SSD choices...your opinions please

[Golden]

Hi,

I've been researching SSD's lately, and have 2 choices based on availability and budget:

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]OCZ VERTEX 2 (E) 60GB SATAII 2.5" @ $180 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]or[/FONT]

A-RAM SSD Ultra II 60GB SATAII 2.5" @ $163

Both have very similar performance statistics.

I'm interested to hear your opinions on which would be the better option. I'm inclined to the OCZ as I don't know much about A-RAM.

Thanks,
Golden

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Exactly my first thought, lots of users here are using the OCZ, Intel, Crucial and such. I'm not familiar at all with A-Ram. I just hit there site and the site and product look good. You may here from others with hands on with them?

 

[Nemix]

Skim through this: http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/130611-finally-deciding-get-ssd-hard-drive.html

I ended up not getting one but OCZ is highly recommended between the two compared above the price difference is not much. Unless you get a Crucial or even Kingston for a lot less OCZ is the best bet.

 

[Hopalong X]

Newegg.com - OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD2-2VTXE90G 2.5" 90GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

90GB $165 Out of stock but back by 12/21.

$180 for 60GB is too much.


$130 60GB Vertex 2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227550

 

[Golden]

$180 for 60GB is too much

Unfortunately, thats the going rate in Australia.

 

[whs]

Between those two definitely the Vertex. I just go this 90GB Vertex for US$145 (with $20 MIR). Unfortunately they are currently sold out. But as to Hopalong they will be back on 12/21.

 

[Hopalong X]

Golden

Prices have been dropping like a rock on SSD's the past 6-8 weeks. Hopefully there is just a delay in the prices dropping down your way soon.

Mike

 

[spinifex]

Golden

Check out PCCG (PC Case Gear). I got 2 OCZ 120G ssd's for $259 each, the other day.
They are now $249 and postage is cheap. They have lots more, but can't add a link on this computer as they are owned by the mining company for public use.
Can't "right click, copy". Very annoying.

Just checked MSY online (pickup only) and they have 5 branches in South Aus. Depending where you are located, you may have one close to you. Quite a few to choose from, in the lower price range.

Jon

 

[Golden]

Hi Jon,

Thanks. Yeah, I'm right in Adelaide and there is a MSY round the corner from me....unfortunately, their stock levels are a little low this time of the year, in my budget anyway.

Regards,
Golden

 

[linnemeyerhere]

A-Ram could be a up and come'r as they say. The site is impressive and so is there product line. But for a couple of buck and all things being equal the OCZ could still be the way to go. How important is the 17 bucks?

 

[Golden]

I agree Cheese.........getting the OCZ today, and will post back with a WEI comparison once its done.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

It's all Golden !

 

[kodi]

Pccasegear have them for $149

 

[Golden]

Thanks for all the options for SSD's - especially the folk from Australia.I'll definately check out those sites next time, but I got the OCZ anyway (I couldn't wait any longer!).

WOW! I am impressed with the speed of these things! Even the OS installation was blindingly fast! This is how I set it up:

OCZ Vertex 60GB - C: 60GB (29GB free)
Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Microsoft Office 2010 (left out Access, SharePoint etc. and just kept the basics)
Norton Internet Security 2011
Malwarebytes 1.50

2x Samsung F3 SpinPoints in RAID0 - E: 1TB
Various Data.

On the SSD, I turned off "System Restore" (I'll use Macrium to create an image and restoration disk) and also the Defragmentation schedule. I'm still contemplating whether or not to install STEAM and BFBC2 to the SSD or the E:. What do you recommend? I've just left the pagefile where Windows wanted to put it (SSD I guess) since I have 8Gb RAM, which I imagine is enough to not require much page file activity?

Is there anything else I need to consider in order to keep the SSD as clean as I can?

Thanks again for all the help. SSD's are definately the way to go!

Golden

BTW : here is the WEI. The disk WEI went from 5.9 to 7.7 - not half bad!

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Golden,
That's great news on the drives, don't you just love hitting Outlook and pop there it is, hit word and pop there it is. Man there's no waiting, I run my AV more because it screams through the process. If you ever have used Photoshop it's a real heavy program and it opens in a flash. I suggest running all the program updates several times and there will never be a need to defrag so get that out of your mind.....never defrag. Disk clean up yes. Steam and other gaming programs I leave off my SSD but that's me. As long as you don't reduce you SSD drives resources below 15% then I think your good but I'm not the expert here maybe others have run their SSD's free space lower?

 

[Beginning]

@ linnemeyerhere - Yup... you were right..... This thing rocks. Installed windows in 20 mins. I've got a few bigger programs like OOO, PSP10 and of course the browser. They all seemed to startup rather chunky even on my system. But now they pop up in under 2 secs. On startup I don't even see a welcome screen.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Too Cool !

 

[Hopalong X]

Jump or wait on Gen3? Decisions, decisions. $180 90GB and $20 rebate!

Newegg.com - OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD3-2VTX90G 3.5" 90GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Hopalong,
Do you like most of us also have a laptop, if so then I say jump on it! Use it in the desktop till the Gen 3's fall in price and capacities increase then jump again and put the 90 in the lappy!

 

[whs]

Jump or wait on Gen3? Decisions, decisions. $180 90GB and $20 rebate!

Newegg.com - OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD3-2VTX90G 3.5" 90GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Watch out. This is a 3.5" - no good for a laptop. I bought the 2.5" version form Newegg for $145 after $20 MIR.