Best bang for buck SSD

About to purchase an SSD for my DV6, now I've been looking at the corsair force series 3 120GB and the OCZ vertex 3 120gb.

I think my computer is sata 2.

Let me know your recommendations as I want to purchase it asap.

 

according to staticice.com.au you'd be best off with crucial m4, as it's some 10% cheaper than vertex3 and force gt 120gb.

Force3 is cheaper, but in general significantly slower than all those drives because of memory it uses.

Also, sandforce drives aren't very popular because of many issues they had with bad firmware (should be solved with latest versions) and all a round controller dying.

 

Cheaper? They range from 185+, is that the one you were looking at?
Corsair Force Series 3 120GB SSD [CSSD-F120GB3-BK] - $165.00 : PC Case Gear FORCE 3

OCZ Vertex 3 120GB SSD [OCZ-VTX3-25SAT3-120] - $199.00 : PC Case Gear VERTEX 3

..

AND: Crucial M4 SSD 128GB [CT128M4SSD2] - $195.00 : PC Case Gear CRUCIAL M4

Still a good price. Go with that you reckon?

 

Crucial M4 all the way mate ! Firmware update increased its performance by 10%!!

 

ok, if you're buying at pcgear, than my choice would be either

force GT 120gb (same as vertex3, but cheaper at that store) or

m4 128gb

Force3 uses same controller as ForceGT, but is cheaper because it uses much slower memory than these two.

Do research a little bit about sandforce controler and it's problems.

I recommended m4 because it's very fast no matter what kind of data you read/write and on that page I mentioned was shown as 180aud. Also it's very reliable bar that firmware bug it had that was resolved very quickly.

And if you're looking for absolute reliability,go with intel 320 120gb, it's price really surprised me as it's more expensive than vertex3 here

 

Oops didn't see you posted that, if its the same price why not go for that? Whats the difference between the 320 and the 520 series?

 

New Intel 160gb off ebay for $160-180.

 

So should I get this?

Intel 520 Series 120GB SSD [SSDSC2CW120A3K5] - $209.00 : PC Case Gear

 

No. If your limited to SATA2 just get an Intel 320 they can be found for around a $1/GB

 

The benchmarks people have posted here of the Intel 520 120gb are pathetic. seems it's only worth it 180gb and up.

For an everyday drive you're not going to notice any difference with any ssd past the X25-M. Maybe if you do sequential intensive things like video editing or just install and uninstall programs all day long, but otherwise just pick an X25-M or 320 and be happy. Especially with SATA II.

 

It's a SandForce drive that just came out this year. I'd wait a few months -- early reports lead me to believe that it may suffer the same F4/F7 BSOD issue that plaques every other SF-2281 product in the market.

 

Thanks for the heads up, so bite the bullet on the Intel 320 120GB over the crucial m4? Is this the more reliable drive? Cheers guys

 

They are comparable actually. Marvell controller (from m4) proved to be very reliable except there was a small issue in m4's firmware, that was patched almost immediately via very easy to do firmware update.
But that's possible with every ssd as they've way more complicated firmwares than hdds, and today, all are easily upgradeable.

c300 and m4 are at the very top of reliability chart. Have a look at this, that's how many drives went bad in a period (and comparison from previous period), Crucials score would be even better if m225 drive wasn't in it, as it was somewhat buggy. In a mont or so there will be a new chart, and I can't wait to see how Crucial fares than, as it will only be represented by marvell based drives

main thing is, both have controllers that almost never die without reason compared to sandforces.

I personally wanted to buy x25-m and later 320 drive for a very long time, but they were too expensive for me.

Finally i bite the bullet for m4 as it was significantly cheaper than 320 and almost immediately bought 830 as it was priced wrong, way below it's msrp. Both are connected to sata2 ports. Today I don't need any more ssds, but still want one of those 320s, my girlfriend will probably get that for a new laptop

In the end, after so much BS i wrote up there, you can't go wrong with any one of those, both are amazing drives.

 

Yeah both are great just get whatever is cheaper basically.

 

Thanks guys, appreciate the insights, I am going to get the Intel 320 120GB, when I get it, do I update it when I get it?

