SSD Buying Guide

[NickZac]

In actual studies, not comments sections, Intel leads the pack with half of one percent failure rate.
This is from a review last week: Based on test results, the Intel 520 Series 240GB is a rock solid performer, we can see a vast improvement over its 510 Series predecessor. Intel has waited the right time for the SF-2281 before they finally use it, due to some bugs issues with SandForce controller was facing before. For years, Intel SSD’s has an almost perfect record and goes through extensive test procedure before shipping it to consumers. This is what reliability is all about.
Why would anyone want a 510?

I am not trying to take anything away from Intel. The drive I will buy will be the 510 or the M4.

The most quoted SSD reliability studies that have been conducted are older and have likely used the Crucial C300 and have compared it to the previous version of Intel's SSDs (not that their current ones are any less reliable as I consider the 510 to be the standard of the ideal SSD). I am not saying Crucial is more reliable than Intel. Intel is a pack leader in reliability, but I am saying that the M4 seems to be much more reliable than their previous models and such a high level of customer satisfaction must be assumed to indicate lower failure rates as Crucial's previous models were not nearly as well rated. The M4 is the only SSD that has customer satisfaction ratings that are right next to Intel. And IIRC, there are some design similarities between the two.

And as much as I do value studies, for things such as hard drives, user data must be taken into account. Unless the SSD study had the sample size of the famed Google HDD study, then other data needs to supplement it as well. If you want to look at trend data for customer satisfaction, Intel stands far above any other maker with literally multiple years of consistency in excellence.

 

[jekyoo]

Great guide. I decided to narrow down my choices to the Samsung 830 or the Intel 520. Though the 520 just came out, I feel confident trusting Intel.

 

[raymondu999]

Can I just say that this thread has been quite a help - My mid-2010 MBP is now rocking a 600GB Intel 320 SSD

 

[new1macuser]

Performance improvement after SSD

It seems like the overall performance improvement has to do with SSD plus the processor, RAM and other hardware factors all taken into account. My experience for past 3 weeks or so can be termed as "average performance improvement". My MBP does not allow to upgrade to 8 GB of RAM and the processor is no match to an i7 quad-core one..

This is just to share the experience on switching from HDD to SSD.

 

[jekyoo]

Has anyone bought or installed the new Intel 520 SSD in their MBP yet? Trying to look up other user's experiences but it seems to be none.

 

[sache]

Hey I've got a 15" mid 2009 macbook pro with the sata-II. Very close to purchasing the Intel 320 from newegg.ca however does the drives come pre-updated with the newer firmware that fixes the 8mb bug or will I have to upgrade the firmware once I take the drive out of the box. Thanks

 

[NickZac]

Hey I've got a 15" mid 2009 macbook pro with the sata-II. Very close to purchasing the Intel 320 from newegg.ca however does the drives come pre-updated with the newer firmware that fixes the 8mb bug or will I have to upgrade the firmware once I take the drive out of the box. Thanks

Honestly that is an answer that no one here can tell you given it will depend on how dealers rotate their stock.

 

[scubasteve03]

Need some help guys. I am running an early 11 15" MBP. I got in late may, but my optical drive is only showing to be running at.....
Link Speed: 3 Gigabit
Negotiated Link Speed: 1.5 Gigabit..

I am thinking about picking up a 2nd Crucial 256gb M4 on the newegg business sale today. Is there anything I can do to get Sata 3 speed if I add a M4 to my optical drive? Is it not worth it to buy a Sata 3 SSD and then stick it in my sata 2 drive? This is really making me mad, I thought that the problem was taken care of before I bought the machine. So I would only be able to 300mb/sec if I used it in the optical drive slot, is that correct? Any ideas? Should I just stick with 1 SSD as the boot and use the 750gb that came with the computer in the optical? I work as a photographer, so I need as much storage as I reasonable can get. I don't want to have to always carry around an external with me every time I wish to edit my photos.

 

[MacBookPro13"]

Which of these drives would you recommend to me as the best value option?

