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.

    Crucial M4 vs OCZ Vertex 3 help

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by DominikCZE, Jun 25, 2012.

  1. DominikCZE

    DominikCZE Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    83
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I'm currently experiencing a dillema and have 2 days to solve it.
    I can get the 120GB Vertex 3 for $107 including tax and shipping on sale right now, or the 128GB M4 for $142 everything included.
    What I understand is that their read/write speeds are in reality basically equal, so the only difference are the 8 extra gigs on the M4. The thing is that the Crucial SSDs are supposedly much more stable and reliable, since the Sandforce controllers have had a bad run in the past. Have these issues been resolved?
    The bottom line is that I would really like to save the cash, but wouldn't be too happy about my new laptop BSODing right from the start.
     
    DominikCZE, Jun 25, 2012
    #1
  2. Gandalf_The_Grey

    Gandalf_The_Grey Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    443
    Messages:
    541
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    31
    OCZ and Sandforce is a hit or miss.
    If you can find someone with the same laptop as you have and they have no problem, then you will most likely be fine too.
    Personally I wouldn't take the risk.
    The most reliable SSD right now is the Samsung 830 it has a nice toolbox for among other things updating the firmware.
    The Crucial M4 is also highly recommended here and is a safe buy.
    If you can get a good price for the 830 I would get that drive otherwise go for the M4.
     
    Gandalf_The_Grey, Jun 25, 2012
    #2
  3. baii

    baii Sone

    Reputations:
    1,420
    Messages:
    3,925
    Likes Received:
    201
    Trophy Points:
    131
    What country/Region?
     
    baii, Jun 25, 2012
    #3
  4. DominikCZE

    DominikCZE Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    83
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Thanks for the input, I'll have a look at the Samsung, but it will probably be outside my budget :/


    Ontario, Canada. I can also get it in the Czech republic, but never gonna get a better deal there.
     
    DominikCZE, Jun 25, 2012
    #4
  5. iPhantomhives

    iPhantomhives Click the image to change your avatar.

    Reputations:
    791
    Messages:
    1,665
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    66
    iPhantomhives, Jun 25, 2012
    #5
  6. DominikCZE

    DominikCZE Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    83
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    So you really wouldn't recommend the Vertex? I thought their issues would be fixed by now, was really hoping to save some cash :( Thanks for the Amazon link, so far the cheapest I can go with the M4, was gonna go with Future Shop.

    I'm in Toronto btw.
     
    DominikCZE, Jun 25, 2012
    #6
  7. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

    Reputations:
    7,588
    Messages:
    10,023
    Likes Received:
    1,077
    Trophy Points:
    581
    You can check NCIX's specials too, the M4 go on sale often there(price isn't all that awesome right now though). Other places to look at are Canada Computers, you can purchase either online or get it in store and memoryexpress, they do pretty good price matching by the way.

    I'm the owner of 3 M4s, no problems what so ever so far. I did experience problems with SandForce even though it was not on an OCZ drive.
     
    tijo, Jun 25, 2012
    #7
  8. NotEnoughMinerals

    NotEnoughMinerals Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    772
    Messages:
    1,802
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    56
    TigerDirect.ca also tends to have sales on the M4, best to keep a lookout and to catch it when one of the deals appear. It's bound to happen at least once of twice in the next couple weeks.
     
    NotEnoughMinerals, Jun 25, 2012
    #8
  9. iPhantomhives

    iPhantomhives Click the image to change your avatar.

    Reputations:
    791
    Messages:
    1,665
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    66
    tijo is right , price isn't all that awesome right now. The cheapest around $100 if no mistake.

    Yea , no to vertex. the issues did not fix , you need to do so much tweaks to get the firmware update , annoying as H . I went to future shop yesterday to check m4 256/512gb price they don't have any good price by then my friend brought ASUS UX31E for herself lol
     
    iPhantomhives, Jun 25, 2012
    #9
  10. DominikCZE

    DominikCZE Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    83
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Alright, your comments and my research convinced me to avoid Vertex. I'll be looking for a deal on the M4, but I'd like to get it within a month.
    What price should I be looking for? Can it go as low as 90 for example? Really looking to save every penny atm :p
     
    DominikCZE, Jun 25, 2012
    #10
  11. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

    Reputations:
    7,588
    Messages:
    10,023
    Likes Received:
    1,077
    Trophy Points:
    581
    Good question about 90$, maybe, be on the lookout for when specials change so you can keep an eye on things. Too bad the Samsung 830 is usually pretty overpriced compared to the M4 in Canada since not many resellers carry it.
     
    tijo, Jun 25, 2012
    #11
  12. iPhantomhives

    iPhantomhives Click the image to change your avatar.

    Reputations:
    791
    Messages:
    1,665
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    66
    iPhantomhives, Jun 25, 2012
    #12
  13. CC268

    CC268 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    39
    Messages:
    573
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I can't believe 128GB SSD's are like 125 now! You are lucky, when I bought mine it was $215!
     
    CC268, Jun 26, 2012
    #13
  14. iPhantomhives

    iPhantomhives Click the image to change your avatar.

