Which SSD should I buy?

[Duardo]

I am wanting to replacing my optical drive with an SSD in my 2008 iMac.

I've been reading a lot of reviews for different SSDs and these have been coming up a lot. The only thing I'm concerned about is reliability and lifespan. I need some help deciding which SSD to get out of these four choices:

• Samsung 840 Series SSD 250GB - $170
• Intel 330 Series SSD 240GB - $193
• OCZ Technology 256GB Agility 4 Series - $175
• Kingston HyperX 3K 240GB - $185

Thank you

[TheGenerous]

@Duardo, I hope you don't mind me asking here as well.
What SSD for a 2006 MacBook?

[phoenixsan]

a good measure of realibility is the MBTF (mean time between failure), a statistic what measures the time elapsed between inherent failures. In that case, the data I gather after a quick search are:

Samsung MBTF: 1,500,000 hours
Intel: 1,200,000 hours
OCZ: 2,000,000 hours
Kingston: 1,000,000 hours

So, one can infer from these data, you will best served with the OCZ one

[sahni130]

I would definitely pick the Samsung 830 series over the 840 series. The 830 has a proven reliability record and is better built. Everyone seems to agree that MLC memory (830) is better than the TLC memory that 840 uses. I just bought one for my macbook last week and absolutely love it. I went to amazon warehouse deals and got a 256gb 830 series for $175 shipped. Speeds are great and I really recommend it!


Best of luck,
jay

[Spink10]

Another 830 fan.

[toto2007]

Originally Posted by sahni130

I would definitely pick the Samsung 830 series over the 840 series. The 830 has a proven reliability record and is better built. Everyone seems to agree that MLC memory (830) is better than the TLC memory that 840 uses. I just bought one for my macbook last week and absolutely love it. I went to amazon warehouse deals and got a 256gb 830 series for $175 shipped. Speeds are great and I really recommend it!


Best of luck,
jay

Is it possible to put an SSD drive inside the MBP or inside any other mac (Mac Pro,...)?
Where can i find more info on this, eventually with instructions how to install the sad?

Thanks.

[sahni130]

Most SSDs now are of the 2.5 inch form factor which fits perfectly inside a mac mini or macbook pro. If you wan't to install that in a Mac Pro or another desktop then you will need a 3.5 inch adapter such as this one : (http://www.amazon.com/OCZ-3-5-Inch-A...ch+ssd+adapter)

Youtube has some great tutorials on how to install the drives. Check out OWC's channel.

-Jay

[Penn Jennings]

Originally Posted by toto2007

Is it possible to put an SSD drive inside the MBP or inside any other mac (Mac Pro,...)?
Where can i find more info on this, eventually with instructions how to install the sad?

Thanks.

Installing a SSD is fairly easy in a MBP as long you have the right tools. You can get the screw drivers from OWC for $5.

From what I've seen, the mini is more work.

[toto2007]

Do you need some kind of driver or it behaves like a "regular" hard disk?

Thanks.

[Penn Jennings]

Originally Posted by toto2007

Do you need some kind of driver or it behaves like a "regular" hard disk?

Thanks.

If you get a newer/good SSD you can just stick in and away you go. If the drive doesn't have garbage collection you will want to enable TRIM. SSDs like the crucial m4 don't require TRIM under Mac OS X.

[martinm0]

B&H Photo has the Samsung 830 256GB for $179 today. That's a good drive a decent price.

[designs216]

Another vote for the M4. I've installed the 256 and 512 and they've both been great. Though the pricing was similar to the Samsung 830 at lower capacities, at the time of my purchase the 512 M4 was a much better deal.

[mark cas]

I have put a Samsung 830 256gb in my MBP its been really good so far

[kohlson]

Check out anandtech and tomshardware - they do lots of in-depth testing and analysis. YMMV, but Intel and Samsung 830 and generally considered "the best" but OCZ and Crucial are well-regarded, too. Most SSD vendors are PC-centric, which matters when upgrading firmware. That said, Samsung has a page that offers a way to create a bootable flash drive. Much harder to find than actually use. I have installed OWC, Samsung 830, and OCZ SSDs.

