M17x R3 SSD Upgrade

Hi everyone,

I got my m17x with the SSD Hybrid drive but now have the money for an SSD. Which ones are compatible with the m17x? And which ones are the best value for money and most reliable? I've heard the Intel ones are very reliable but a bit slower than other brands. Does anyone have a particular one they'd recommend? I'm thinking of getting a 256GB one and then making my hybrid drive the secondary.

Thanks.

 

I'd say the ones people recommend would be the Crucial M4, Intel 510 and X-25,
Samsung 830's, and a few others.

 

I am thinking of upgrading to ssd too but the caviar black hdd from WD looks good too
I can't decide which to get, either the 750gb hdd or 128/256 m4
my steam alone is 200gb ..
Does ssd play nicely with VMware and ubuntu etc? I might have to emulate them or install them on it etc

 

I can recommend the X-25 drives because I have been using one for a couple of years and it has been great but I have just purchased a 256 GB M4 for my new computer. It hasn't arrived yet but I have heard great things about it. If you have SATA 3 then the C4 would be my choice.

 

I am using 256 Gb Vertex 3 as by boot and installations drive in Port 1 an the stock 320Gb HDD as my storage solution in Port 0.

I use my alienware for work as well. I have made a VM image of my company laptop and store it on my ssd and use it for work. I have 6 other VM images stored in HDD for other adhoc work related scenarios where i need to boot them up as well.

In my experience there is a HELL IF A DIFFERENCE between VMs from SSD vs HDD. Ssd VM is 30 times faster than the HDD or even my original company laptop Dell Lattitude E6430 64bit with 4gb ram and stock processor.

 

i personally am using a kingston hyperx in each port1/0 and a the dell included caviar black 320gb in the port for the dvd bay. personally have no need for the disc drive so i took it out.

 

What's the difference between SATA and how do I know which one I have? By the looks of things I'll probably end up going for an Intel SSD.

 

If you have an R3 you will have Sata III @6Gbps. In which case the Crucial M4 is a good choice. If you want to stick to Intel then the 510 is also Sata III and a good choice too

 

I have a Crucial M4 256gb. Crucial has a solid reliability rep and good prices. You can get one for around $350. Intel is more expensive but slightly faster, reliability is probably equal. OCZ and other SSD which use Sandforce brand controllers are sometimes faster, but they generally have the worst reliability (by a large margin).

My logic is max bang for buck, Crucial M4
Best drive regardless of cost is the Intel 510. Fastest cheap drive is the OCZ Vertex 3 (but has reliability issues).

OCZ also makes a Vertex 3 MAX IOPS that uses 34nm chips, and may be more reliable. The HyperX and Patroit Wildfire are basically the same as this drive.

It is also worth noting the speed differences between these drives will be next to impossible to notice in real life. That is why the M4 is so popular, it is relatively cheap, very reliable, and provides competitive speed relative to other drives.

 

The Kingston HyperX one doesn't use the 34nm NAND. Only the Max IOPs, Wildfire and Mushkin Chronos Deluxe do.

 

I know the sandforce controllers have been known to have reliability issues...but I spoke to a gentleman who works in the industry and said that the Patriot Wildfire is a hugely underrated drive...he works with ALL the above SSDs EVERY day and says that he never sees any more problems with this drive than the Intel 510 or Crucial whatsoever..and the Wildfire..... in his words is ridiculously fast!

 

Underrated? Not when it costs the same as an Intel 510 250GB model.

Also, if this gentleman also sells these drives, I don't think his motives for claiming how underrated these drives are, are altogether altruistic.

 

I'm using Samsung 830 256GB. No issues.

 

Hehehe....I hear what you're saying...but just to clarify..if you benchmark the 2 drives side by side..the Wildfire is faster than the 510...and it is also $30 cheaper on the site I'm looking at....so this leaves perceived reliability of the Sandforce controller...he says that he has just as many Intel drives with issues as he does with the Wildfire...yet the Wildfire is blazingly fast...they are basically equal when it comes to problems (this is what he claims he sees in real world use) and yes, he is a very well-respected reseller from this board who has been around a long time. I find it tough to imagine why he would be shady considering the Intel drive on his website is actually more expensive than the Wildfire....I do know what you're saying ..I know the Intel drive to be very reliable and very well could be the best OVERALL choice in terms of all variables involved.. I also googled all the issues with the SF controller and apparently their latest firmware update has these BIOS issues mostly resolved...just throwing it out there that perhaps there are some options beyond Intel and Crucial M4s...

 

The problem is that you're comparing benchmarks and benchmarks lie.

I'm comparing the drives in real world use. The Intel 510 Series 250GB partitioned to 100GB (rest is left unallocated...) is the most consistently fast (over time) SSD I have yet used in SATA3 capable systems.

Altruistic, I mean to us (as friends...) he is being altruistic: to his livelihood/business.

Altruistic to $$$$ does not make him shady - just a businessman.

 

Well...real world use is certainly more accurate than benchmarks..so point well taken...thanks for the info.!!