SSD Thread (Benchmarks, Brands, News, and Advice)

I'm sure you guys are sick of hear this, but I'll ask anyway.

I have been perusing this thread for a while but I am not very tech-savvy and thus I get confused by all the terminology being thrown around. I would like an SSD that is fast (obviously) but I don't understand all the lingo about garbage collection, trim, etc. I just want something that works well and that I don't have to do much to keep working quickly. What would you recommend? I am looking at a 128gb C300, 160gb Intel and a 120gb OCZ Vertex 2.

 

Garbage collection, similar to TRIM, works to reset the speed or maintain the speed of the SSD. Over time, your SSD will slow down because all of the cell will be written to. Garbage collection fixes/flips back/reset the cell so that the SSD will have empty unwritten cells again, which helps with the SSD write function.

All of the SSDs you mention are fast enough. The fastest is the C300, followed by the Vertex 2, followed by the Intel. However, the Intel is the most reliable.

 

easy answer for an easy question

Intel 160GB SSD G2 (+toolbox)

 

@ DetlevCM: You keep saying don't worry if it's Intel, do You think other NAND memory chips (Samsung, Micron...) have less write cycles?

 

installing xp pro 32bit on intel SSD x-25m No Raid XPSm1730. After install intel chipset driver (infinist911 autol.exe)...... unsure which option to do next with Intel Matrix Storage Manager driver (IATA89ENU.exe)
1.dont install it
2.install it
3.install it then uninstall some (apparently intel say somthing about will not totally uninstall but will uninstall some items)

thinking 1. , is that ganna be okay? wont effect performance?

EDIT: ended up doing 1. , made sure when installiing xp OS selected Quick Format because XP is set to default full format on installation

 

I'm sold on SF2, just ordered a Mushkin Deluxe 120GB for 309.99 plus tax and shipping.

Thanks for swinging me over to the dark side....................

Without getting technical I would have to say the G2's are a proven entity. The track record for them is as good as alot of HDD's for the time they have been out.

This almost sold me, along with capacity. The bench's from what I've seen swung me to the SF2. That and as you've mentioned the NAND tech has improved quite a bit. That with other issues have been addressed by earlier models including alot of controler and trim issues etc. It may just be time for Intel to pass the crown or get out their G3's already...........

 

If you want fastest performance get the C300 or Vertex 2 or any other Sandforce drive.

If you want the best proven reliability get the Intel.

 

The problem is we don't know what the write cycles on others are.

But we know that Intels will last a long time.

 

How about no warranty? would you still buy an intel g2?

 

Without a doubt a 160G intel G2 for say less than $200 would be a good deal even without the warranty.However in my opinion knowing whether the seller is reliable might be the more important consideration.If it sounds too good to be true etc. etc..

 

Unless there's a good reason for it not having warranty I probably wouldn't buy it.

 

Any newer tech like SSD without a warranty is a recipe for more than just a bit of trouble IMHO. One reason I would never touch an OEM x25m, only one year rather than the three warranty with the retail.

The Mushkin I just purchased has a three year warranty as well. I am sure even well before then there will be a better and cheaper unit out there that I just have to have.

Right before the G3's hit and the G2's go on clearance there should be some really great deals out there. I could have waited until then but about $300 for a great upgrade is my personal sweet spot. At that point they become very hard for me to resist.

I could get 8GB ram now for under $300 but to me that just isn't a great upgrade. I've yet to stress the 4GB I already have. Once I finally get PhotoShop cs5 though we will see about that.

 

I thought I read somewhere on this thread many hundreds of pages back that intel handled warranty claims directly.Woudn`t that mean that you wouldn`t need a retail receipt ? I`d look into it if it`s possible.

 

Even if the warranty is handled directly you need some sort of receipt.

With Sony I went to the Sony Service centre in Cologne instead of going through the shop my Vaio was bought in - they still wanted the receipt - its proof of purchase, and more importantly tells you when the warranty starts.

