SSD upgrade suggestions

sh1mpulse · Nov 4, 2012, 01:25 AM

Hi Guys

I just bought a 2012 mac mini and plan to upgrade to a 240-256 SSD myself. Just wondering if any one had any experience in doing this and can suggest a drive that's compatible, fast and reliable.

Budget's not really an issue, but would refer bang for buck.

Thanks in advance.

propower · Nov 4, 2012, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sh1mpulse

Hi Guys

I just bought a 2012 mac mini and plan to upgrade to a 240-256 SSD myself. Just wondering if any one had any experience in doing this and can suggest a drive that's compatible, fast and reliable.

Budget's not really an issue, but would refer bang for buck.

Thanks in advance.

SAmsung 830's have a good reputation for reliability and mac compatibility. I have used a 256G samsung in my mbp 2011 for 6 months, zero issues.

sh1mpulse · Nov 4, 2012, 02:14 AM

My local computer store has the Sandisk extreme 240gb on special and is $30AUD cheaper then the Samsung. So i just have a few questions.

1.Does anyone know what the usable space on these two drives are?

2. Specs say that the Sandisk is faster. Is there a noticeable difference?

3. Reviews say Snadisk has firmware problems? True or fasle?

4. What's the difference between sandforce and ARM9 controller?

Thanks again

surroundfan · Nov 4, 2012, 02:56 AM

Rocking a Sandisk here (indeed, I just upgraded the firmware today).

It is 240GB, but reports as 239.71GB after a recovery partition and EFI are accounted for.

No noticeable difference speedwise compared to Samsungs I'm guessing.

As mentioned, it's recently been upgraded to R211 which squashed a lot of Trim-related bugs. Sandisk has also released specific firmware for NVidia Macs to ensure they get the full 3gbps on their SATAII bus, which was pretty cool (although even cooler is the Samsung 830 which requires no firmware flashing).

Dunno...

analogkid · Nov 4, 2012, 08:02 AM

I've got a pair of Samsung 830's in raid0. I use softraid to maintain the trim command. Look around for them as they are going on sale all over the place.

Acorn · Nov 4, 2012, 08:49 AM

the samsung 840 series has been released so the samsung 830 series should be coming down fast

stu.h · Nov 4, 2012, 10:25 AM

Just purchased a Samsung 830 for £131 delivered from Dabs Direct

adonis3k · Nov 4, 2012, 03:41 PM

which 830s are best to use? whats the Norton software ones?

MattZani · Nov 4, 2012, 04:12 PM

All 830s are the same. Some come with extras, the barebones one is what you need.

Technically bigger drives are faster, but overall its a brilliant line.

adonis3k · Nov 4, 2012, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattZani

All 830s are the same. Some come with extras, the barebones one is what you need.

Technically bigger drives are faster, but overall its a brilliant line.

Cheers mate, ordered the basic version.

darcyjames · Nov 16, 2012, 10:49 PM

I put the 830 in my 2012 Mac mini and it works great.

mwhities · Nov 16, 2012, 10:54 PM

I just installed a Samsung 830 128G SSD in a friend's 2011 Mac mini. He LOVED how fast it booted up. (I just realized, I need to get the TRIM enabler on it.)

I have the same drive in my Macbook (in sig) and it boots up in 16 seconds. So I think the i5/7s will be a LOT faster.

64G Crucial M4 on my 09 mac mini (sig). It's my little server and running 24/7.

So I would personally recommend either.

Rhinoevans · Nov 17, 2012, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acorn

the samsung 840 series has been released so the samsung 830 series should be coming down fast

Not true, the 830 is in fact more popular than the 840 NON PRO model.

I just bought one frrom Newegg (830) for $189 (256G) with the Laptop kit

I really doubt much lower, in fact the 840 ($179) is less than the 830.

Alekto · Nov 17, 2012, 01:24 AM

I dropped an Intel 335 SSD 240GB in mine. Runs lovely.

milkmandan · Nov 17, 2012, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhinoevans

Not true, the 830 is in fact more popular than the 840 NON PRO model.

I just bought one frrom Newegg (830) for $189 (256G) with the Laptop kit

I really doubt much lower, in fact the 840 ($179) is less than the 830.

Just to add onto your post.
The 830 uses MLC cell technology.
The 840 (normal, NON-PRO) uses TLC cell technology. TLC is inferior in terms of reliability and longevity of cell life. However, it is better 'bang for buck', but performance is about the same.
840 Pro is MLC and boasts better speeds than normal 840.

I would either recommend the 830. If money is absolutely of no factor, 840 Pro 512GB model.

