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    Crucial M4 128GB vs 256GB Performance

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by mortalcombat, May 31, 2012.

  1. mortalcombat

    mortalcombat Notebook Consultant

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    Both Crucial M4 128GB and 256GB have the same read speed but the 256 has a higher write speed. How much better would the performance be with a 256GB drive vs a 128GB?
     
    mortalcombat, May 31, 2012
    #1
  2. scottdrmyers

    scottdrmyers Notebook Consultant

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    If you have SATA2 you wont notice the difference as the 128GB drive maxes out your SATA2 controller, if you have SATA3 it will be well worth it. It depends on what you do though. I have this drive in 128GB form on SATA2 and it works totally fine, super quick.

    I extract ISO images quickly (DVDs) and copy movie files quickly. Works fine. If you're just going to use it for gaming/OS install, you'd probably not notice the difference.

    If you currently have a 5400RPM or 7200RPM "spinny drive" either option would be a LOT faster compared the "spinny drive". It's night and day with Windows boot times, application load times and especially file copying/extracting.

    A side note, if you have an intel sata controller, make sure you install the Intel Rapid Storage driver located here:
    http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Sea...roductProduct=Intel®+Rapid+Storage+Technology

    This will add better read/write speeds over the Microsoft driver. At least it did for me on my 3400 controller.

    The speed between the two drives does not matter here that much to be honest. It will be noticeable if you are on SATA3 but if not I would, if you can, spring for the 256GB drive regardless for the following reasons:

    1. Future use if you move to SATA3.
    2. More space. Windows 7 takes about 30-40GB after install/updates. If you run Ubuntu, you're looking at 4-6GB after install. (Yes it's that much different lol).

    If I could go back and get the 256GB originally, I would.
     
    scottdrmyers, May 31, 2012
    #2
  3. mortalcombat

    mortalcombat Notebook Consultant

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    I will be getting this drive for my new Clevo P150EM SE so it has SATA III

    I'm also considering it for double the size and a $100 difference only.
     
    mortalcombat, May 31, 2012
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  4. Generic User #2

    Generic User #2 Notebook Deity

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    the thing about write speeds is that the 'sender's'(another drive or w/e) read speed needs to be greater than the slower write speed of the two drives to make a difference.

    if you don't have something that reads fast enough, then the seq write performance of the two drives might as well be the same*.


    *the faster one would still be faster, but we're talking like 1% here.
     
    Generic User #2, May 31, 2012
    #4
  5. jaug1337

    jaug1337 de_dust2

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    I care to agree, as the normal users feel no noticeable difference since they don't take full advantage of SSD's anyways :)
     
    jaug1337, Jun 1, 2012
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