Help with choosing an mSATA SSD

Hi There,

I am planning on buying and installing an mSATA SSD for my new Thinkpad T420 and would love to get some guidance on which one to purchase. I am only planning on using the drive for the OS and programs, etc. while keeping my data on the hhd. My competing concerns are reliability and price. Performance is a consideration but ultimately reliability is the most important factor. I'm guessing I need at least 60gb to be safe (more is always better).

I'm currently considering the Intel 310 at 80gb (around $175 on amazon). I was also considering MyDigital's Bulletproof at 64gb (around $100) due to the much better price but became concerned when learning of the change from 34nm to 24nm. Although MyDigital's 128gb still uses the 34nm, at about $200 it is already more than the Intel, and I don't think I really need the extra space for just my programs/os etc.; at that price point I think I'd lean to the reputation of the Intel.

I guess I'm trying to see if there is anything a little less expensive than the Intel but still as reliable. Are there any other options or suggestions for this kind of size? Anyone have any knowledge regarding reliability of the new 64gb MyDigitals? All advice welcome.

Thanks in advance!

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sol...42017-60gb-adata-xm13-shopping-msata-ssd.html

That's what I did in you position, didn't have it long enough to say anything about reliability, but very happy with performance.

 

Mydigitaldiscount's mSATA SSD's are very famous on these forums.

If you look in the hardware forums, there is a thread dedicated to Mydigitaldiscount SSDs, and there is a rep there to help you with questions as well.

 

The SSD Review uses benchmark software called PCMark Vantage x64 HDD Suite to create testing scenarios that might be used in the typical user experience. There are eight tests in all and the tests performed record the speed of data movement in MB/s to which they are then given a numerical score after all of the tests are complete. The simulations are as follows:

•Windows Defender In Use
•Streaming Data from storage in games such as Alan Wake which allows for massive worlds and riveting non-stop action
•Importing digital photos into Windows Photo Gallery
•Starting the Vista Operating System
•Home Video editing with Movie Maker which can be very time consuming
•Media Center which can handle video recording, time shifting and streaming from Windows media center to an extender such as XBox
•Cataloging a music library
•Starting applications
If you are new to testing and considering benchmark software, this is the best you can get because the program goes well beyond the results of simulated testing as we have already done. In comparing SATA 2.0 SSDs, we have reached the bandwidth limit and the performance of most new SATA 2 SSDs is as high as it can get with typical high sequential access speeds in the area of 280MB/s read and 270MB/s write. This observation can again be seen with drives of different manufacturers that utilize similar components within and have very similar specifications.

We needed a way to differentiate these drives and to find a method that can actually put one drive above another and this is exactly what Vantage testing does. Its tests combined can provide an accurate comparison between drives and its tests individually can assist a smart shopper in finding the best SSD for their needs. Next to actual ‘true to life’ testing which can take an insurmountable length of time, PCMark Vantage is the only program that can compare any SSD, side by side, regardless of SATA interface or controller in use.



mSATA - The SSD Review

 

That 32GB is our Super Cache don't think you are going to get that # out of our regular 32GB. I will have to update him on that so he can change it.

Regarding the speeds of all these SSD's.

In a blind taste test with the price exposed MyDigitalSSD wins 90% of the time. Haha no but seriously under normal use there is virtually no way you will be able to tell the difference in any of these SSDs. You may notice boot times are a bit fast with the Runcore drive but other than that I am not sure you will see much of a difference.

For example Car #1 (HDD) travels at 20mph, Car #2 (the slowest SSD on the list is going) 200mph, and Car #3 (fastest SSD) is going 600mph. Somewhere between 200mph and 600mph will be good when you are used to going 20mph.

MyDigitalSSD

 

Exactly as above. Numbers are one thing but how they translate into perceived performance isn't linear. Besides, there are many other metrics to a good SSD other than performance which are in my opinion as important, such as power consumption, reliability, amount of updates, and customer support

 

Thanks all for your help. I see a lot of numbers for performance. Is there anything available for reliability and/or durability? Numbers, tests, reviews, reputations, etc.? This is, in the end for me, the most important.

Thanks again!

 

There are quite a few user experiences regarding the MyDigitalSSD and other mSATA SSDs in this forum. Nando has a thread with the different options. MyDigitalSSD (the user) also has a post somewhere with some stats regarding their products.

 

As far as I know we have the lowest mSATA defect rate in the industry at around .1-.3%. So 1 to 3 out of 1K shipped. Nearly all of our defects have been DOA except one and it croaked only a few days in.

MyDigitalSSD

 

MyDigitalSSD ‘Bullet Proof’ 128GB mSATA SATA 2 SSD Review

MyDigitalSSD 'Bullet Proof' 128GB mSATA SATA 2 SSD Review - The SSD Review