Looking for an SSD

[strep3241]

This SSD technology is all new to me so bare with me. I have always been using the standard hard drives.

I may be buying two SSD's, doesn't have to be the same thing. One for my sig rig and the other for an office machine. The sig rig is used for occassional gaming and other basic stuff like internet, music, watching movies, storing pics, etc. Would a 60gb be enough space for Windows 7 and my other programs? Right now I have 19 programs installed which some of them are small and others are decent sized. Would I see any real benefit while gaming from an SSD? The main game I play right now is BF: BC2.

I realize that I would have to use another drive for storage and backup which is what I do now anyways.

Let me ask you this, if I do buy an SSD, I would be using a WD Black 500gb drive for my secondary drive. What kind of transfer rates would I get between the two drives? I would assume it would be higher than between two 500gb drives but how much higher?

How much more reliable are SSD's compared to standard drives? I really don't want to spend more than $200 but I will go over a little if I can get more performance. Is there any reason I should wait? I am not in a big hurry to buy one.

For the office machine, I may just stick with standard drives for now.

 

[Nintendesert]

The new 120GB drive from Intel is looking tempting. It has a better gig/price ratio than their other drives. That's spacey enough for most things and Intel has a pretty reliable reputation thus far with their SSDs for the most part.

Maybe some deals will get them down to the $200 dollar range, for now the MSRP is $249 and a little above what you want to pay.

Waiting however does have the benefit of getting the new G3 generation of Intel drives that will be using the new die shrinks to bring additional storage space for the same price.Or so it's hoped.

 

[strep3241]

How long would I have to wait for the new generation of drives?

If I were to buy now, what would be a good choice? I think I am going with either Intel or OCZ.

Here are a few I picked out:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167031


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227601

One thing I don't understand is the write times. On the OCZ, the write time is 275mb/s where as the Intel is only 70mb/s. In fact, all the Intel drives are only 70mb/s. Why is Intel so much slower than OCZ. After some searching, it looks like Intel's write time is the slowest out of most of them.

Out of those two, which would you pick? I am not set on those two so if you have better suggestions, I am ready.

 

[fffblackmage]

The Intel G2 SSD is just older. The Vertex 2 is a Sandforce-based SSD and is much newer addition in the SSD market. My choice would be any Sandforce-based SSD, though for the price of the Vertex 2 you linked, I'd go with the 120GB Agility 2 $230 ($200 AR)

 

[IGemini]

Corsair Force? Reading through today's Vertex+ review included some benchmarks of Force SSDs seemed on par (or better) with the G2 and Agility 2.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820233131

 

[tweakboy]

I get 155mbps write lol, I pown a G2 in writing speed hahaha

 

[GoSharks]

I get 155mbps write lol, I pown a G2 in writing speed hahaha

 

[Makaveli]

Ok so you get 155 vs 101 writing on the 160GB SSD and that is owning.

The intel SSD gets 260mb reads does your samsung hard drive hit that probably not.

The access times on your HD are around the 11-12ms range while the SSD is 0.1ms.

So would the Intel drive therefore own u your wife and your children at the same time?

if not how would you classify it?

 

[lmccrary]

I have nothing but praise for my OCZ Vertex 2. It is fast and no problems at all. I highly recommend it.

 

[scrubman]

I just bought one of these last night and couldnt be happier!

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2120531

 

[strep3241]

When are the new generation of drives supposed to be released? What about the Intel 120gb?

 

[muskie32]

I bought One of These for my new computer, and it is amazing! Fast to

 

[taltamir]

When are the new generation of drives supposed to be released?

about a month

 

[LokutusofBorg]

When are the new generation of drives supposed to be released? What about the Intel 120gb?

The Intel 120 is already out. The G3 is due out in Feb 2011, I believe.

I have no idea when the Gen2 SF controller is to be released. Might be worth looking into if you're interested in non-Intel drives.

 

[strep3241]

Thanks for the help. I picked out a couple of more. Tell me if there is anything better for the money.

This is is 3.5" form factor. I noticed most drives are 2.5". Any reason not to but the 3.5" for a desktop?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227590

This ones comes to $200 with the rebate and has $55 knocked off. To be honest, I normally don't let rebates make a big impact on my decision mainly being due to it takes so long to get it back and there is a good chance you will not get it back. And you can't return it if you have a problem with it since you have to remove the proof of purchase label.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233125


I assume the OCZ uses the sandforce controller. Which is the better out of the two? Any better suggestions for that price or lower? Why are most SSD drives 2.5" form factor? Is it because alot of people buy them for laptops instead of desktops?