    Reputations:
    791
    Messages:
    1,665
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    66
    iPhantomhives, Jun 27, 2012
    #14
  15. jaug1337

    jaug1337 de_dust2

    Reputations:
    2,135
    Messages:
    4,862
    Likes Received:
    1,031
    Trophy Points:
    231
    +1 vote the M4, it goes on sale often and has good reads and writes and has a awesome name :D
     
    jaug1337, Jun 27, 2012
    #15
  16. DominikCZE

    DominikCZE Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    83
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Ya, I guess I've got to the SSD game quite late :D

    I just noticed that myself as well, I wonder if I should go for it. I mean the price could be better, but on the other hand, there might not be a deal like that for a while. :confused:
     
    DominikCZE, Jun 27, 2012
    #16
  17. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

    Reputations:
    7,588
    Messages:
    10,023
    Likes Received:
    1,077
    Trophy Points:
    581
    109.99 Doesn't sound so bad for Canada, US prices are usually better when it comes to these things.
     
    tijo, Jun 27, 2012
    #17
  18. DominikCZE

    DominikCZE Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    83
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Ok, I'm going for it. I guess the $20 extra bucks will be worth it, since I won't have to worry about it malfunctioning. :) The M4 is supposedly more stable all around.
     
    DominikCZE, Jun 28, 2012
    #18
  19. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

    Reputations:
    7,588
    Messages:
    10,023
    Likes Received:
    1,077
    Trophy Points:
    581
    As the owner of 3 M4s, i'd say unless you get unlucky, you won't regret it. I remember when i paid that price for my 64GB M4 about a year ago. :p
     
    tijo, Jun 28, 2012
    #19
  20. cccplus

    cccplus Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    28
    Messages:
    115
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    yes, go for the m4 - fast and reliable. the extra $20 you spend will save you on time and $$ sending the ocz unit back for warranty. my data are more important than $20.

    just make sure to do a clean install on the m4. my 256gb (was $179 on Amazon) is awesome.
     
    cccplus, Jun 28, 2012
    #20
  21. Trixster101

    Trixster101 Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    41
    Messages:
    60
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Price's are not too bad on czc.cz these days, although if you can get super bargains there then I might be asking you to bring some with you if you're getting back to Cz ;) :D
     
    Trixster101, Jun 29, 2012
    #21
  22. iPhantomhives

    iPhantomhives Click the image to change your avatar.

    Reputations:
    791
    Messages:
    1,665
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    66
    @DominikZE hope you pulled the trigger yesterday , the price is back to $124.99
     
    iPhantomhives, Jun 29, 2012
    #22
  23. DominikCZE

    DominikCZE Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    83
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Yeah, had a look at czc and Alza, the prices aren't too bad for Czech standards, but I can still get it here around 1000 crowns cheaper :p

    Actually, I feel like an idiot. I went to check out, but found out that TigerDirect would not take my credit card, as the billing adress is in Europe and it would only let me select Canada as the country. So I went on to check out with PayPal, just to find out that I forgot the password :mad: :D I got the password next day, but by then, the price was back to $125.

    Long story short, I'm just gonna have to wait for another deal like that, so hopefully something pops up soon. :/
     
    DominikCZE, Jun 29, 2012
    #23
  24. DominikCZE

    DominikCZE Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    83
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    M4 $114.69

    This doesn't look like a bad deal at all, since it's free shipping. Same price as the one I missed at Tiger Direct, where I would have to pay the shipping fee. Finally ordering. Thanks to everyone that helped me choose :)
     
    DominikCZE, Jul 5, 2012
    #24
  25. PiMaster314

    PiMaster314 Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    66
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I'd definitely go with the M4. I pulled the trigger during one of Newegg's sales and got the 128 GB model; Windows 7 installed in ~10-15 minutes and my laptop goes from shut down to usable desktop in 15-20 seconds.

    Crucial has pretty good ratings in reliability too. I'd definitely recommend it over the OCZ. (Note: nothing against OCZ, some people have had good experiences with their SSDs.)
     
    PiMaster314, Jul 6, 2012
    #25
  26. DominikCZE

    DominikCZE Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    83
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Alright, I went for a long walk with my dog and found the package at the front door in direct sunlight. The M4 inside is as hot as burning coal. Should I be concerned? The laptop I'll use it hasn't arrived yet, so I can't test it :(
     
    DominikCZE, Jul 11, 2012
    #26
  27. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

    Reputations:
    7,588
    Messages:
    10,023
    Likes Received:
    1,077
    Trophy Points:
    581
    Not really, SSDs can withstand pretty high temps.
     
    tijo, Jul 11, 2012
    #27
  28. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

    Reputations:
    5,398
    Messages:
    12,692
    Likes Received:
    2,717
    Trophy Points:
    631
    As long as it wasn't working (while cooking) it should be alright (just let it cool down, of course).

    Otherwise, while operational, SSD's CANNOT withstand 'pretty high temps'.
     
    tilleroftheearth, Jul 12, 2012
    #28
  29. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

    Reputations:
    7,588
    Messages:
    10,023
    Likes Received:
    1,077
    Trophy Points:
    581
    IIRC, they can do fine at temps that would be dangerous for a HDD, but i didn't mean anything 100C high either. I doubt the SSD even approached 60C anyways.
     
    tijo, Jul 12, 2012
    #29
  30. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

    Reputations:
    5,398
    Messages:
    12,692
    Likes Received:
    2,717
    Trophy Points:
    631
    If it's dangerous for an HDD it is dangerous for an SSD (even worse for the SSD, I would say).
     
    tilleroftheearth, Jul 12, 2012
    #30
  31. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

    Reputations:
    7,588
    Messages:
    10,023
    Likes Received:
    1,077
    Trophy Points:
    581
    I'll have to check again then to see what are the safe operating temps for NAND before data loss starts occurring as well as the max temps for permanent damage been at least a year since i looked for that and since my drives are always running cool, i never really bothered.
     
    tijo, Jul 12, 2012
    #31