SSD for M11xR2

Currently I am looking for an upgrade from HDD to SSD for my laptop. After doing a bit of a research i found out that is a pretty hard choice.
As R2 only fully supports SATA 2, there is no real point of getting SATA 3 SSD. My price point is around $200 and I need SSD with capacity around 120gb.

So I came up with few alternatives, taking into account Ebay prices and availability:

• OCZ Vertex 2 - 120GB (some nice deals, but I am sort of discouraged by people saying "don't buy anything with sandforce lately, too many faults")
• Crucial M4 - 120GB (highest price, SATA 3)
• Intel X25-M G2 - 160GB (great price and capacity, but seems quite old 34nm SSD, not sure if it's still fine)

So, what would go better with R2? Did anyone had any experience with SSDs listed above? How does an "old" gen2 intel holds against newer competitors? Any info and advice on what to put into my trusty R2 is appreciated. It would be even better to hear it from people who already have an SSD in their R1\R2.

 

Out of those three Intel is the winner, great stability and price.
Also you're right about the fact that is pointless to put a SATA III drive in there but also any SSD, even first gen. will be faster than any magnetic HDD out there, so you can't go wrong.

 

Where do you get 160 Gb SSD for less than 200$ ?

 

I've got the 120GB Intel X-25M and absolutely love it. Like you said, it probably wouldn't be worth getting a SATA III SSD for your R2 and the Intel is about one of the most highly regarded 'older gen' SSDs out there. I've never had a problem with mine and can whole heartedly recommend the upgrade.

Believe me, once you've gone SSD, there is no way back to a HDD!

 

I totally agree with Rypac and Katalyn 2003, it works splendid and makes the machine very desirable (and fast, see my signature)

 

Just a brief update.

After some time, I've managed to get a pretty good Ebay deal on Intel 320 160GB SSD (around $210 IIRC). A bit used, around 20 power on counts and 250 GB of total write (which is really nothing).
Had no problem installing it or whatsoever, decided to reinstall windows though (actually a good thing, used a version with sp1 integrated). After windows install and games backup install still have plenty of free space left (around 70 GB).

Laptop literally works like a charm, everything boots flawlessly starting from windows and all programs in startup (OMG IT CAN BOOT THAT FAST) and ending with annoying loading system in BF3 (now I completely finish loading @ 26 sec before round start; with HDD it was like 40+ seconds in game already).
I also got rid of a small HDD vibration, which i really didn't notice before it was gone. Temps around HDD\Memory area got lower as well, that's for sure.
And it just seems that I got a little better battery life, but that may be placebo.

So yeah, no way back to HDD, definitely.

 

Yeah, same here, never want to go back to the old and sloooowowwwwoww mechanical drives. have fun with it!

 

I just bought OCZ Vertex 2 - 120GB LE for 120$ and will you think it is fine? ><
what should i do i didn't know it isn't reliable. may be i can cancel my order. What is wrong with this OCZ Vertex2 Limited Edition?
I am curious now.

 

I don't live in USA or European country with good service centers, so any kind of warranty replacement for me would be quite problematic.
But if it was any country where warranty replacement would be not that hard - I'd give a shot with OCZ, as $120 for 120 GB seem pretty good deal for me.

 

Ok thank! but what are the bad thing for OCZ then? Why people in this forum dont like it?

 

No idea, but OCZ are fine, especially the SATA2 Vertex 2 and 2E. The newer SATA3 Vertex 3 did have some problems where firmware issues would cause BSODs and potentially brick the SSD, but the 2s are fine.

Personally, I have a 2E in a machine and not had any problems at all, but for SATA3 I'd get a Crucial M4.

 

Ok thank you!