Need cheap SSD for boat laptop

I have an old Dell XPS 1210 that I'm using on my boat for running GPS and navigation software. I'm going to be doing some extensive ocean cruising this summer. The existing HDD is the one that came with the computer and I think its wise to replace it before it fails. I'm tempted to get a really cheap 64 Gig SSD as it might be a little more durable in the marine enviroment (vibration, salt water moisture etc.)

What are members opinions on this and what cheap cheap cheap SSD would you recommend?

Any and all feedback appreciated

Brad

 

This is definitely an application for an SSD!

I would only buy on price for this project (assuming that power usage is not an important consideration: ie. you will be 'plugged in' always).

The ones to watch out for would be any SATA3 (600Mb/s) models that will perform worse than a native SATA2 device.

If your navigation software is all you require (and I'm assuming XP is used...) then you can probably get away with an even cheaper and smaller SSD too.

Good luck.

 

you might be able to check your local cregslist to see if you can find ssds on the cheap... Like I just got 2 64gb ssds for a friends project for 100 bucks because he said they were broken after he tried to defrag them (idiot lol) but if you have to get one new then this one might foot the bill Newegg.com - Kingston SSDNow V100 Series SV100S2/64GZ 2.5" 64GB SATA II Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) its only 79 after a rebate!

 

Do realize that a salt water marine environment is going to corrode the hell out of any piece of consumer gear including a laptop. Every single connector and piece of metal in that laptop will start to corrode. Consumer grade lithium batteries are also not sealed. Look around the web for videos of how such batteries react to salt-in-the air corrosion.

For something mission critical and safety-of-life import as a navigation package you should probably be considering a ruggedized laptop that is environmentally sealed to NEMA standards.

 

Are you thinking the OP should get an old Panasonic Toughbook?

the cheapest Touchbook on eBay(with a dual core) is $420: Panasonic Toughbook CF- 50 - eBay (item 230438485827 end time Feb-11-11 09:36:56 PST)

 

Thanks, That's why I use my old laptop... The boat has a marine GPS chartplotter for primary nav duties, the laptop is the backup. The computer doesn't stay on the boat full-time. You make the very important point that consumer stuff just isn't going to last in this enviroment.

Now both of you are pointing me in the direction I'd really like to go. I've looked a lot at toughbooks, hard sell to the wife though I never thought about checking ebay.

 

Since the laptop will be used as a backup and not running constantly, maybe just a good Pelican case will be an option:
Pelican Products Cases | Case Group Search

 

If you spend ~80 on an SSD for now... you can save to buy a brand new Sandy Bridge Toughbook by the time your current system fails.

I would really question the TB's ruggedness in salt-water conditions though: I thought it was only mechanically 'rugged' and not actually liquid/gas sealed?

I really haven't looked at them seriously though (not enough performance for me last time I looked).

 

Personally, I would look for an inexpensive used 60GB / 64GB SSD. You can get something based on an Indilinx controller (e.g. OCZ Vertex 1) for about $80 - $100 used. Indilinx was the best non-Intel drive controller, before SandForce displaced them. Indilinx drives still perform very well, and will be an excellent bang-for-your-buck drive in the inexpensive 60GB / 64GB drive range.

As for the salt water environment - I would not worry too much about corrosion from the salt water. You're putting a used drive in a pretty old laptop (Dell XPS 1210). If you were going to keep that setup for 5+ years, then I would also be concerned. But in all likelihood, the laptop will either fail or get replaced by you for other reasons, long before it suffers any damage from salt water corrosion.

 

Kent- This was exactly my thinking. The laptop is ancient and I just want to get 6 months of use out of it. The original spinning platter is 4.5 yrs old. The vibration from the boat engine running 8 hrs a day as well as the jolting from hitting waves is what concerns me. I'll probably use a RAM mount that will isolate some of the vibes but still think an SSD gives me a little more reliability.

 

If that is the case, then I'd recommend you actually look for an SSD that can be re-used in the future in another system. If 60GB is more than you will need in your XPS M1210 and in the future, great. Otherwise, I'd start looking at larger capacities.

If you want bang-for-your-buck performance, then somethign like an Intel X25-M 80GB for around $100 - $120 would be a solid choice. You could also spend a little bit more, and get something like an OCZ Vertex 2 120GB (SandForce controller) for about $170 - $200. That drive will perform well today, and be easily used in other machines over the next several years.