 

Intel may handle warranty claims without receipts, I don't know.

Many hard drive manufacturers handle warranty claims without receipts.

 

You mean based on the manufacturing date?

Seagate did that when my power brick for an external failed - however, if they say 3 years warranty - and then claim they will not support it 2,8 years after buying (because their production date is earlier) it could lead to trouble - at least I'd could then claim at least that it is misleading advertising.

 

Usually it's based on the serial number. I know Hitachi and Western Digital do it that way.

 

Concerning SSD RMA, Crucial replaced my 256GB M225 without too much fuss. I just had to register on their forums, post a "I have a problem" thread, and, if their troubleshooting failed, I just had to give them a call to set up an RMA. I mailed it in, and in about a week I had a brand new replacement. The SSD was bought from eBay without any proof of purchase.

The funny part was that the tech I spoke to had the same laptop as I did. She was all "Oh, your SSD shouldn't be doing that, since mine doesn't."

 

So my work just gave me 3 broken Dell Latitudes D620. I put them all together to make one functional laptop and sold my old one for ~$200. I'd like to take that money and buy a SSD drive. What brands/models do you guys recommend?

 

Intel G2

 

MLC NAND memory should have 10000 write cycles, but as You said, we can't be 100% sure.

I have Super Talent MasterDrive SX 64 GB (Samsung RBB controller and Samsung MLC NAND mamory) and after one year, lots of torrents, few Windows and Linux installs it still have 97% write cycles, so it should last for ~30 years.

Can You give us some numbers so we can see how much You Intel will last?

If they all have 10000 write cycles then Intel should last longer just because it's 80 GB drive.

 

Here is the Intel Spec

http://download.intel.com/design/flash/nand/mainstream/322296.pdf

However - that is lower than the number they originally put out - which Dave strongly supported - but the way I understand Intel this is pretty much guaranteed.

 

A noob question, how do you determine the amount of write cycles you have gone through?

 

You can't really...

If you have an Intel you can check how much you have written to the drive via the toolbox and work it out that way - else I don't think you can...

 

Ah, ok thought I missed something. Has happened before, will definately happen again.........

 

Just an interesting question about TRIM. Is it always working to delete unnecessary files all the time, or does have a specific time or file size/percentage that it starts working. Last night before I went to bed I saw had 70% used space and put my laptop to sleep. This morning I have 66% used.

 

Trim does NOT fill the drive.

The Intel Toolbox does NOT fill a drive while trimming - and if you are on Vista trim is run on a regular schedule.

On Windows 7 on Microsoft AHCI drivers trim will work every time when you delete a file - which is when it is required.

 

Why wouldn`t Microsoft add the ,as required function ,as an update to Vista?

How hard can it be?

 

From what I've heard its more than just adding a function - it needs to be implemented as part of the OS.

 

Can anyone tell me if newest SSDs decrease battery life ?

It was true with old SSDs.... But manufacturers made headway in SSDs features

 

There is no blanket answer to that.

With the Intel G2 I gained about 30 minutes in max. battery saver mode over my old HDD, but Phil claims the Intel reduced his battery life...

Energy consumption will overall most likely be lower - but if you have a low power HDD it might be about even.

 

That was one thing I liked about the G2's is the low power requirements. Even though it is not the fastest that would be the SSD for my U81a as battery power is a premium to me there.

I went SF2 for my P7802 as the battery there is not really an issue. I only get a bit over 2 hours unplugged anyway so I use the system primarily as a DTR.

 

10000 write cycles for 80 GB drive should be 800000 GB.

Intel says that minimum useful life is 5 years with 20 GB of host writes per day.
5 * 365.25 * 20 = 36525 GB

36525 / 800000 = 0.0456

So it's just 4.5 % of actual write cycles.
(that's for 80 GB drive, for 160 GB it's 2.25 %)

Super Talent says 35.1 years with 50 GB writes per day (for 64 GB MasterDrive SX)
35.1 * 365.25 * 50 = 641013.75 GB

10000 write cycles for 64 GB drive should be 640000 GB.

