Intel X25-M G2 160G on 3.06Ghz uMBP = WOW !

[Cycom]

I know intel is comin out with 300GB SSDs, I'll just wait till then.

If the 300gb models have the same (or similar) price point of the current 160's, I think they'll hit the sweet spot for a lot of people.

 

[CrackedButter]

I will be happy when SSDs are more affordable for sure. Everyone says how great they are and in my past bad HDs and displays have been the two major problems giving me headaches about laptops. I struggled affording my MBP as it is so an upgrade at current costs is not in my immediate future but I am glad to hear how fast and reliable SSDs are...it bodes well for them becoming more mainstream and that's good for all of us.

For the moment, I bought another 500GB and I'm creating a RAID 0 for my laptop instead of buying a 64GB SSD drive for the same price. See how that goes performance wise to tie me over over the prices and the quality improve.

The benchmarks I've seen on barefeats mean I get a doubling of performance for most tasks. If i'm unhappy I can just use it as a external backup drive . Win win for now.

 

[bware189]

Then why bother posting?

IMO the mods really need to start cleaning up these types of threads like they did with the "I JUST BOUGHT A MAC OMG!!!" threads.

Good feelings alone can open up a discussion, especially when people have empathy, or even sympathy; all that is needed is a constructive question. On the other hand, posters who come into a thread touting their own superiority (because they think their opinion is greater) are definitely counterintuitive to a constructive posting environment. So if you truly honestly feel the need to post your inane opinions, make your own thread and bitch about it there. Maybe your whining will accumulate the respect of other whiners and you guys can have a party! woo!

To actually add something to this thread, I would like to say that I'm in wait of my 160GB G2 to come in. TS, did you notice anything that set back the extreme awesomeness of your drive (obviously besides these naysayers)? I'd like to know if anyone has had any significant, or insignificant problems with their drives, during installation, or use. What kind of apps do you use? Also, are you bootcamping at all?

 

[Jason Beck]

I was just on "New world computing's" website and they have listed a 250GB SSD notebook drive for 749! ACK. ehhe I hope the price gets lower, I would love to be able to afford one. Those things seem blazing fast.

 

[adamk77]

 

 

[vexatia]

My post is just as useless as this thread.

I mean, it's some guy basically saying "I installed an SSD and now my computer is faster"

No benchmarks, no nothing. Where's the discussion?

I disagree. I'm considering an SSD and having someone relate their experience using one, even without benching, provides evidence that the perceived benefits may be more than just hype. Not to mention that ppl enjoy sharing their good fortune with others and if the OP's wife is anything like mine, she probably couldn't care less.

 

[sn0warmy]

It feels like the time when I got Greddy TT on my Z. Total sleeper

Insanely off topic but I know the feeling. I just installed a Blouch Evo III 16G with an APS FMIC on my WRX and got it tuned this past weekend. HOLY ****!! It's a whole different car.

But, like others have mentioned. The price difference is still to much for me to justify splurging. Especially when I know that the prices will continue to drop exponentially over the next year.

 

[rgarjr]

I'm just really surprised it took this long (50+ years) to get SSD in our computers.

 

[Scott6666]

why the hell are you still here !

I agree with you OP! I don't understand why people who are not interested in the thread don't just SILENTLY move on and let those who are interested in the thread contribute. There is absolutely no value in insulting the OP by stating that his thread is not to your liking. Also when told to move on, they keep posting. Most annoying.

---------
I for one am interested in what the OP has experienced. It has again piqued my interest in taking another look at SSD. My early 2009 MBP seems to be running a bit slower lately although the core is not particularly utilized. I think the HD is the culprit. I seem to get too many beach balls these days.

Are there any tools out there that let you know when your HD is the gating item in your system? iStat Pro has lots of stuff but this doesn't seem to be one.

 

[harperjones99]

I'm just really surprised it took this long (50+ years) to get SSD in our computers.

I agree...I can't believe all flash is still as expensive as it is. SD, USB drives, HDD...they should be cheaper in 2009. The prices don't seem to me to be coming down at the rate tech did in the past.

 

[Jason Beck]

I agree...I can't believe all flash is still as expensive as it is. SD, USB drives, HDD...they should be cheaper in 2009. The prices don't seem to me to be coming down at the rate tech did in the past.

I agree. It really shouldn't be that expensive. On a side note, seems like ram prices keep getting cheaper. Seems like Crucial prices are really affordable these days! I wish I could get a SSD drive. After reading this thread I went on Youtube and was amazed how snappy osx and windows was after the install to a SSD drive. My wife was also impressed. Impressed for a 700$ buy.. no, if the price gets slashed in half... hell yes. I would L O V E to use one for Photoshop. I can only imagine how much faster I could create images.

