now. (And I'd hate to be mocked by Zap!)

So, I'm going to buy a cheap netbook (UPDATE: subnotebook with i3 and W7 Prem) and stuff in an SSD and some extra RAM and go to town. Problem is, what SSD to buy?

1. Cheap is good :)
2. If, for some reason, this doesn't work out I'd like to stick it in my aging rig which runs XP. So that pretty much narrows to Intel SSD's and a few others.
3. What size do I need to run everything off of it? I am not a high storage guy. For reference, I bought an 80GB HD in 2002 when I built my current system and it currently has 55GB used. So, I would assume that I could make do with 64GB if Win7 doesn't consume too much. Is this a safe assumption?
4. I'm not sure who runs the best deals on SSD's to begin looking. I will most likely buy the netbook and keep my eye out for a good deal on the SSD. Newegg, Amazon, other?

Thanks in advance!

P-X
 
Last edited:

boomhower

Diamond Member
Sep 13, 2007
7,228
19
81
A 64GB will work on W7, that's what I have in my HTPC. Keep an eye on slickdeals for sales.
 

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
7
81
Keep an eye out for deals. There was a recent deal on a 90GB SSD for $55 after rebate. Bigger is always better because it really sucks to run out of storage, though you might be able to get by with a cheap SD card in a pinch to purely store data.

And I don't mock people... at least those that don't deserve it. :twisted:
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
24,165
1,809
126
What do you mean by cheap netbook? I went looking for cheap netbooks and found the single-core Atom machines unusable. The same goes for those tiny keyboards. I also didn't like Windows 7 Starter at all.

In the end I bought a dual-core Intel-but-non-Atom 11.6" laptop with Windows 7 Home premium and full sized keyboard.

If you go for something like I bought, I'd say 80 GB minimum, 120 GB preferred. I have 90 GB in mine. 64 GB is just a little too cramped for my tastes.
 

PrinceXizor

Platinum Member
Oct 4, 2002
2,188
99
91
You're right. Its not a netbook. Its a subnotebook quite similar to what you spec'd. The $290 deal from newegg with i3 and W7 Prem.

I will keep my eye out for an SSD deal on slickdeals. What's a good sale price for a 128GB SSD? I realize prices are really fluctuating (down) right now and I don't want to get suckered on a bad "deal".

P-X
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
24,165
1,809
126
Well, locally the 120 GB OCZ Agility 3 went on sale for CAD$55... but I ended up spending exactly twice as much ($110) to get an Intel 330. I just couldn't get myself to buy an OCZ, even though the two drives share the same SF-2281 controller.
 

facetime

Member
Jun 15, 2011
181
0
0
128GB SSDs are dirt cheap, there is no reason to buy 60GB anymore.

There are some current Excellent Deals on SSD Here.
 

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
7
81
Well, locally the 120 GB OCZ Agility 3 went on sale for CAD$55... but I ended up spending exactly twice as much ($110) to get an Intel 330. I just couldn't get myself to buy an OCZ, even though the two drives share the same SF-2281 controller.

I wouldn't pay twice as much for essentially the same drive. If I wanted to avoid OCZ, I would have just waited for another brand to go on sale.