1. http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/11199755/art/ocz/vertex-plus-series-2-5-in.html

2. http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/11556804/art/patriot/2-5-pyro-internal-solid-s.html

3. http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/9974320/art/ocz/120-gb-solid-state-drive.html

4. http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/9760816/art/crucial/m4-2-5-internal-solid-sta.html

5. http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/9220418/art/ocz/2-5-vertex-3-series-2-5-s.html

6. http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/8686960/art/intel/2-5-320-series-ssd-hard-d.html

7. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-2-5...1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1330283773&sr=1-1



Thanks

 

[IngerMan]

Which of these drives would you recommend to me as the best value option?

1. http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/11199755/art/ocz/vertex-plus-series-2-5-in.html

2. http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/11556804/art/patriot/2-5-pyro-internal-solid-s.html

3. http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/9974320/art/ocz/120-gb-solid-state-drive.html

4. http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/9760816/art/crucial/m4-2-5-internal-solid-sta.html

5. http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/9220418/art/ocz/2-5-vertex-3-series-2-5-s.html

6. http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/8686960/art/intel/2-5-320-series-ssd-hard-d.html

7. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-2-5...1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1330283773&sr=1-1



Thanks

4, 6 or 7.

If you read enough of the threads I would think you would discount OCZ at this time. The other 3 have good feed back on this forum. I have Crucial M4 256 and only for a few days but it was painless to install and 270 write 490 read is pretty amazing.

 

[Dextor143]

Guys,
I have a mid 2006 Macbook pro 2.33 Ghz, 4GB RAM Core Duo 2 with 15inch Screen. Last year, I upgraded the HD from 120GB to 250GB (Should have gone 500GB).
However, now I am planning to make the biggest change ever, replacing Optical drive by SSD or SSD on the regular drive space and installing a 500GB HD in the optical ROM slot. I am also planning to buy the enclosure to use the optical drive through USB in future (I rarely use it nowadays)

My Questions,
1. How do I replace the optical drive? Is there a enclosure for 2006 models? I found the site for 2008 or 2009 but not for 2006.

2. Once I have installed the 120GB SSD, how can I make the setup that all my itunes, aperture, iphoto, imail, automatically save on the other drive? I currently have that setup but often times, I have to go and manually delete few folders (iMail doesnt even work, all the mails go to the main HD and I dont know how to manually change the destination folder?

3. if any of you have done that in the past? can you share your experience? my dilemma is that I cannot upgrade my RAM anymore . I have maxed out as my model only go up to 3GB and I have 4GB installed.

4. In short, I want all my application go to SSD and all the data go to 500GB HD that i want to install in the optical enclosure. Also, do you think I should upgrade to 500GB? I currently have 250GB and 100 GB for application and 150 GB for data through partition but my data is very much scattered. Photos on the data side and mails on the application side. I do use time machine to backup on a 500GB external HD, how can I run TM to work on my machine after the changes (very crucial Question)



I will really appreciate your help.

Thanks again.


Update: Just order this SSD from newegg...now I need someone to tell me if I macbook needs sata to pata (or whichever) to go with it? Here is the link to the caddy i am looking for.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/SATA-PATA-2...e_Internal&hash=item43a72ef8f6#ht_1866wt_1201

and here is the drive that I just ordered.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442

under system preferences, when I clicked on the optical drive, this is what I got,

ATA Bus:

HL-DT-ST DVDRW GWA4080MA:

Model: HL-DT-ST DVDRW GWA4080MA
Revision: AE39
Serial Number: K5572LE4900
Detachable Drive: No
Protocol: ATAPI
Unit Number: 0
Socket Type: Internal
Low Power Polling: Yes
Power Off: Yes


is that mean I will need PATA to SATA or SATA to PATA?




Please will really appreciate your help.

thanks

 

[NickZac]

4, 6 or 7.

If you read enough of the threads I would think you would discount OCZ at this time. The other 3 have good feed back on this forum. I have Crucial M4 256 and only for a few days but it was painless to install and 270 write 490 read is pretty amazing.

x2. Any of the others and you are getting sub-par reliability.



I couldn't decide on which so I purchased another Crucial (but it is 256 GB instead of 64) and an Intel 510 128 GB. I think I will use the Intel at my office and the Crucial in my MBP.

