SSD for my new G73

Hi everyone

I am sure lots of people already asked this question many times, but I find the market of SSD's to be huge, and I am a bit confused. I would therefore like to ask if anyone could recommend a good SSD for the ASUS G73? I am going to use it as my system disk (win 7).

Thanks for all your help

 

Here's the one I'm saving up for
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5250507&CatId=4212

 

I currently have the one in my sig and love it...super fast and works well. I have Win7 and games only loaded on it.

 

Ahh yes, I have looked at the Intel X25-M also. Have there been any problems installing this disk and is there anything I should take into consideration when I install win 7 on this disk? (for the first time)

 

Make sure the MBR is properly created.

 

MBR? I am a bit lost

 

MBR = Master Boot Record

Some people have reported that when they attempted to install the OS on a newly formatted SSD, that Windows reported a missing mass storage driver. As it turned out, the drive didn't have a valid MBR. I'm mentioning this so that should you encounter the same issue, you know how to proceed. Click here for more information.

 

One thing of note when installing the OS on the SSD. I had to go into the BIOS and switch the option from ACHI to IDE save, then switch it back to ACHI and save again to get it to recognize when installing Win7. Don't ask me why, but I spent days trying to get it to work and that is all it took.

 

The Intel is still the overall best option. Make sure you get a G2 drive.

Assuming you are installing 7 you don't need to worry about anything special with the drive. Just make sure it's running the latest firmware before you install the OS.

 

and how can I know if I run the latest firmware if I install the OS on the disk from new?
I checked out a few of the intel disks and I can't seem to find anywhere it says something about "G2".
By the way, thanks for a lot for your help. I am sure it will help should I encounter any problems.

 

The 3 good controllers are Intel, Samsung, and Indilinx:

128GB Samsung:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Samsung-128GB-S...C_Drives_Storage_Internal&hash=item335c50f0a5
w/ 8% bing cashback:$202

Remember to run a secure erase and update the firmware for TRIM

 

So if I want to use a SSD, I need to install my system on a normal HDD and then run this secure erase and update the firmware on the SSD. Once this is complete I can reinstall the system on the SSD. Geez all this sure requires some extra sweat.

 

you don't need to install your system to a normal HDD first. Just install straight to the SSD.

 

No, you install directly to the SSD.

 

SSDs require a bit of re-education but also some re-introduction to concepts that have been around for as long as computer memory has been in existence.

I just recently purchased a SSD with my G73. I know from previous experience what to expect in terms of performance so didn't hesitate when making the choice. Obviously as this technology evolves I expect we will see prices drop and capacities increase and read/write times to decrease. For a good primer on SSDs I found this guide up on Toms Hardware to be insightful. http://www.tomsguide.com/us/ssd-value-performance,review-1455.html

What to consider most is the application where you want to leverage the SSD. You have a G73 so I can only guess what the application is... However I recently purchased a SSD for a business application that was based on MS SQL. Due to the nature of how traditional dB apps typically write to the drive (small transactions) it didn't play to the strengths of the SSD. Don't get me wrong performance was boosted but not as it might be with other applications.

Anyway my 2c

 

Here's what I wrote on installing an 80GB Intel X-25M in my G73.

Bootup time is now 15s. Also very noticeable difference when starting apps installed on SSD. Highly recommended!

 

Guys, when you install OS on SSD, make sure that partitions are properly aligned. You can read a bunch of info about it if you google "SSD partition alignment". If you don't do it right, then you might have "stuttering" problems.

If you install from a regular Windows Vista or 7 installation DVD, then partitions are aligned properly by default.

 

This is completely incorrect, please ignore it.

The part about Vista and 7 aligning correctly is true.

 

Which part is completely incorrect?

 

The part about alignment causing stuttering.

 

Ok, could be, but I remember reading in forums that some person had stuttering issue and the solution was to alight partitions, which fixed the issue.

 

No, the stuttering was caused by the jmicron controllers in the first gen of SSDs.

 

I see, thanks for the correction, betaflame.

 

Thanks a lot for that guide Ronin. Huuuuge help for a new SSD user like myself.

 

Be a fool and get two SSDs, like me. Haha.

 

My SSD said 03/2010 and did need a firmware update. Just goto the intel site and put in your model and it will have a link for downloads. One is the latest firmware (will need to download and install on a disk as .iso) have your PC boot to Disk drive to install the update. The other software is the Intel Toolbox.

Here is a link for you-


http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Sea...ve,+80GB+SATA+II+2.5in,+MLC,+High+Performance

 

Not to be confused with a Disc drive, since the G73 doesn't have a Disk drive.

 

Thanks for the correction Kalim.