256 GB SSDs - Crucial M4, Samsung 830, or Intel 510?

I've been thinking about getting something bigger than my X-25M 80 GB for a while now, but I'm still undecided on which drive to get. It doesn't seem like the next generation of drives is gonna be here anytime soon either so I figure now's as good a time as any for an upgrade.

One thing I should probably mention: The 830 is still very rare here and the few places that carry it charge almost as much as they do for a 510.

 

I got my 128gb 830 from Newegg for $199. It came with a free copy of Batman Arkham City (which I've been playing for the past 2 days non-stop). I also installed Samsung's software that came with it and it is actually a very nice piece of software. It will give you options to disable certain elements of Windows 7 in order for optimal SSD performance. The software also makes it very easy to update the Firmware. Simply click "Firmware update' and it does the work for you. In the end, you can't go wrong with Intel or Samsung. I'm just partial to Samsung since I am a fan of almost every product they make. Plus my step-father heads their insurance division.

 

I'm actually against Crucial, I vote for Samsung or Intel.

The LPM issues were still never fixed with the supposed firmware, and I just didn't like the fact that I had to change the registry to get it working.

 

Samsung hands down. Even more than Intel, Samsung ssd's are truly reliable and from what I've seen the 830 performs very well in real world tests.

 

Another vote for Samsung.

 

Although I have the Samsung 470 Series SATAII 128GB SSD and not the newer, faster, SATAIII 830, my vote goes towards Samsung. They produce all the hardware and software in house and the quality is top notch! Intel seems to be good too but personally I do not have any experience with them. Before I got my 470, I was almost going to purchase an Intel 510 but didn't because of the price. I had no doubt in the quality of the Intel SSD, except for the firmware bug the 320 had back then. That kind of sealed the deal with Samsung. Either Samsung or Intel SSDs would be a great upgrade to ANY computer.

I have had BSODs while using this SSD (3 that I can remember) but never lost my data and I can't say it was due to the SSD and not some other hardware interaction. Even with that information, my vote is still for Samsung. Nothing is perfect, but even with a few hicups here and there, i wouldn't want it any other way. They really have produced a reliable, high performance, consumer SSD at a price which is getting better and better as time goes on.

 

I'd say the Samsung as I have seen slight issues with the 510...though to be honest it's a Marvell controller..

 

510 is an unremarkable drive. It's only strength is sequential performance. Very few applications require that.

 

In that case, I suppose I'll have to wait a while longer then because Tigerdirect is the only place that has the Samsung 830 in stock and they want $480...

 

Not true, unless Newegg sold out in the last 6 hours, I bought mine for 399.99 with free 3 day shipping.

-Npc1978

 

Completely true if you live in a place called Canada. The 830 is almost impossible to find in Canada, so far Tigerdirect is the only e-tailer i've seen carry the drive, memory express, newegg.ca, NCIX do not carry it.

 

Peon must be in Canada.

 

You guys are correct.

I briefly considered having it shipped from the States, but shipping, customs, taxes, and brokerage fees costs about $100 in total, immediately negating any savings.

 

Get it from B&H, first class company and they only charge $9.73 shipping to Canada including customs, etc. It's also the lowest price for the laptop version in the US.

Samsung 256GB 830 Series SSD with Internal MZ-7PC256N/AM B&H

 

SubTotal: $379.00
Customs Clearance : $58.28
Shipping: $9.73
Order Total: $447.01

Admittedly, they're still the cheapest (cheaper than TigerDirect, too), but sheesh.

 

OT, but a quick follow up... It seems that since [FW] 0002 for the M4, *most* of the freezes that ppl were modifying the registry for LPM values have been addressed by 0002, and continue into 0309. A perusal through the Crucial forums show that most people's problems were addressed by 0002, and I didn't run across any new issues related to this problem. Seems there is also a lot of Mac Book Pro users jumping on this drive as well.

Is the LPM reg fix required for M4 0309? - Crucial Community

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sol...wners-did-firmware-2-solve-lpm-issue-you.html

 

something much cheaper: OCZ Vertex Plus 240GB 2.5IN SATA2 Indilinx Solid State Disk Flash Drive SSD - OCZ Technology - OCZSSD2-1VTXPL240G

 

I usually don't like to post w/ out looking at something, but, assuming this OCZ is driven by a SandForce controller, then there's good reason it is much cheaper.

 

You know the saying about what happens when you assume. That drive uses an Indilinx controller, not Sandforce. Still doesn't mean I'd touch it with a 10' pole, though.

 

I thought Indlinx bought Sandforce. Controller is the same...just the name has changed

LSI buys SandForce for $322 million - The Tech Report

Maximum PC | OCZ to Acquire Indilinx, What Does This Mean for SandForce?

 

Better double check those links - OCZ bought Indilinx. LSI is a completely different company.

 

Hah! In the back of my mind, I knew it as soon as I typed it that something like that come up and bite me!! I guess that is why I prefaced the post. Thanks for the correction.

 

Stay away from the M4 256GB and the M4 512GB as these models are known to have higher failure rates according to statistics.

Samsung 830 gets my vote as the Samsung 470 has been proved to be reliable.

 

Another vote for the Samsung 830.

 

I've seen nothing of the like in regards to failures for the M4. Can you provide a link or proof of those stats?

 

Samsung 830 +1

 

Err folks, this thread is old. I made my choice 2 weeks ago.

I'm going with the Corsair Performance Pro for the time being. It's a much faster drive for the same price as the Samsung 830. It's also available from a local brick and mortar store so I don't have to pay for shipping or customs.

So far I'm happy with it, but I still have another 2 weeks to return it should a problem crop up. I doubt there will be any, given that it's a Marvell controller drive.