 

[jekyoo]

Since you have a 2011 mbp, I wouldn't get the Intel 320 since it's only SATA 2. A more compatible Intel SSD to the 2011 mbp is the Intel 520. I agree with the other 2 recommendations though. I would pick the Samsung 830 over the Crucial M4. Go with the M4 if money is a concern and you don't want to spend a lot of it. The read speeds are on par with all the other SSDs but the write speed is between 1/2-2/3 slower than SSDs competing SSDs.


M4 = cheapest among competing and reliable.
830 = Fast, reliable but a fairly premium price.
Intel 520 = Fast, reliable but most expensive among competing ssd.

 

[jjfcpa]

I've got an early 2011 MBP 15" that I would like install the largest SSD I can get.

I've narrowed my choices to Intel and Crucial. Any benefits to choosing one over the other??? At this point, price is not a consideration.

A second question is, where is the best place to buy?

Thanks for your opinion.

 

[dragonslive]

I was just about to get an Intel 320 as I only have Sata II connections but I found posts on intel forums claiming the 8 MB but is still happening with new drives and after the firmware update "Fix". For example:-Here and here

Has anyone experienced this here?

So......if I go for a later generation SSD such as an M4, Intel 510 or 520 are they backwards compatible with Sata II interfaces? (in a mac pro 1,1).

The other option is an older Vertex 2 I found for a great price on clearance, is the SF1200 controller any more reliable than the new SF22XX series?

 

[gifo]

Hi guys,
i'm writing from italy, i've a 2010 17" MBP and it's time to upgrade
i'm going to buy a 256/240 gb ssd, i think sata3, but i can't take a choice.
these are the options:

SSD Corsair Force Series 3 240GB 2.5" CSSD-F240GB3-BK - 240€ + ss (6€)
SSD Crucial RealSSD M4 256GB 2.5" CT256M4SSD2 - 270€ + ss
SSD OCZ Agility 3 240GB 2.5" AGT3-25SAT3-240G - 228€ + ss
SSD OCZ Vertex 3 240GB 2.5" OCZVTX3-25SAT3-240G - 268€ + ss

of course i want to know wich is the best performace/cost option.
i've heard bad things on ocz, espacially vertex 3, what about corsair force?
i've excluded samsung because it's over 300 euros with schipping.

please help me.

p.s.: i need a little bootcamp partition, will this be a problem?

 

[NickZac]

I've got an early 2011 MBP 15" that I would like install the largest SSD I can get.

I've narrowed my choices to Intel and Crucial. Any benefits to choosing one over the other??? At this point, price is not a consideration.

A second question is, where is the best place to buy?

Thanks for your opinion.

If money is not an issue, the Intel 510 is the way to go IMO. The 520 may also be the way to go but the 510 has established itself as a benchmark in the industry. While it is not the fastest, it is one of the fastest, is built off of the most solid platform IMO, and comes as the flagship SSD from the company that has the best rep in the industry. It is ass-expensive. My 120/8 510 was almost as much as my 256 Crucial M4. Places to buy...for Crucial, just go through them. For Intel, go with New Egg or an authorized retailer given you can have warranty issues with any company if you get it from a non-authorized retailer.

 

[NickZac]

Hi guys,
i'm writing from italy, i've a 2010 17" MBP and it's time to upgrade
i'm going to buy a 256/240 gb ssd, i think sata3, but i can't take a choice.
these are the options:

SSD Corsair Force Series 3 240GB 2.5" CSSD-F240GB3-BK - 240€ + ss (6€)
SSD Crucial RealSSD M4 256GB 2.5" CT256M4SSD2 - 270€ + ss
SSD OCZ Agility 3 240GB 2.5" AGT3-25SAT3-240G - 228€ + ss
SSD OCZ Vertex 3 240GB 2.5" OCZVTX3-25SAT3-240G - 268€ + ss

of course i want to know wich is the best performace/cost option.
i've heard bad things on ocz, espacially vertex 3, what about corsair force?
i've excluded samsung because it's over 300 euros with schipping.

please help me.

p.s.: i need a little bootcamp partition, will this be a problem?

This is how I shop...at least to me, there is really no question as to which is a better product.

