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    Alienware 17 and SSD

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by EasyMode615, Jul 10, 2013.

  1. EasyMode615

    EasyMode615 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I just bought an alienware 17 but came with base 720GB HDD

    Any advice for to which SSD model/brand? $100-300 is budget


    SHould I also go for an mSSD? Is it worth it? ( I know I can use it as storage drive, but would it be worth it for caching?)


    Read that Raid setup won't provide the best setup for 2+ SSDs
     
    EasyMode615, Jul 10, 2013
    #1
  2. J.Dre

    J.Dre Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Get an SSD! Samsung 840/840 Pro, or the Crucial M500. Check them out.
     
    J.Dre, Jul 10, 2013
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  3. sjgore

    sjgore Notebook Geek

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    Another vote here for the Samsung 840 Pro. The Intel 520 isn't quite as fast, but is incredibly reliable. Both use encryption.
     
    sjgore, Jul 10, 2013
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  4. EasyMode615

    EasyMode615 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'm looking at the Samsung 840Pro.

    I was wondering because of the 700GB 7200RPM drive, would it be worth getting an mSata for the purpose of caching? Is it even worth setting up caching even if I just add the single SSD?
     
    EasyMode615, Jul 10, 2013
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  5. sjgore

    sjgore Notebook Geek

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    IMHO, you're better just going for a proper SSD. mSATA caching does provide genuine benefits, but they're limited and a bit of a gimmick overall.
     
    sjgore, Jul 10, 2013
    #5
  6. ahappypie

    ahappypie Notebook Enthusiast

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    I just got a Corsair Neutron for my A17 (which showed up quite unexpectedly) and I'm actually having a bit of trouble with the caching drive. The 750 + 64 setup doesn't show up in my SSD boot, and the SSD doesn't show up in the HDD boot. I'm hoping that a recovery implant will fix this issue.
     
    ahappypie, Jul 10, 2013
    #6
  7. mmolteratx

    mmolteratx Notebook Consultant

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    Yea, with a budget of $300, a 256GB 840 Pro would be my choice at the moment. I've got a few of them in my various rigs/stuff I've set up for family and they're great. Stupid fast, and haven't had any problems with them in the 8-9 months or so I've been using them.
     
    mmolteratx, Jul 10, 2013
    #7
  8. widezu69

    widezu69 Goodbye Alienware

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    The 840 Pro is certainly best for a budget of $300. The Crucial M500 is also worth considering but only with capacities 480GB and up, with the smaller models, you might as well get the 840 Pro.
     
    widezu69, Jul 10, 2013
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  9. TR2N

    TR2N Notebook Deity

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    TR2N, Jul 10, 2013
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  10. MogRules

    MogRules Notebook Deity

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    Been using an OCZ Vertex 128gb SSD for a year now and it has been flawless and fast as lightning.
     
    MogRules, Jul 12, 2013
    #10
  11. EasyMode615

    EasyMode615 Notebook Enthusiast

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    EasyMode615, Jul 12, 2013
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  12. sonies

    sonies Notebook Guru

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    On cyber monday last year i got 2x Intel 330 series 240 gig SSD's for 280 bucks total shipped, was an awesome deal at the time, and still looks like a deal today!
     
    sonies, Jul 12, 2013
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  13. Serephucus

    Serephucus Notebook Deity

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    I'd go with the 840. If you can stretch to $340, you could pick up a 500GB version. Yes, the Pro is faster in benchmarks, but really, you're not going to notice. My 830 was running off a SATA2 port for months (was very late when I finished putting my rig together. ;)) and I didn't notice until I ran a benchmark.

    With SSDs, as long as you're not doing anything crazy-specific and need absolute bleeding edge (99% of people don't, lots like to think they do) then capacity is what to shoot for, just as long as you pick a reliable drive.
     
    Serephucus, Jul 12, 2013
    #13
  14. shinji257

    shinji257 Notebook Deity

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    I'll drop my vote in for the OCZ Vertex 4 256GB model. Amazingly fast drive.
     
    shinji257, Jul 13, 2013
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  15. ObserverJLin

    ObserverJLin Notebook Evangelist

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    Don't go for mSata. Samsung 840 Pro @ 256GB is the best option in terms of both reliability and performance.
     
    ObserverJLin, Jul 13, 2013
    #15
  16. steviejones133

    steviejones133 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Another SSD well worth considering would be the SanDisk Extreme II 240gb. It's had some great reviews, and is nicely priced, which could leave you with enough money in your budget to grab a 32gb mSata to cache your 750gb HDD.

    SanDisk Extreme II SSD 240GB Review > Final Thoughts - TechSpot

    AnandTech | SanDisk Extreme II Review (480GB, 240GB, 120GB)

    SANDISK EXTREME II SSD REVIEW (240GB) – SANDISK FINDS THAT SWEET SPOT AND HITS A HOME RUN


    Also, maybe look at the OCZ Vertex 450, as mentioned in the above links.
     
    steviejones133, Jul 14, 2013
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  17. J.Dre

    J.Dre Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    The Crucial M500 may be a better choice for those seeking savings and performance.
     
    J.Dre, Jul 14, 2013
    #17
  18. Serephucus

    Serephucus Notebook Deity

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    Hm, you guys get the M500s quite a bit cheaper. They're still quite a bit more expensive in Europe when compared to similar drives. I'd still go for the 840 though. It's $20 cheaper, and you get an extra 20GB of storage too. It's certainly an option to consider though.
     
    Serephucus, Jul 14, 2013
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  19. shinob!

    shinob! Notebook Consultant

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    840 Pro user here,very stable & fast,highly recommended :)
     
    shinob!, Jul 16, 2013
    #19
  20. ikisat

    ikisat Notebook Geek

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    I'd go with the Samsung 830 it's a lot cheaper. You can always buy used SSD since it's easy to verify their exact usage.
     
    ikisat, Jul 16, 2013
    #20