Which SSD of 120/128 GB has the best 4K read/write performance?

I need to speed up my old laptop equipped with a Core 2 Duo P8700 (2.53Ghz) and 4GB RAM with a new 120/128 GB SSD. I'm not a gamer at all, I'm only interested is speeding up IDE and programming software like Visual Studio and PHPStorm. They read and write a lot of small index files, cache, and so on. (Correct me if I'm wrong) 4K performances are really important.

Priority list:

• SATA III (maybe I'll move the SSD to a new PC desktop)
• Responsive desktop experience
• Absolutely reliable
• Performances will stay the same after filling up the disk
• Low power consumption
• Works well in Linux

I'm not interested in Windows boot up time or games loading times. Among the following, which you would buy?

• Samsung 840 Basic 120GB (MZ-7TD120BW) 92€/121$ | SandForce
• Kingston HyperX 3K 120GB (SH103S3/120G) 99€/130$ | SandForce
• Crucial M4 128GB (CT128M4SSD2) 101€/133$ | Marvell
• Corsair Neutron 128GB (CSSD-N128GB3-BK) 108€/142$ | LAMD
• Plextor M5 Pro 128GB (PX-128M5P) 109€/144$ | Marvell
• OCZ Vertex 4 128GB (VTX4-25SAT3-128G) 113€/149$ | Marvell
• Intel 520 120GB (SSDSC2CW120A310) 125€/165$ | SandForce

Shipping costs included. Thank you for pointing me in the right buy!

 

Crucial M4 or Intel 520...

 

Funny thing is, Windows 7 boot time IS directly related to random 4k performance. I would say its the Intel 520 that has the fastest 4k Random here, it also happens to be very consistent and reliable. However, it does slow down a bit compared to the fresh state simply due to a limitation in the Sandforce implementation of TRIM. Plus, the intel reliability is a real bonus. However, Sandforce hates being filled to the brim, you may back the controller in to a corner where TRIM would not work properly.

As an honorary mention
Corsair neutron may not have the best 4k Random Read/Write but it wins hands down when it comes to consistency, its performance doesn't fluctuate much as you keep hammering away at it.

Ideally, if its Random 4K Read performance and power efficiency (i.e. program startup, system responsiveness etc) then its the Samsung 840 pro you should chase whereas if its 4k Random Write then the ideal drive is the OCZ Vector (this beast has probably the best Garbage collection and doesn't seem to slow down until you fill it to 75%) as both are in the price and reliability neighborhood of the Intel 520.