 

[taltamir]

The Intel 120 is already out. The G3 is due out in Feb 2011, I believe.

the intel 120GB is not a new generation of drive though, it uses the same 32nm MLC and same controller as the 80GB and 160GB G2 drives, it just has more chips than the 80GB and less than the 160GB.
the next gen uses 25nm MLC chips and redesigned controllers.
The G3 is due at various times (for various sizes), there are other companies also releasing new (and potentially even better) next gen SSDs. We should see them being released one by one over the next few months. hopefully the rumors are right and the first will come in about a month

 

[sanitvoid]

Intel 120GB with mail in rebate of $25 gets you an Intel SSD for $195-ish.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...seller=&colid=

Good only until Nov. 30th.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

Intel 120GB with mail in rebate of $25 gets you an Intel SSD for $195-ish.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...seller=&colid=

Good only until Nov. 30th.

+ $20 tax for NY makes it $250 = 35 rebate by 11/30 = $215 shipped

 

[fatpolomanjr]

Zomg. I was willing to pay $100 for a 60GB vertex 2, but this rebate is like paying $100 for two 60GB SSDs...only in one enclosure of course (i.e. without the benefits of having two separate ssds).

I would so jump on this if I hadn't already bought my [very much loved] SSD.

 

[IGemini]

Thanks for the help. I picked out a couple of more. Tell me if there is anything better for the money.

This is is 3.5" form factor. I noticed most drives are 2.5". Any reason not to but the 3.5" for a desktop?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227590

This ones comes to $200 with the rebate and has $55 knocked off. To be honest, I normally don't let rebates make a big impact on my decision mainly being due to it takes so long to get it back and there is a good chance you will not get it back. And you can't return it if you have a problem with it since you have to remove the proof of purchase label.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233125


I assume the OCZ uses the sandforce controller. Which is the better out of the two? Any better suggestions for that price or lower? Why are most SSD drives 2.5" form factor? Is it because alot of people buy them for laptops instead of desktops?

They put a lot of SSDs in 2.5" because they're expected primarily for laptop market, though most include a 3.5" bracket (like that Corsair). Only real downside is you won't be able to move it to a laptop if you'd want. Both the OCZ and Corsair use SandForce-1200. They're both good drives and pretty equal in performance overall, though the Corsair has really good small-file R/W speeds. I'm not too big on rebates...personally I'd go with the Corsair but you can't go wrong either way.

 

[sanitvoid]

Bah, I actually meant $35 rebate for the 120 GB, not $25. Sorry for that.

 

[Emulex]

the x25-m is safer (read only cache ram) and faster in many cases were compression is not applicable.

you can compact all objects on your drive that are read only (ie compact /s /i *.dll) so i think the quad core can decompress faster than a sandforce chip all day long.

my testing showed in non-compressed situations the safer x25-m design (80gb) beats the sandforce in most cases.

It's really sad that sandforce has to publish benchmarks based on zero fill to get their numbers. that is some b/s. Intel has nothing to be ashamed about their X25 even G1 remains fast and solid 2 years later (i actually have an x18-m G1 and it is quite snappy still). Benchmark queens will like the sandforce better . lol.

 

[strep3241]

Emulex, are you saying that for everyday usage, the intel drives will be faster? I was just going by the specs of the drives to make my decision. It does look better seeing the higher numbers. I am not really big into benchmarking.

 

[Emulex]

intel drives feel just as fast in every day use. but are safer since they do not write back cache without a battery backup.

 

[strep3241]

Man this is confusing. I have my choices narrowed down to three. I am debating to go with Intel or not. While I have heard good things about OCZ and G Skill, I have heard that Intel seems to be pretty reliable.

Here are my three choices:
OCZ Vertex 2 120gb
most expensive, seem to hear alot of good buzz about, comes with a $30 rebate which is a prepaid card from OCZ

G Skill Phoenix Pro Series 120gb
cheapest of the three

Intel x-25m 120gb
comes with a free game and a $35 prepaid card from Intel

I am thinking of getting two drives, one for my system and one for my Dad's new system. I don't know if I should get two of the same thing or get two different ones. I would rather have a more reliable drive for Dad's system rather than a faster drive.