Few questions about Memory and SSD on R3

I am going to get my R3 next week or later, I am just wondering to upgrade the RAM and add a SSD.

For the RAM, I have a 2670 CPU, am I able to upgrade to the HyperX 1600?
For the SSD, I am deciding between a intel 510 120G and a M4 256G. Which on of these is better? Or any other good SSD's to recommend? No more than 350 bucks.

Thank you for your helps!

 

1) The RAM will work fine.
2) Can't be answered, they are just diffrent. Obviously one is double the size, for everything else (like speed, access time, price) im to lazy to look it up.

 

Yes, you can upgrade to HyperX 1600. The Plug 'n Play version is most convenient. Amazon.com: Kingston HyperX Plug n Play 8 GB Kit (2x4GB Modules) 1600MHz DDR3 SODIMM Notebook/Netbook Memory 8 Dual Channel Kit (PC3 12800) 204-Pin KHX1600C9S3P1K2/8G: Electronics.

Both of your prospective SSD's are fine, but based on size alone, I would recommend the 256GB M4. I have that SSD installed in my R3, and it has been flawless for 7-8 months. Intel has recently released the 520, which uses the Sandforce controller and is fast, but expensive. Intel SSD 520 Review: Taking Back The High-End With SandForce: Intel?s SSD 520: Enthusiast Storage By SandForce?; AnandTech - Intel SSD 520 Review: Cherryville Brings Reliability to SandForce. Tom's Hardware recently conducted tests which illustrate that the difference between SSD's in practical application is much less than might be assumed if focused only on benchmarking results. Upgrade Advice: Does Your Fast SSD Really Need SATA 6Gb/s? : Should You Feel Bad That Your Board Only Supports SATA 3Gb/s?. The fact is that you will be delighted with any of the higher end SSD's.

 

The Intel is a more reliable and higher quality drive with a 5 year warranty, hence the increased price.

I would recommend a Samsung PM830, you should be able to get a 256 for around $350-$400 and Samsung are number 2 in quality and reliability behind Intel.

The M4 is used by a lot of people, so it is a perfectly fine drive, but I wouldn't say it is extraordinary.

 

For an ssd, I would recommend getting a corsair force 3 or force gt. I bought a force gt 180gb for around 220, and im getting the advertised 555mb read 515 write in ATTO. It was fairly cheap for what is is.

 

Right the only reason I consider an Intel SSD is everyone is saying it is high quality and good warranty. However, if the M4 or the Samsung are not so far behind intel about the quality, I may go with M4 or Samsung for a lager capacity.

 

The Corsair Force series are SandForce based. The BSOD issues have been resolved recently which is good but the incompressible performance is somewhat lacking when compared to the other drives mentioned in this thread.

I have another drive to offer to the table: The Corsair Performance Pro. It uses the same controller as the M4 or 510 but it has much better performance. It is blistering quick. I recently swapped from the Patriot Wildfire mainly due to size. The Wildfire is a very quick SSD much like the Force series however in terms of incompressible performance, the Performance Pro is king.

 

I took a look at the pro, it looks great, I am wondering that how about its quality? Does it come with a very decent warranty? (Also not cheap...over $400)

 

Don't know about the pro because widezu is the only person i know who has one, but the Corsair force is slow. Don't be fooled by sequential read and write numbers cause most of the time you aren't doing work in a sequential manner.

Zijungao, your gut was the intel 510 and the crucial M4. I'd stick with those two...more specifically, get the M4. I don't think that the 510 is superior so i wouldn't spend the extra on it. Everyone likes to say the intel 510 is more realiable. My take on it is that these drives haven't been out long enough to really know if one is more realiable than the other. If someone can show me proof that the 510 is more realiable than the M4, please do so...until then, my m4 has been rock solid for the last 5 months and that is what i would go with again if i had to buy another

 

Thank for all you guys, I think I will go with M4 or a Samsung 810 if I find a cheaper one.
Also, I forgot to order the Killer Wifi...is the centrino 1000 really sucks? If so, is the wifi card easy to replace? (like the RAM or HDD?)

 

All SSDs seem to be great honestly. Never really hear any complaints from top brands

I have samsung 830 SSD 128gb 200$ and comes with batman arkham city game (not big reason to buy SSD but its fun and free) Also includes transfer cable, norton ghost, and a drive utility program

I vote you go with samsung SSD

I also agree with Revelator about the memory. Excellent suggestion and upgrade

 

Keep in mind the Samsung 810 is half the speed of the 830.

 

Yep...Think I will go with the samsung 830 256G finally. Also 8G hyperX. Anybody here know how to flash the BIOS into A08? I didn't find any post according to that.

 

Just download it here: http://www.dell.com/support/drivers...Formats?DriverId=J0TK5&FileId=2731102986#2Win. Then double click on the downloaded file and go. Easiest BIOS flash/update ever.

 

good choice! I would have picked that one over M4 if it was available at the time.

 

Thanks man, I will do it as soon as I got my R3, the SSD should go to the bay in the middle right?

 

Yes...

but if you are on bios A09, it won't matter because A09 drops your sata speeds to sata2.

However, if you install bios A08, the middle hard drive caddy will allow you to maintain sata 3 speeds