128gb SSDs? what to look for

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BerniniCaCO3

New Member
Prices seem to be pretty varied. $200 to $400, I call a wide range!

Any models you recommend? I don't know enough, to know where I'm really getting my money's worth-- and where I'm just paying for brandnames.
Not looking for $400 models btw; mostly asking which $200 models are the best.
Also where to buy; might just look on ebay for used deals, if solid state drives are reliable and buying new w/ warranty isn't really necessary.

thanks!


Oh, and if it makes a difference, below is my setup:

Intel Core i7-920
ZALMAN CNPS9700 CPU Cooler
F3G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB)-10666CL7T-6GBPK
ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 LGA 1366
Asus Nvidia 9800GTX+ 512MB
Thermaltake case & power supply
 
Honestly the usual list is this.

Vertex 2 120GB
Intel x25-m 80GB
Agility 2 120GB
Crucial c300 128GB (SATA3)

Here is a benchmark on load times for STALKER. This is usually the same I see on all gaming benchmarks. C300 is usually always 3-4 seconds faster.
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/storage/2010/09/03/ocz-revodrive-review-120gb/7

If I had to choose I would go with Vertex 2 for space + speed and Intel 80GB for reliability. Far less issues been reported on Intel's drives then OCZs. Make sure to read the OCZ forums before you buy the drive so you know what to do when it gets to your door. I however am waiting till Feb for the Intel G3 drives. I prefer Intel for reliability + 160GB SSD for $200 area (hoping) is well worth the wait for me :)



*edit*
I forgot to mention another good drive is the G.SKILL Phoenix Pro Series I read has EXCELLENT firmware is the . Not sure if this true but it runs the same SF-1200 controller as the Agility and Vertex 2 so performance is the same.
 
ANY of those will have much faster load times than my current 7200 rpm hard disk, right?
I'm thinking Intel then. The speed will already be much improved: with my life on that disk, however, reliability will be important.

Forgive the ignorance: looking for the intel hard drive, some mentioned laptops... is it one and the same connection SATAII will fit in both laptops and desktops just fine, or do I need a different hard drive for a desktop?
 
Or should I just get a 10k hard disk, and wait until the G3 comes around, and is either excellent and cheap-- or at least makes the now-older G2s cheaper :-)?
 
BerniniCaCO3 said:
Or should I just get a 10k hard disk, and wait until the G3 comes around, and is either excellent and cheap-- or at least makes the now-older G2s cheaper :-)?
Click to expand...

10k drives aren't nearly as noticeably faster as SSDs are. I'd say go for the intel x-25 as Twist suggested.

The laptop part you are talking about is because all SSDs are a 2.5" form factor which generally is reserved for laptops. However, SSDs are made for both, the only problem is you will need a 3.5 to 2.5 conversion kit to mount it in your case. Like this: SilverStone SDP08 3.5" to 2 x 2.5" Bay Converter
 
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Yeah SSD will be faster then any HDD. The reason they are faster is seek times. Takes a HDD 8ms to access a file...takes SSD .1ms so its almost instant thus noticeable faster. However if all you care about is read/write then RAID0 4HDD is cheaper. Most want the SSD for silence + the seek times though.

However your issue with 2.5 is solved with this copy.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...7031&cm_re=Intel_x25-m-_-20-167-031-_-Product

Comes with 2.5 to 3.5 bracket. I myself plan to use Velcro sticky tape and put mine on the side of my Antec 900 side.
 
Sounds good. I think I can fit windows 7 and my couple favourite games on 80gb just fine; still have the 320 gb conventional hard drive for photos.
 
Thanks!

Oh: what's the difference between read/write, and seek...?
I get something as basic as saving, say, a movie; and then reading it again to play it back.
Where does seeking out the file in the first place come in?
And if I have my OS and my game on the hard drive, seek times will still make a difference versus 4 hard drives in an array?
 
BerniniCaCO3 said:
Where does seeking out the file in the first place come in?
Click to expand...
Well with mechanical drives its on a spinning platter with a reader head. When you click Firefox for example it will have to physically move aka seek to the platter to access that information. A SSD however has no moving parts so seek/access times are much faster because the information is accessed immediately. Most HDD are 4.1ms to 5.1ms and most SSD are .1ms see the difference :P Plus other things come into play like 4kb writes and things like that.

BerniniCaCO3 said:
And if I have my OS and my game on the hard drive, seek times will still make a difference versus 4 hard drives in an array?
Click to expand...
Well unless all you want is read/write then they will still be slower in random access to SSD because they still have a slower delay then SSD do. Its the downside to moving parts.


Another good read is here
http://www.notebookcheck.net/SSD-versus-HDD-in-comparison.18750.0.html
 
How dangerous is it to buy used?
Specifically: the intel, off ebay; if the seller doesn't have a receipt for the 3 year warranty?
If it should break, does intel have a record of the model number, to still service it?

My own experience is more in tools... highly used cordless drills are worthless, the battery costs more than the tool; air tools vary, but many literally bite the dust, like die grinders.. while table saws can last a good 40 years, and hand chisels could be 100yrs old and be just fine.

Solid state drives: I don't know.
Is it one of those things you're better off buying new from a dealer, because the warranty can save your ass?
Or do they last forever, pretty much never break, you'll never need a warranty?
 
even if they have a record, there's still the ? of transferability.
Personally, i'd get new w/warranty. ya never know what a used ones been thru, even if it works. and if it doesent, you could spend more time $ money than the new costs.
 
I never buy used SSD or HDD for the simple fact the manufacturer wont honor the warranty and HDD are the HIGHEST fail rate of all computer parts if I remember. SSD wont be the same as no moving parts to damage.

Also make sure if you DO Ebay that the pruduct # has G2. You do not want to buy a G1 drive (has no trim very important for drive speed/health)
Example
SSDSA1MH080G201
SSDSA2MH160G2
SSDSA2MH160G1

There shouldn't be any difference...for example wont see a SSDSAG2H160G1.


Here is a Intel pdf that breaks down on page 2-3 the break down of the above product codes. 100% safe and from Intel's site.
http://download.intel.com/support/ssdc/hpssd/x25m/sb/x18mx25msatassdproductmanual34nm322296.pdf
 
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