Nov 4, 2012, 01:25 AM	#1
sh1mpulse macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2012	SSD upgrade suggestions Hi Guys I just bought a 2012 mac mini and plan to upgrade to a 240-256 SSD myself. Just wondering if any one had any experience in doing this and can suggest a drive that's compatible, fast and reliable. Budget's not really an issue, but would refer bang for buck. Thanks in advance.
	0

Nov 4, 2012, 02:56 AM	#4
surroundfan macrumors regular Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia	Rocking a Sandisk here (indeed, I just upgraded the firmware today). It is 240GB, but reports as 239.71GB after a recovery partition and EFI are accounted for. No noticeable difference speedwise compared to Samsungs I'm guessing. As mentioned, it's recently been upgraded to R211 which squashed a lot of Trim-related bugs. Sandisk has also released specific firmware for NVidia Macs to ensure they get the full 3gbps on their SATAII bus, which was pretty cool (although even cooler is the Samsung 830 which requires no firmware flashing). Dunno... __________________ MacBook Air: 13" 1.86GHz 4GB RAM 256GB SSD; Mac mini: i5 2.3GHz 8GB RAM 240GB SSD and 500GB HDD; iMac: G4 17" 1.25GHz 2GB RAM 160GB HDD; iPhone: iPhone 5 32GB; iPad mini 64GB LTE
	0

Nov 4, 2012, 03:41 PM	#8
adonis3k macrumors member Join Date: Apr 2012	which 830s are best to use? whats the Norton software ones? __________________ Mac Mini 2012: i7 2.6GHz, 16GB RAM, Samsung 256GB 830, OEM 1TB HDD
	0

Nov 4, 2012, 04:12 PM	#9
MattZani macrumors 68020 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Weymouth, UK	All 830s are the same. Some come with extras, the barebones one is what you need. Technically bigger drives are faster, but overall its a brilliant line. __________________ Mac Mini 2012 - 2.6Ghz Quad i7, 16Gb RAM, 1Tb HDD 32Gb Black iPhone 5 16Gb Black iPad 3 MDPhotography
	0

Nov 16, 2012, 10:49 PM	#11
darcyjames macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Sep 2012	I put the 830 in my 2012 Mac mini and it works great. Attached Thumbnails __________________ 15"rMBP 2.6i7/16/512, 11"MBA i7/4/128, 21.5" iMac i7/8/500, 2TB Tcap, w/2APexpress, iPad 3rd/64, iPhone5/Bk/32, atv1,2,3, iPodVideo5.1/30 
	0

Nov 4, 2012, 02:14 AM	#3
sh1mpulse Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2012	My local computer store has the Sandisk extreme 240gb on special and is $30AUD cheaper then the Samsung. So i just have a few questions. 1.Does anyone know what the usable space on these two drives are? 2. Specs say that the Sandisk is faster. Is there a noticeable difference? 3. Reviews say Snadisk has firmware problems? True or fasle? 4. What's the difference between sandforce and ARM9 controller? Thanks again
	0

Nov 4, 2012, 08:02 AM	#5
analogkid macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Savannah	I've got a pair of Samsung 830's in raid0. I use softraid to maintain the trim command. Look around for them as they are going on sale all over the place.
	0

Nov 4, 2012, 08:49 AM	#6
Acorn macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jan 2009	the samsung 840 series has been released so the samsung 830 series should be coming down fast
	0

Nov 4, 2012, 10:25 AM	#7
stu.h macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2010 Location: West Midlands, England.	Just purchased a Samsung 830 for £131 delivered from Dabs Direct
	0

Nov 16, 2012, 10:54 PM	#12
mwhities macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Mississippi	I just installed a Samsung 830 128G SSD in a friend's 2011 Mac mini. He LOVED how fast it booted up. (I just realized, I need to get the TRIM enabler on it.) I have the same drive in my Macbook (in sig) and it boots up in 16 seconds. So I think the i5/7s will be a LOT faster. 64G Crucial M4 on my 09 mac mini (sig). It's my little server and running 24/7. So I would personally recommend either. __________________ Mid '10 White MB 2.4Ghz/16G RAM/256G SSD MP 1,1 2.66Ghz 2 Dual core/5G - 23" ACD - Blue Nano 8G Black 4S 16G - Black iPad2 16G - AEX - AEP - 2TB TC
	0

Nov 17, 2012, 01:24 AM	#14
Alekto macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Tokyo	I dropped an Intel 335 SSD 240GB in mine. Runs lovely.
	0

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