 

[jjfcpa]

If money is not an issue, the Intel 510 is the way to go IMO. The 520 may also be the way to go but the 510 has established itself as a benchmark in the industry. While it is not the fastest, it is one of the fastest, is built off of the most solid platform IMO, and comes as the flagship SSD from the company that has the best rep in the industry. It is ass-expensive. My 120/8 510 was almost as much as my 256 Crucial M4. Places to buy...for Crucial, just go through them. For Intel, go with New Egg or an authorized retailer given you can have warranty issues with any company if you get it from a non-authorized retailer.

NickZac

Thanks for your suggestion. I decided to go with the Crucial, if for no other reason than it is 512 gig vs 480 gig for the Intel 520. Newegg only had the 510 in 256 gig.

Should be here tomorrow or Friday so I'll install over the weekend.

 

[gifo]

This is how I shop...at least to me, there is really no question as to which is a better product.

thank you,
unfortunatly an higher number of positive reviews isn't always a reason to buy a product, there are a lot of variables. probably the ocz vertex is the best one on my list (at least the first version) but on many macs the drive has a lot of issues.

i can't take a decisiooooon!

 

[Hellhammer]

Hi guys,
i'm writing from italy, i've a 2010 17" MBP and it's time to upgrade
i'm going to buy a 256/240 gb ssd, i think sata3, but i can't take a choice.
these are the options:

SSD Corsair Force Series 3 240GB 2.5" CSSD-F240GB3-BK - 240€ + ss (6€)
SSD Crucial RealSSD M4 256GB 2.5" CT256M4SSD2 - 270€ + ss
SSD OCZ Agility 3 240GB 2.5" AGT3-25SAT3-240G - 228€ + ss
SSD OCZ Vertex 3 240GB 2.5" OCZVTX3-25SAT3-240G - 268€ + ss

of course i want to know wich is the best performace/cost option.
i've heard bad things on ocz, espacially vertex 3, what about corsair force?
i've excluded samsung because it's over 300 euros with schipping.

please help me.

p.s.: i need a little bootcamp partition, will this be a problem?

Go with the Crucial. It's the most trouble-free and only slightly more expensive (it's 256GB while others are 240GB).

 

[gifo]

Go with the Crucial. It's the most trouble-free and only slightly more expensive (it's 256GB while others are 240GB).

thank you.
i'm going to order it in 1 week.

 

[danmcg]

thank you.
i'm going to order it in 1 week.

Have you considered the Plextor M3 yet?

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/4567/plextor_m3_m3s_256gb_solid_state_drive_review/index.html

I just picked it up t Newegg on Friday for $309. There was a $20 rebate on it also so it comes down to $289. Prices on SSDs change rapidly though I have found so no idea where it is now. I was going to get the M4 then the price jumped $40 overnight on me and someone had pointed me at the Plextor. After reading reviews I was sold. It showed up yesterday, but I'm still waiting on my caddy to come to be able to install my data drive (need to for work)...

 

[gifo]

Have you considered the Plextor M3 yet?

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/4567/plextor_m3_m3s_256gb_solid_state_drive_review/index.html

I just picked it up t Newegg on Friday for $309. There was a $20 rebate on it also so it comes down to $289. Prices on SSDs change rapidly though I have found so no idea where it is now. I was going to get the M4 then the price jumped $40 overnight on me and someone had pointed me at the Plextor. After reading reviews I was sold. It showed up yesterday, but I'm still waiting on my caddy to come to be able to install my data drive (need to for work)...

unfortuntely i'm in europe and shipping plus vat would make buying oversee quite useless. in the store where i found the crucial the price is changed rapidly too, last week the m4 was 309 euros...

 

[Hellhammer]

Have you considered the Plextor M3 yet?

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/4567/plextor_m3_m3s_256gb_solid_state_drive_review/index.html

I just picked it up t Newegg on Friday for $309. There was a $20 rebate on it also so it comes down to $289. Prices on SSDs change rapidly though I have found so no idea where it is now. I was going to get the M4 then the price jumped $40 overnight on me and someone had pointed me at the Plextor. After reading reviews I was sold. It showed up yesterday, but I'm still waiting on my caddy to come to be able to install my data drive (need to for work)...

Actually, Fedex just dropped a Plextor M3 for me earlier today. Should have a review up in a week or so