 

[Morn]

Believe me, when you see Logic or iTunes open with one bounce all questions of expense go out the window. It's ridiculously fast

Why am I going to spend hundreds of dollars just to see apps open with one bounce. Am I the only one who thinks you're a bit crazy?
Now what takes time in iTunes is encoding, I'D rather put the money towards the CPU.

 

[kolax]

I really wish I could avoid reading posts like these...

I'm skint. I can't afford to splash out on an SSD, but the temptation.. I'd need 300GB though. Hopefully the Intel one won't be too costly.. I'd be willing to sacrifice my optical drive and whack in an SSD as well as a HDD, if I it wouldn't void my warranty.

 

[FarSeide]

As I have stated before in the original post, I dont have any bench mark numbers to put up but you could look them up your selves.

Here are some of the apps that I use on a daily basis that I see noticeable differences on.

1. XCode
2. Eclipse
3. PhotoShop
4. Illustrator
5. iTunes

They literally pop up with one bounce at most. I'm still in the process of learning how to tweak the SSD so that it can perform at its best.

Thanks all for your support against that guy who hates life.

 

[FarSeide]

Why am I going to spend hundreds of dollars just to see apps open with one bounce. Am I the only one who thinks you're a bit crazy?
Now what takes time in iTunes is encoding, I'D rather put the money towards the CPU.

I like the fact that I could pop open my development tools without having to wait additional 5 seconds. Granted its only 5 seconds but still.

 

[8767092]

As I have stated before in the original post, I dont have any bench mark numbers to put up but you could look them up your selves.

Download Xbench and run it.

Congratulations on your new purchase. I just upgraded to an SSD in my Macbook Air so I know where you're coming from.

 

[MikeSantor]

I don't mean to get off topic but Its relevant to this thread and we really don't need another SSD thread.

1. Whats the cheapest place to get an intel SSD besides Ebay and new egg? New egg is the ONLY parts place I use so hopefully you guys have some places that beat there prices.

2. OP, you mentioned tweeking the SSD to get better performance. Where did you read about the things to do to tweek it? From all the searching I have done it seems like a lot of people just bitch about them being buggy. I cant find a lot of constructive articles. More bashing than anything.

Thanks guys. I think im going to take the plunge.

 

[8767092]

1. Whats the cheapest place to get an intel SSD besides Ebay and new egg? New egg is the ONLY parts place I use so hopefully you guys have some places that beat there prices.

Look for Kingston SSDs using the Intel controller if you are looking for the lowest price on Intel based SSDs.

This thread had a Kingston 40GB Intel based SSD on for $85 (after MIR) so they can be had at a reasonable price if you're patient enough.

 

[MikeSantor]

Look for Kingston SSDs using the Intel controller if you are looking for the lowest price on Intel based SSDs.

This thread had a Kingston 40GB Intel based SSD on for $85 (after MIR) so they can be had at a reasonable price if you're patient enough.

HAHA, Nice. I JUST saw the kingston ones on Ebay and was trying to do some searches on the difference between the 2. So are there really any performance differences between the 2? From what I understand what makes the intel SSD so great is the controller. So im assuming if the Kingston SSD uses the Intel controller there damn near the same thing? Confirm anyone?

 

[8767092]

HAHA, Nice. I JUST saw the kingston ones on Ebay and was trying to do some searches on the difference between the 2. So are there really any performance differences between the 2? From what I understand what makes the intel SSD so great is the controller. So im assuming if the Kingston SSD uses the Intel controller there damn near the same thing? Confirm anyone?

More or less. The Intel SSDs use different firmware, but SSD speed depends on several things.

1) Size of the drive. Bigger is faster.

2) Controller, Intel is best with Indilinx (RunCore has their own implementation of Indilinx which is more or less equal to Intel's) being second best.

and more I don't have time to get into right now. Those are the big two though.

 

[FarSeide]

Download Xbench and run it.

Congratulations on your new purchase. I just upgraded to an SSD in my Macbook Air so I know where you're coming from.

Thanks for the tool. Here are the results for my XBench Results.

 

[FarSeide]

I don't mean to get off topic but Its relevant to this thread and we really don't need another SSD thread.

1. Whats the cheapest place to get an intel SSD besides Ebay and new egg? New egg is the ONLY parts place I use so hopefully you guys have some places that beat there prices.

2. OP, you mentioned tweeking the SSD to get better performance. Where did you read about the things to do to tweek it? From all the searching I have done it seems like a lot of people just bitch about them being buggy. I cant find a lot of constructive articles. More bashing than anything.

Thanks guys. I think im going to take the plunge.

So far, I've turned off Sudden Motion Sensor, Hibernate Mode and Spotlight.

I read that these will prevent unnecessary writing to the SSD.