The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Alieware 128 Gb SSD Drive

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by neronero, Dec 21, 2009.

  1. neronero

    neronero Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    31
    Messages:
    75
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Does anybody know what make or the specs of the 128 Gb SSD hard drive option for $250. extra from the 250Gb 7500 RPM ?
    the price I got it's from the Canadian site, I could change my order but I can't find any specs or make of that 128 Gb SSD, I'm thinking to get the Intel extrime 32 Gb I know it's got great specs
     
    neronero, Dec 21, 2009
    #1
  2. Mandrake

    Mandrake Notebook Nobel Laureate NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    4,976
    Messages:
    12,675
    Likes Received:
    65
    Trophy Points:
    466
    Don't know the model number but it's a Samsung drive with the Samsung RBB controller. LINK for more info.
     
    Mandrake, Dec 21, 2009
    #2
  3. neronero

    neronero Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    31
    Messages:
    75
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    neronero, Dec 21, 2009
    #3
  4. Mandrake

    Mandrake Notebook Nobel Laureate NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    4,976
    Messages:
    12,675
    Likes Received:
    65
    Trophy Points:
    466
    Yeah I'd buy an Intel or Indilix based SSD before the Samsung SSDs.
     
    Mandrake, Dec 21, 2009
    #4
  5. neronero

    neronero Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    31
    Messages:
    75
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Yes but if those specs are correct write at 200 /mb per second it's just as good as intel extrime and cheaper by lot!
     
    neronero, Dec 21, 2009
    #5
  6. SagerMeister

    SagerMeister Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    41
    Messages:
    108
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Maybe in the short term. The problem with the Samsungs and their older firmware is that they can't be end-user flashed to support such maintenance routines as TRIM or GC (Intel and Indilix based drives support these). Over time your throughput will degrade significantly, and that much faster if your usage profile involves lots of hard drive write activity.

    So, yes the price looks good on the surface, but the other drives cost more for a reason.
     
    SagerMeister, Dec 21, 2009
    #6
  7. neronero

    neronero Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    31
    Messages:
    75
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Thanks I been pot on hold at technical support with dell I'm going to ask them about this hard drive and I'll post
     
    neronero, Dec 21, 2009
    #7
  8. neronero

    neronero Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    31
    Messages:
    75
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Will I was told that It's NOT a Samsung SSD it is a DELL and the R/W speed
    150Mb/s ?????? also they didn't know about the end-user flashed support
    I don't thank it can be flashed upgradeable.
    So I'm going to stay with Intel Extreme even so I have to pay here $450.00 for just a 32 gb :)
     
    neronero, Dec 21, 2009
    #8
  9. SagerMeister

    SagerMeister Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    41
    Messages:
    108
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I don't think Dell makes their own SSDs (someone in the know please correct me if I'm wrong). It's probably a re-badged Samsung, regardless of what the person on the phone said. I think it's smart to stick with the Intel.

    The depressing part is that prices of NAND flash chips appear to be heading up. I've been trying to hold out for an OCZ Vertex 250gb SSD for < $550, but doesn't look like that's happening anytime soon.
     
    SagerMeister, Dec 21, 2009
    #9
  10. Mandrake

    Mandrake Notebook Nobel Laureate NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    4,976
    Messages:
    12,675
    Likes Received:
    65
    Trophy Points:
    466
    The drive is Samsung but flashed with a firmware by Dell.
     
    Mandrake, Dec 21, 2009
    #10
  11. AlienContact

    AlienContact Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    6
    Messages:
    368
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Intel's SSD's are totally over priced!!! for the extreme edition...you pay too much per GB...and for what...like a 2-5 second response time difference! on most apps! That samsung drive should do you fine...
     
    AlienContact, Dec 22, 2009
    #11
  12. 5150Joker

    5150Joker Tech|Inferno

    Reputations:
    4,974
    Messages:
    7,036
    Likes Received:
    113
    Trophy Points:
    231
    As long as we can flash TRIM support on the Samsung drive (I'll be attempting it in a few mins), there's no reason to get an expensive Intel solution since the performance difference is negligible. The indilinx are a better deal but only if you're buying at the retail level. Getting the SSD from Dell is cheaper and under your system's warranty.
     
    5150Joker, Dec 22, 2009
    #12
  13. neronero

    neronero Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    31
    Messages:
    75
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    What I'm afraid of it's like what SagerMeister posted that I think it;s true
    The problem with the Samsungs and their older firmware is that they can't be end-user flashed to support such maintenance routines as TRIM or GC (Intel and Indilix based drives support these)
     
    neronero, Dec 22, 2009
    #13
  14. 5150Joker

    5150Joker Tech|Inferno

    Reputations:
    4,974
    Messages:
    7,036
    Likes Received:
    113
    Trophy Points:
    231
    Not true. Samsung firmware can now be updated using the Mushkin flasher + OCZ TRIM firmware file! I just flashed my drive a few minutes ago and am in the process of reinstalling the O/S:

    [​IMG]

    There's no need for anyone to buy an Indilinx or Intel drive if you are configuring a new system from Dell. Just flash the SSD and you will have TRIM support.
     
    5150Joker, Dec 22, 2009
    #14
  15. neronero

    neronero Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    31
    Messages:
    75
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Thank you that's good to know!!
     
    neronero, Dec 22, 2009
    #15
  16. 5150Joker

    5150Joker Tech|Inferno

    Reputations:
    4,974
    Messages:
    7,036
    Likes Received:
    113
    Trophy Points:
    231
    I should have added that the drive cannot be flashed using a Dell notebook. You have to take the drive out and use a compatible desktop system.
     
    5150Joker, Dec 22, 2009
    #16
  17. neronero

    neronero Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    31
    Messages:
    75
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    The computer that I'll be getting it's an M17x and I don't have a desktop system I never have
     
    neronero, Dec 22, 2009
    #17
  18. SagerMeister

    SagerMeister Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    41
    Messages:
    108
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Yes, what Joker is posting is true, and I believe the ability to flash these drives just came available in the past few days. The procedure is a bit convoluted, but if you have access to a desktop w/the right interface(s), it should work.

    I'm surprised it took this long to come up with a real flashing solution, but better late than never. The manual "Tony TRIM" workaround was a decent proxy for those SSDs lacking real TRIM support.
     
    SagerMeister, Dec 22, 2009
    #18
  19. snakeye408

    snakeye408 Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    90
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    is there a guide for this?? :D
     
    snakeye408, Dec 23, 2009
    #19
  20. desu

    desu Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    139
    Messages:
    341
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    why can't a laptop be used and whats so special about a desktop motherboard
     
    desu, Dec 24, 2009
    #20
  21. neronero

    neronero Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    31
    Messages:
    75
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    You got that right! there is nothing that you can't do that you can do with a desktop, beside I'm not going to pull our an hard drive every time that I want to flush it !! that's a joke :)
     
    neronero, Dec 25, 2009
    #21
  22. fr0x

    fr0x Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    161
    Messages:
    152
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    So, the 128 Gb sells by Dell with the M15x or M17x it's a Samsung PM800/PB22-J, right ?
     
    fr0x, Jan 14, 2010
    #22