Some SSD advice please...

I'm selling my Intel 510 Series 120GB due in compatibility issues and need a bit of advice choosing what to replace it with. I am trying to choose between the following drives:

OCZ AGILITY 3 SATA III 2.5 120GB SSD

OCZ Vertex 3 MAX IOPS 120GB SSD

Corsair Force Series GT 120GB MLC-Flash, 2.5" Sandforce SSD

Crucial M4 SSD 128GB SATA III

Thanks for any help. System specs in sig.

 

Never heard of incompabilities regarding Intel SSDs and Intel chipsets.

 

Kingston Hyper X, Patriot and Mushkin appear to be holding their own ratings wise on Newegg if you want a sandforce SSD. Plextor has excellent ratings similar to the M4.

For me, I would still lean towards an Intel or M4.

 

I agree with maximinimaus, but of the ones you list, the M4 is the only contender.

Have you updated the Firmware on the 510? Are you running Intel SSD Toolbox (which will indicate if the system is setup properly for the SSD)?

Are you running IRST drivers v10.6.1022?

Good luck.

 

Firmware is up to date, ran SSD toolbox and it says everything is good, IRST is the latest version. Problem is with my WD 750GB HDD actually as when I take it out the SSD runs perfectly, boots in 10-12 secs and stays running at 6GB/s but with the HDD in, it boots in 20-25 secs and the SSD slows to 3GB/s after a reboot and stays at this speed until a shutdown and cold boot.
If I knew which HDD wouldn't cause this issue I'd probably just change it instead but I have to box and everything for the SSD soni can sell it to cover the cost of a new one.

 

Crucial M4

Nothing Sandforce

 

Skip the OCZ; too many bricked SSDs from that maker.

Can't count on any help from customer dis-service, either, if you have a problem.

I know from personal experience.

 

Crucial M4. I ordered my M18x with a 320GB HD and when it arrives I have a 256GB M4 waiting to be installed.

 

Same here, Crucial M4 it's the best out of your choices.

 

I think I vaguely remember reading about your problem a few weeks earlier?

I just hope it is the Intel SSD that is the problem and not the WD HDD.

Another option you have is to try a Hitachi 7K750 HDD and see if your system responds normally. (If not, you can always return the new HDD you're trying).

Good luck and hope the M4 solves these issues for you.

 

Thanks, I hope it does too.

If it does, I can sell the Intel SSD on eBay and probably make back what I just spent on the M4.

If it doesn't though, I can sell the M4 to my friend who's got an M17X R3 (he's thinking about getting an SSD for it) and then get a different brand of HDD.

 

No mention of the upcoming Samsung 830 SSD; that should be out anytime now. Sources say Mid-October. I think it should be a viable option as well, no?

Toots 520 seq read, and ~400 seq write.

AnandTech - The Samsung SSD 830 Review

Samsung Goes 6 Gb/s: Is The 830-Series SSD King Of The Hill? : Is Samsung's 830-Series The New King?

Samsung SSD 830 Series: New SATA 3 Solid State Drives for Consumers

Samsung 830 Review - Watch CNET's Video Review

Seems it most likely would be a bit more expensive than the M4 variants though.

Edit: So it appears you already pulled the trigger. No worries, just wanted to throw another option out there. Should be helpful for anyone else out there.

 

Just a heads up...the Samsung 830 has a place holder on Amazon.com!

It's showing a price of $406.99 for the 256GB...

Seems reasonable I think....

 

And the 128GB @ $227. Not too bad....

 

I still say M4. The reviews on the 830 are not all that stellar, honestly. A solid drive I am sure, but the M4 is the fastest drive on the market in real usage right now (FW 0009), even over those crappy/glitchy/broken Sandforce drives. M4 all the way!

 

That's not what I'm seeing. Almost all the reviews I've read say its the fastest and best performing SSD out there. Including the M4. SO I'm going to buy it. I feel comfortable giving Samsung's reputation when it comes to storage and M4 is pretty old at this point in its life cycle....

Anyways to each his own....

 

+1. Every single review i've read raves about the Samsung 830. Also, given Samsung's reliability & know-how in the hard disk market, it wouldn't surprise me if the 830 did not require a single firmware update. Samsung might have arrived late onto the sata III scene but i'm 100% certain they will have rigourously tested this drive. Can't wait to own one! (for my Thinkpad X220)

 

Love my Samsung ssd's and with the magician tweaking software for firmware and optimization there is no way I would use anything else.

O for the performance of the ssd's there is a new review that you guys might be interested in.
SSD scaling outside the sweet spot - The Tech Report - Page 1 and SSD scaling outside the sweet spot - The Tech Report - Page 11 has cost per performance, just sad there is not Samsung in there.

The corsair Force is doing very well.
Amazing how the reliability factor is excluded from these test.

 

For the smaller sized SSD I would try to find a Samsung 470 128GB or even the newer Samsung 830 128GB as both of those look really nice! Just keep in mind that the 470 is SATA II and 830 is SATA III capable. But I'd be wary of the 830 for the moment, give it a few weeks on the market and then after the initial feedback see how it is. Honestly, it should be good but generally being wary of unreleased products is a good move.

 

Nice topic! I had the same doubt but now I decided to go with M4. I can't find the Samsung 830 available now anywhere....

 

It is literally brand new....Samsung said sometime in October without even giving a solid concrete date.

However its popped up on Amazon although they sold out quickly apparently and now its "out of stock". I'm waiting till I can get it with Prime.

 

You can get the Crucial M4 (128gb) for around $170 + shipping + tax (only if you live in NJ) here, but there are only 3 left so you may want to hurry. The product was opened but is listed as unused so that would be an incentive. Furthermore, if you don't have faith in the seller, you can go ahead and also buy it for $193.99 or $194.99 from more reputable sellers.

 

The 830 has definitely been released in Europe. I've ordered one from here and was told it would be delivered in 7-10 days to UK. Ooooooh.....can't wait to use this baby

 

Try it out, after several reviews I'm not sure how it will stack up, because the drives being reviewed seemed inconsistent for some reason (some would use more power than others while others would have slower random read/write numbers).

 

Installed the M4 today, works perfectly!!

No slow boots, no HDD clicking sound while booting, no slowing to SATA II after reboots.

Looks like I have a 120GB Intel 510 Series SSD for sale now, PM me if interested, will put it up on eBay in a while if there's no interest here.

 

Good to see that your problems are solved.

Just curious if the system couldn't put out enough power to the 510 and the WD HDD when both were installed and was giving you these issues.

(Both drives take more than avg power...).

Thank's for offering the Intel here, but that size is too small for me to consider. You should get a good price for it on eBay.

Good luck.

 

You may want to see if you can RMA the ssd, I have the 510 with a Scorp black (500gb) but if your getting clicking and slow boots there might be an issue with the ssd.