Crucial vs Predator

Hey guys!

I'm upgrading from a MSI GS70 notebook to a Clevo P771DM.
I love the RAID0 array on the MSI, 2 x 128gb mSATA with close to (or even surpassing) 1GB/s read and write speed. They are my favourite thing about the laptop, it is so perceivably fast loading windows, autodesk, photoshop and games, and it's a relatively cheap setup too.

Switching to a new notebook I have 2 options:
1) Crucial MX200 M.2 512GB. Regular, run of the mill, reliable SSD for around 200€
2) Kingston Predator M.2 480GB. As fast as (or even faster) than my current RAID array, super expensive, slight thermal throttle issues (?). Around 500€.

Is the Predator worth the 300€ premium on the Crucial?
My main use is AAA title gaming, 2D & 3D editing. Temperatures, reliability, speed, effect on battery life and price are my value factors.

Another option would be a RAID 0 array between two Crucial MX200s. I can even do a 1TB array for less than the price of the Predator, although I really don't need that much storage. Would 2 x 256GB MX200s in RAID 0 be a viable option? Maybe something in between...

So far my idea was to go with the Crucial and sell it at a later date when NVME M.2 fast drives become cheaper. But I'm tempted by the Predator, would like to hear some opinions.

Thanks!

 

Never had an Kingston, but i had an Crucial 128GB and it was buggy as hell, that`s why i try and stick to Samsung unless it`s a really good deal.

John.

 

You have identified the possible thermal throttling issue with the Predator (a problem shared with most, if not all, the current generation of very fast SSDs). Have you found specific information about the performance and temperature of this SSD in a notebook environment? Most testers put the SSD on an adapter in a desktop where the flow of cooling air tends to be better than in a congested laptop. If you search this forum there are numerous reports of SSDs running hot, particularly in some of the higher performing laptops, with the worst problems being where the SSD location is close to CPU or GPU.

Personally, I would settle for an SATA SSD at this time (I've had no issues with the recent Crucial products) in the knowledge that a PCIe SSD gives a potential performance upgrade with the hope that next year's crop won't get quite as hot and hence vulnerable to throttling.

John

 

Thanks guys.

About the throttling, if you see the review on SSDReviews about the Predator you'll see that write speeds get all over the place when the temps rise up to 80C, I'd imagine it being worse on a laptop.

I'm using a 2.5" slot already, I need the storage/price solution mechanical drives still give me.

I'll probably go with two Crucial MX200s 250gb m2 in raid0

 

Go for Crucial... Don't ever get Kingston SSD drives, they're horrible...

 

I've owned several Crucial/Micron drives and they've never let me down. My current preference is the Micron M600 series, or the Intel 730.