[lixuelai]

330 has synchronous MLC using a Sandforce controller.
HyperX 3k also has synchronous MLC using a Sandforce controller, however the NAND has lower write tolerance.
840 has TLC NAND which is worse than MLC and a Samsung controller.
Agility 4 uses async MLC which is worse than sync MLC using a Marvell controller.

IMO 330 > HyperX > 840 = Agility 4.

[Penn Jennings]

Originally Posted by lixuelai

330 has synchronous MLC using a Sandforce controller.
HyperX 3k also has synchronous MLC using a Sandforce controller, however the NAND has lower write tolerance.
840 has TLC NAND which is worse than MLC and a Samsung controller.
Agility 4 uses async MLC which is worse than sync MLC using a Marvell controller.

IMO 330 > HyperX > 840 = Agility 4.

Just curious, assuming that you mean the Intel 330 and Samsung 840 and not the 840 Pro. The 840 Pro looks a beast but it will cost you.

[b52hbuff]

Originally Posted by sahni130

If you wan't to install that in a Mac Pro or another desktop then you will need a 3.5 inch adapter such as this one : (http://www.amazon.com/OCZ-3-5-Inch-A...ch+ssd+adapter)


-Jay

http://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-2-5-In...30+ssd+desktop

Not sure about other SSDs, but Samsung has a desktop kit version that includes the adapter. May be more expensive than ala carte, but at least you'd expect the pieces to fit together.

[phenoplastic]

Another happy Samsung 830 user here.

I use it via a Seagate GoFlex Thunderbolt adaptor to boot up my 2011 iMac, and it's rock solid. An initial problem with it losing connection was fixed by reversing the TB cable. ( to be fair was most probably adaptor related and not the drive)

[lixuelai]

Originally Posted by Penn Jennings

Just curious, assuming that you mean the Intel 330 and Samsung 840 and not the 840 Pro. The 840 Pro looks a beast but it will cost you.

I am going by what the OP linked which is the 840 non-Pro.

[LaunchpadBS]

I'm in the same boat but on a budget as I'm replacing the 512GB SSD which cost me a bomb has gone into my mac mini, I'm after a 250GB SSD for my Macbook Pro that wont break the bank.

What was the final decision?

Also thoughts on the OCZ Agility 3? It's the cheapest by far.

[JGRE]

Originally Posted by toto2007

Is it possible to put an SSD drive inside the MBP or inside any other mac (Mac Pro,...)?
Where can i find more info on this, eventually with instructions how to install the sad?

Thanks.

Youtube: Fixit

----------

Originally Posted by Duardo

I am wanting to replacing my optical drive with an SSD in my 2008 iMac.

I've been reading a lot of reviews for different SSDs and these have been coming up a lot. The only thing I'm concerned about is reliability and lifespan. I need some help deciding which SSD to get out of these four choices:

• Samsung 840 Series SSD 250GB - $170
• Intel 330 Series SSD 240GB - $193
• OCZ Technology 256GB Agility 4 Series - $175
• Kingston HyperX 3K 240GB - $185

Thank you

Why didn't you consider the OCZ Vertex 4. Schould be far better than the Agility.

[MattieD]

Not trying to thread-jack but out of Intel, Samsung, OCZ, or Crucial which ones can be updated natively in OSX and which ones can not?

Which is the most user friendly?

[dmw16]

I have a Samsung 830 and I love it. People have also highly recommended the Crucial M4.

The 840 doesn't seem like a bad option, but don't confuse it with the 840 Pro which is more-so the successor of the 830.

[LaunchpadBS]

I have the M4 and it flies!
Looking at getting the Samsung 840 as its cheaper than the 830, any real reason to go for the 830 instead?