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SSD Buying Guide

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Joseph Farrugia said:
Apparently it is not; the feedback comments from a MBP user are very telling of this drive's poorer performance (than on Win OS) on Mac OS X.

Wish it wasn't so, it seems much cheaper than the Sammie 830 fo 512GB; I hope the price difference is reflected in rip-off EU, where I live.
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I've only seen a complaint by one user and the scores he got were actually pretty normal for a drive that is used as a boot drive.
 
what's the consensus nowadays on the OCZ vertex 4?
The crucial M4s seem to have matured firmware/reliability,
is the vertex 4 anywhere near that stage yet?
I can get the vertex 4 for cheaper than the m4 here in canada. and plus it performs better...
 
After much debate and reading of the various online reviews, I recently purchased two Sandisk Extreme drives, a 240GB for my MBP 6,2 and a 480GB for my MP 4,1. Installation of the drive into my MBP went without a hitch after figuring out how to clone the drive in my MBP. Installation of the other drive into my MP was even easier once I found a place locally that sold the OWC drive sled. I used Trim Enabler on both drives and both drives have worked extremely well since day 1.
 
= bluntman = said:
After much debate and reading of the various online reviews, I recently purchased two Sandisk Extreme drives, a 240GB for my MBP 6,2 and a 480GB for my MP 4,1. Installation of the drive into my MBP went without a hitch after figuring out how to clone the drive in my MBP. Installation of the other drive into my MP was even easier once I found a place locally that sold the OWC drive sled. I used Trim Enabler on both drives and both drives have worked extremely well since day 1.
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Good drives. Been running one for a couple of months now and it has been flawless.
 
I currently have the Vertex 2 SSD in mine and for some reason TRIM sometimes randomly turns off. I'm using TRIM enabler. Has anybody else experienced anything like this?
 
ratboy90 said:
I currently have the Vertex 2 SSD in mine and for some reason TRIM sometimes randomly turns off. I'm using TRIM enabler. Has anybody else experienced anything like this?
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This happens to me too (Sandisk Extreme 240GB and 480GB). I read that TE turned off (or turns itself off) every time System Update is run.
 
= bluntman = said:
This happens to me too (Sandisk Extreme 240GB and 480GB). I read that TE turned off (or turns itself off) every time System Update is run.
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It gets disabled after every OS update I.e. 10.8 to 10.8.1. Normal software updates such as Apps or components such as Java have no impact on this.
 
I have a question on the M4.

I am planning on installing one sometime soon, and I would like to know the steps of the installation. I will be doing a clean install of 10.6.8 onto the drive.

1. Install the drive into the laptop
2. Boot from burned firmware disk and update firmware
3. Eject firmware disk and insert OS X disk
4. Install OS X onto the updated drive

Would that be the correct procedure? I don't plan on enabling TRIM or anything. I just want the most up-to-date firmware - or is that not even necessary?

Thanks.
 
I just installed a Crucial M4 512GB into my late-2011 MBP earlier, and this thing is snappy. I got 263 write and up to 518 mbps read on BlackMagic test.

However, I have noticed slight, barely audible sound coming out of it every now and then. Sometimes it is reminiscent of those that HDD make, though really barely audible, sometimes it is a very slight squealing sound or how I could describe it. Is this .. normal? I know SSDs are supposed to be quiet, but still.

I read some people say that the sound actually comes from power supply, not the SSD itself??
 
Which SSD for a 2010 MB Pro?

I have been researching SSD's in preparation for replacing my boot drive in my mid-2010 Core 2 Duo MB Pro.

On a couple of threads at Mac sites I've found, it's been said that it's a waste of money to buy a 6gb/s drive, like a Samsung 830, because my MB's capacity is 3gb/s. But then I read that all 3 GB/s link SSDs are old models and cant give you 256 GB/s read/write speeds that bus allows.

So, any opinions on this? It would certainly help me decide what to buy. Any specific brand/model recommendations?

Also, I really don't need more than 128 gb of space but I read that for a boot drive it's much better (and faster) to have 256 gb. Is that so?
 
bookmanjb said:
I have been researching SSD's in preparation for replacing my boot drive in my mid-2010 Core 2 Duo MB Pro.

On a couple of threads at Mac sites I've found, it's been said that it's a waste of money to buy a 6gb/s drive, like a Samsung 830, because my MB's capacity is 3gb/s. But then I read that all 3 GB/s link SSDs are old models and cant give you 256 GB/s read/write speeds that bus allows.

So, any opinions on this? It would certainly help me decide what to buy. Any specific brand/model recommendations?

Also, I really don't need more than 128 gb of space but I read that for a boot drive it's much better (and faster) to have 256 gb. Is that so?
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Buy the 830.

2 reasons:

1) Sata II drives aren't much cheaper. They're less likely to go on sale because they are less stocked
2) If you ever upgrade your MBP, you can just take out the 830 and put it in the new one.
 
latestmonkey said:
Buy the 830.

2 reasons:

1) Sata II drives aren't much cheaper. They're less likely to go on sale because they are less stocked
2) If you ever upgrade your MBP, you can just take out the 830 and put it in the new one.
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Thanks. Just what I wanted to know. Do you have an opinion on the 128 vs 256 question? Do you think the Samsung is the best choice?
 
bookmanjb said:
Thanks. Just what I wanted to know. Do you have an opinion on the 128 vs 256 question? Do you think the Samsung is the best choice?
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I do not.

I have both a Samsung 830 in one laptop and a crucial m4 in another. No issues with either one.

The general consensus here is that both are great. The samsung is a little more expensive and you can't update the firmware via mac.
 
I just bought a 13 inch Macbook pro and ordered a 256GB Samsung 830 for it. Can I just pop it in and hit command + R or do I have to create a recovery stick?
 
iWantiPad2 said:
I just bought a 13 inch Macbook pro and ordered a 256GB Samsung 830 for it. Can I just pop it in and hit command + R or do I have to create a recovery stick?
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I'm in the same boat Sir.. i think upgrading to the Crucial 256 SSD or other brand is far more worth than the 128GBSSD.. since we have the standard 320GB HD its more feesable IMO.. I really don't want less GB space..

I like to know how to back up Snow leopard also.. But than again i'd probably upgrade to Mountain lion since the computer would be faster and i also upgraded to 8GB...
 
on a plextor m5 pro

highest i remember seeing from blackmagic was


499/420

(ran it multiple times without checking the score, so it could have scored faster. but i missed it)

that was after 2 ml installs and lots of files put on the ssd.
black magic was lower the last times i tried, but it kept increasing with time(trim working its magic?).
just giving ya a heads up for those interested in the drive.
btw, i had no problems setting up trim and smart
 
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bookmanjb said:
On a couple of threads at Mac sites I've found, it's been said that it's a waste of money to buy a 6gb/s drive, like a Samsung 830, because my MB's capacity is 3gb/s. But then I read that all 3 GB/s link SSDs are old models and cant give you 256 GB/s read/write speeds that bus allows.
Click to expand...
In some instances a SATA2 drive, and even SATA3 drive in a few cases, won't be able to max out a SATA2 connection, so just go for a SATA3 drive, since they aren't that much more expensive.
 
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