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sol...-ssd-320-series-firmware-update-4pc10365.html

 

if it doesn't come with latest firmware preinstalled than yes.

 

You can always install the Intel SSD Toolbox and it will check for the latest firmware and update it if there is a newer firmware.

 

I have the 120gb 320. Rock solid reliability and REALLY FAST!

 

Got mine in mid-January and it shipped with the latest (current) firmware. Unless you buy it from out of the way place, it should have the latest version.

 

How come nobody mention these 2 Newegg SSDs? I'm thinking of getting either for my Dell E1705, for quick bootup to GPS laptop use in a car.

Newegg.com - SanDisk Ultra SDSSDH-120G-G25 2.5" 120GB SATA II Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Newegg.com - Mushkin Enhanced Callisto Deluxe MKNSSDCL120GB-DX 2.5" 120GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

 

They both have a SandForce controller and SandForce can mean a lot of problems.
Best to stick to Intel all but 520 (=SandForce) ,Crucial M4, Samsung 830 or Plextor M2/3.
That means an Intel, Marvell or Samsung controller.

 

Intel's now EOL 510 had Marvell controller, and it had known stuttering issues. I would avoid Marvell personally, Intel or Samsung for me.

 

Okay, that means that at the moment you have only one choice ==> Samsung. I hope Intel will return to making its own controllers.

 

Intel does...the 320 series is an Intel controller. They decided to branch out after their X25-E in house controller with the Marvell controller in 510, and now SandForce with 520 series. Maybe LSI's purchase of SandForce will make it somewhat of a reliable brand now, we shall see.

 

You are right. I forgot the 320 because I thought it also would be EOL.
As the Intel 320 is more expensive than the Samsung 830 over here I think I made the right choice by buying the Samsung.
Arriving today :yes:

 

You'll be happy to know that a Intel 320 is on it's way, can't wait.

Now I have installed Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder which tells you your exact OS and the CD key associated with that OS. Is the best way to do everything, download the OS so.. Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 on a USB, install it on the SSD, with my original code which I'll write down, then transfer whatever I want onto it after that?

Is that even possible, two hardrives running the same OS key?

 

Or alternatively I have Paragon Migrate OS to SSD, but, my computer is nearly 2 years old, and I imagine there is a lot of junk on the computer.

Insights please!

 

I doubt the 320 series is going to be discontinued soon, it is their bread and butter for SSDs, their mainstream SSD. Just like G2 was sold alongside X25-E, 320 series will be sold until next generation comes out, G4.

If you have an preactivated OS from the manufacturer (stock image, recovery discs) then using Magic Jellybean Finder will not work. You can use the COA on the bottom of your disk or clone the drive onto the SSD.

 

Yes I have the preinstalled OS - but Magic did show up my OS and key?
Can you explain that last sentence to me

 

Advanced Token Manager is supposed to be able to back up any type of Win 7 activation and restore it on a clean install. It worked for my retail key (ABR only seems to work with OEM activations), so it's worth a try.

 

Best bang for buck hands down is the 240gb Mushkin Chronos Deluxe! for the price you won't find a better SSD.

 

If you're willing to risk Sandforce, then yeah that drive is at an awesome price. However, anyone should be aware of the F4/F7 BSOD issues associated with the SF-2281 controller. That said, the chronos deluxe uses 32nm NAND which seems to play a bit nicer with the controller than 25nm NAND.

 

Agree with this. Got it few days ago from newegg for 273$.
It's blazing fast and no issues so far. Plus mushkin's customer support is great.

 

The Crucial M4 is working fine in my DV6 I picked the the M4 128 for $139 That was the best deal. I could find on that drive. The M4 sure made a big difference in performance. The DV6 is running great so far so good.

 

If you're just looking for high capacity SATA III SSD with a low cost per GB then maybe this is for you?

240GB Agility 3 plus Mass Effect 3 = $209.50
Best OCZ Agility 3 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive w/ Mass Effect 3 Deal | LogicBUY

120GB Agility 3 = $102.99
Best OCZ Agility 3 2.5" 120GB Internal Solid State Drive Deal | LogicBUY