Kind of a unique SSD buying/upgrade choice...

[TahoeDust]

I have a Mid 2009 13" MBP 2.53GHz Core 2 Due upgraded with two 8gb of ram and a 500gb 7200rpm HDD. I am surprised at how well this machine still performs. I have SSDs in SATA 3 desktops and the speed is awesome. I have two questions.

1.Would installing a SSD in a SATA 2 machine running a 7200 rpm drive give a solidly noticeable difference? If so how much?

2. I am choosing between a Crucial M4 256GB for $170 or a friend offered me a 512GB Toshiba SATA 2 SSD (http://storage.toshiba.eu/cms/en/hdd/solid_state_drives/product_detail.jsp?productid=428 for $225. Which would you choose. Would I notice any performance between the two being that the M4 would be running through SATA 2?

 

[paul-n]

You will fell a huge difference, but this is caused by random IO performance from the SSD. The maximum throughput is only important while copying files.
I like the Samsung 840 SSDs which I already put into some MacBooks, they are fast and reliable. The M4 is also ok, but crucial screwed up some firmware updates in the last months.

 

[gngan]

I have a Mid 2009 13" MBP 2.53GHz Core 2 Due upgraded with two 8gb of ram and a 500gb 7200rpm HDD. I am surprised at how well this machine still performs. I have SSDs in SATA 3 desktops and the speed is awesome. I have two questions.

1.Would installing a SSD in a SATA 2 machine running a 7200 rpm drive give a solidly noticeable difference? If so how much?

2. I am choosing between a Crucial M4 256GB for $170 or a friend offered me a 512GB Toshiba SATA 2 SSD (http://storage.toshiba.eu/cms/en/hdd/solid_state_drives/product_detail.jsp?productid=428 for $225. Which would you choose. Would I notice any performance between the two being that the M4 would be running through SATA 2?

I would always go with new SSD. You never know how 'new' with second hand SSD cause SSD has its life too.

I would consider getting a SATA 3 SSD cause you may be upgrading sooner or later which you can always swap your SSD to the new PC.

 

[TahoeDust]

I would always go with new SSD. You never know how 'new' with second hand SSD cause SSD has its life too.

I would consider getting a SATA 3 SSD cause you may be upgrading sooner or later which you can always swap your SSD to the new PC.

I hear you. The second hand 512GB has 571 hrs. Would that sway your choice?

 

[gngan]

I hear you. The second hand 512GB has 571 hrs. Would that sway your choice?

I think that's pretty new but you never know how often your friend reads/writes the SSD. Moreover, I don't think Toshiba's SSD is really that good. Though Apple uses it but it's slower than other brands. If you don't mind, go with the dual (SSD + HDD) setup. You get the space, SATA 3 (for future), and new SSD.