SSD for the 2011 mini?

[larryposh]

I bought an OCZ vertex 3 but have returned it , I had decided to use it and the 500gb stock drive as well internally , but I am waiting for the dual HD kit to be in stock at ifixit , a few weeks , after delving deeper into the vertex forums I was nervous about the huge amount of problems that are logged about its quality ...and I didn't want to miss my return window

what SSDs are being used by you guys ...I keep hearing that Intel is one of the 'better' ones ..
or perhaps they are not a mature enough product yet ??

the idea was to put the OS on it and I don't need the hassle of BSODs ( I have 20+ yrs of windows frustration under the belt , I made the switch to Mac to get away from that )

 

[David085]

why create another thread you already post here

Here

 

[paulrbeers]

I have the following SSD's:

2 - 240GB Vertex 2's (one in my File/Media Server and one in my Wife's Macbook Pro).
1 - 128 GB Apple SSD that came with my wife's MBP that is now in my Mac Mini Server

Sitting around (I should really do something with these):
1 - 120 GB Corsair Force (same controller/configuration as the Vertex 3)
1 - 120 GB Vertex 2

Of course I also have a 128GB Toshiba Blade SSD in my MBA but that doesn't really count does it?

Basically I have 3 Sandforce based drives, 3 based on the 1200 series controller and 1 based on the 2200 series. All work fine and I have never had a problem. Yes Sandforce are less reliable as a whole than say Intel and/or Samsung, but I've never had a problem.

 

[philipma1957]

And i am the opposite of paulrbeers i owned 9 sandforce ssds 3 were bad. so I gave up on sandforce.

I push samsung series 470 samsung series 830 and I loved intel but the 320 series had some problems.

I own samsung series 830 470 810.


I own 1 intel 320 series and own some kingston v100's 4 or 5.

all have worked fine. I do like samsung more then any as of today.

 

[shortcut3d]

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I exclusively use Sandforce controllers.

1 x 240GB OWC Mercury Extreme Pro
1 x 480GB OWC Mercury Extreme Pro 6G
3 x 240GB OCZ Vertex 3 Max IOPS
2 x 240GB OCZ Vertex 3

No issues out of the box for the OWC SSDs. The OCZ SSDs were solid in OSX on the 2011 Mac Mini, but 90% there in Windows 7 64-bit. The firmware update to 2.15 seems to solve all issues across the board on SATA III controllers, if you follow the forum.

 

[philipma1957]

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I exclusively use Sandforce controllers.

1 x 240GB OWC Mercury Extreme Pro
1 x 480GB OWC Mercury Extreme Pro 6G
3 x 240GB OCZ Vertex 3 Max IOPS
2 x 240GB OCZ Vertex 3

No issues out of the box for the OWC SSDs. The OCZ SSDs were solid in OSX on the 2011 Mac Mini, but 90% there in Windows 7 64-bit. The firmware update to 2.15 seems to solve all issues across the board on SATA III controllers, if you follow the forum.

yeah I should grab a new one as My bad sandforce were all SATA II TYPE.

Just so annoyed with the service I got from OCZ 32 days for a rma.

 

[larryposh]

paul you have had good luck w/ the sandforce based products , which most ssd seems to utilize
philip you have had a few issues w/ them...
shortcut all good , in windows
a guy never knows till you experience yourself
I got a dose of cold feet , I suppose the kicker was what was written about ocz customer service

am thinking about the sata 2 / 3 rating if the mini can only support the 2 standard then technically a guy doesn't need the 3 ?
although I by default go for the latest model ..to my own detriment sometimes

Samsung 470-Series MZ-5PA128A will be a candidate , and perhaps Intel 320

david my other thread was started when I was contemplating replacing the internal HD w/ an SSD now I have changed the plan to keeping the HD till I can get the ifixit kit and then find an SSD and eventually take philips advice and get a couple of the WD scorp /blks at a better price
thanks guys

 

[dolphin842]

Just today I ordered a SanDisk 120GB ssd (currently on sale at newegg for $129). They're based off of the SATA II sandforce, so we'll see how that goes. Also ordered an OWC FW800 case to put it in. I'll be sure to report what transpires.

 

[shortcut3d]

The 2011 Mac Mini's all support SATA III (6G). I get over 500MB/s on any single drive in Windows 7 64-bit with AHCI enabled and get 550MB/s in OSX. The Sandforce 2200 series are great drives and the fastest currently on the market, so some have encountered problems. However, the 2011 Mac Mini's seem to accept most SSD and memory (very flexible). If you really thrash them, go with one that has synchronous 3xnm Toggle NAND. That's why all my OS (Windows and OSX) drives are "Pro" or "MAX IOPS". This NAND just wears better, handles incompressible data better, and as the drive fills performs better.

 

[larryposh]

SC I looked for the specs on the Apple page and could find nothing about it ?
also when I checked the Intel spec re the MM 2011 i processors I could find only support for 1333 memory no mention of the faster stuff ..
is there a link to full technical details of the new Mini ?
if the MMs do support sata 3 then I guess it makes sense to go that latest SSD

 

[shortcut3d]

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Apple does not provide the maximum specs for their systems. Apple only states the maximum available through Built-to-Order (BTO). You have to rely on Intel technical documents. I can confirm from experience with four 2011 Mac Mini's that it is compatible with 1866MHz memory or 16GB and the internal SATA is SATA III capable of 6 Gbps. You can refer to OWC for compatibility tested hardware they offer for Mac's.

 

[MJL]

on the oBoy! site there are some pulled Apple Toshiba SSD's (used for an hour or less) at a reasonable price. It is using the 34nm toggle memory. Toshiba was the number 2 in reliability (close on the heels of Intel) but Intel had some bad issues with the 320 series. Some reckon it has been resolved with new firmware but I am not (yet) convinced since I had one 320 series hanging a few times when I was trying to prove a theory of mine. ( I never got it to revert to the 8 Mb error though ) and I have assigned the 40 Gb 320 series to backup duties in an external case. Still mulling over going to a SSD or not - for me there is hardly a benefit in it except for reliability in which case I will be considering the Toshiba. (Samsung 470 is another very good choice but not locally available and on the forementioned site I only deal with sellers that have 100% feedback, have been caught out once too often)

The Crucial M4 is another good one and recommened in the MacBook Pro SSD thread.