Which SSD Offers More For the Money? 256GB or 512GB?

Which one would you guys recommend? The 512GB one would be nice for the extra space, but Amazon has them at $400, while the 256GB is less than half of that. I guess that makes sense, since 256 x 2 is 512, but which one is the better value in your opinion?

 

First; it depends on which SSD's you're talking about in particular.

Second; I can only recommend the Crucial M4 (less than $400 currently) at the 512GB capacity. Why? Because my recommended Intel 520 Series 240GB SSD is cut off at the knees at bigger capacities (the performance is actually worse at the 480GB size than at the 240GB size of any SF based SSD...).


Finally to answer the 'better value' proposition;

I don't consider parts/components on their own - I consider the whole system/platform and include everything including possibly re-installing the O/S (don't believe in 'cloning'...) if/when I might need a bigger drive in any specific system.

With the above in mind, if I was considering keeping the system for (well) over 18 months (which I normally do...) I would always go for the most capacity (given the same or better performance). Otherwise, I may even leave the original HDD installed rather than spending the time and energy upgrading to an SSD (depending on how heavily I would need to use/depend on this 'temporary' solution).

If we compare the Intel 520 240GB SSD to the 256GB M4 - the Intel is noticeably the better/faster SSD (even at a price premium - if, performance is your goal). However, if capacity is already on your mind at this point in time - the Crucial M4 512GB SSD is the best value, performance and proven reliability you can buy. In fact, it is even better performing than the 256GB M4.

When storage capacity is already an issue - even if only in our minds right now - the 'better value' winner is the M4 512GB SSD.

Good luck.

 

based on what you posted, nobody can recommend you anything. Better tell what you use the computer for first.

on top of that I think you already answered your own question regarding which one is a better value.

and finally, half of tilleroftheearth's posts are those where he recommends and M4 ssd, and I bet he doesn't even have one

 

Pretty easy question, if you can use up 256GB then the 512 GB is better buy. If not, 256GB is better buy....

 

More for the money? Easy question, easy answer: look at the price per GB. Currently, the Crucial M4 is one of the best.

 

miro, you're right - I don't have one - I have multiple M4's (256GB and 512GB size).

 

baiii, not so easy if you need a drive bigger than 256GB (and if using SF controllers; they're slower than the 240/256GB versions).

 

well, the op question is 256 or 512, not which SSD to get that is larger than 256GB.

Not sure what you mean when you said bigger driver slower compare to 256/240 version.

 

Yeah, the SF issues continue (even when Intel is at the helm)...

While most SSD drives get faster as the capacity goes up, SF based drives do not:

See:
Intel SSD 520 Series 480GB review: Verdict | Disk drives (hdd & ssd) Reviews | TechRadar


Many more examples out there on the web (just the first one I hit with a quick google search).

 

I would just avoid non-Intel sandforce altogether... To many issues in the past to trust for the near future. And even Intel ones aren't completely problem free.

If you have 2 sata 3 bays I would just get 2 256gbs and RAID 0 them.