641013.75 / 640000 = 1.0015

So it's 100.15 % of actual write cycles


I would say it's marketing, but to me it's strange that Intel is giving us so low number.

I can check it with Crystal Disk Info

 

The thing is - the phrasing implies that Intel very nearly guarantees that life.

But it is interesting why they claim such a low number - it might be just insurance on their part.

I would be keen on the exact phrasing the others use.

Edit:
Yepp, SuperTalent just states the spec - which I'd guess is just what the manufacturer said.

Intel might have actually benchmarked a drive to simulate that - but they actually write a sentence how that's the minimum life - not the expected life.

 

It probably has to do with write multiplication. Some of the controllers have better handling of that.

I think the intel controller has a write multiplication of like 15-20 which might explain the lower "guarenteed" number they give. The drive would more than likely greatly outlive that number, but they can promise that number with an almost 100% guarentee.

 

It depends. For example: Intel and Crucial are no stars in battery life. While Samsung and some Kingston drives use very little power.

You can find all the measurement on Anandtech en Techreport.

 

Thanks a lot !! I'm bookmarking these websites right now

 

I will probably pull the trigger 12 months from now for a new ssd (128gb).

 

Is there any bootable diagnostics software to analyze a x25-m 160? I put it in a new computer and tried to install windows. After the first windows reboot it failed to load from the ssd saying that some files are missing. I am trying again now, the computer is a Dell xps m1730 btw. Ssd is in ahci mode.

 

You are doing a fresh install of Vista or Windows 7? Also did it say what fles were missing?

 

I narrowed the problem since. The problem wasn't with the SSD at all. I made several changes to the system and assumed the problem is coming from the SSD, but it wasn't. The problem is the 8gb of memory i have put in.

When i replaced it with the old 2gb i had before, the installation went smoothly.


Thanks for trying to help !

 

New sammies coming soon:

http://translate.google.com/transla...itet-an-neuer-ssd-generation.html&sl=de&tl=en

credits go to Hardwareluxx.de

 

Justt got my Mushkin, just booted and so far now in windows 7 no problem..........

 

TANWare, can you run CrystalDiskMark for us please. Thanks

 

Haven't really done any tweaks etc yet so not sure if these are good or bad, but here you go.........

Edit; 2nd run a little better........

Edit 2; WEI, Yeah I know, Disk rating is now 7.7

 

Anyone here have decent reviews or stats or educated opinions on the WD SiliconEdge Blue 256GB?

I just ordered an HP Envy 14 with their 256GB SSD. HP can't seem to figure out what SSD they're offering but didn't want to miss out on the 30% Bing Cashback, which brings the cost of the 256GB SSD to about $400. Someone else got a response that it is most likely a Western Digital.

I'm ok if it's not absolutely the fastest, but want to make sure it won't slow down a lot over time, when 90% full, or have horribly slow random read/writes, or whatever.

Thanks.

Edit: here's the spec sheet: http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/library/SpecSheet/ENG/2879-771357.pdf

It says:

Interface burst speed 3 Gb/s
Maximum read transfer rate Up to 250 MB/s
Maximum write transfer rate Up to 170 MB/s
Sustained read transfer rate Up to 250 MB/s
Sustained write transfer rate Up to 140 MB/s
4 KB random read IOPS Up to 5000 IOPS
4 KB random write IOPS3 Up to 5000 IOPS

DC input voltage 5V
Standby (idle watts) 0.6W
Read (peak watts) 2.2W
Write (peak watts) 3.5W

Is this good/bad?

 

5000 iops for 4k? That's just average. Isn't the Intel is over 10,000 iops for 4k?

 

Impressive result
On which laptop did you run the this test btw?

 

The P7805.......... have to update my sig..............

 

It's a decent performer, except for it's file copy performance. Some real world benchmarks here:
Crucial's RealSSD C300 solid-state drive - The Tech Report - Page 5

It should be relatively cheap.