Solved Samsung SSD vs. Sandisk

[PSCO2007]

I am in the market for my first SSD and was going to buy the Samsung, but they keep raising the price everyday ( up 50% in a week).

I saw this Sandisk at the Staples Website and I have a rebate card that I can use , which would bring the price down to $50.00.

The question is : Does anyone have experience with the Sandisk model in comparison to Samsung?

Thanks,

Paul

Amazon.com: SAMSUNG 830 Series 2.5-Inch 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) MZ-7PC128B/WW: Computers & Accessories

SanDisk SDSSDP-128G-G25 128GB 2.5" SATA III (6 Gb/s) MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) | Staples®

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I'd apply the credit at Staples to a Crucial M4, 128 GB, priced at 110.

Crucial CT128M4SSD2 M4 128GB 2.5" SATA III (6 Gb/s) MLC Internal SSD (Solid State Drive) | Staples®

Samsung, Crucial, and Intel probably have the best reputations.

SSDs are constantly going on sale, so you will probably benefit if you can shop for 2 or 3 weeks.

 

[Hopalong X]

The Samsung 830 128GB is $115 at your link at Amazon.

I have never seen it that cheap.

I'll go with Samsung as that is what I'm using now. I paid $160 about 6 months ago.

 

[PSCO2007]

The Samsung 830 128GB is $115 at your link at Amazon.

I have never seen it that cheap.

I'll go with Samsung as that is what I'm using now. I paid $160 about 6 months ago.

When I looked at the Samsung one wk ago, it was $89.00 - Oh, well.

I was reading a review of the Sandisk and the guy said he ran a benchmark using PCMark 7 and his score before adding the SSD was 1300 - increased to 3000 after SSD.

I just ran the same test and my score (No SSD) is 3330.

I am starting to wonder if I will really see a noticable increase in speed.

BTW- Have you had any major problems with the Samsung SSD ?

Thanks,

Paul

 

[ignatzatsonic]

What does that benchmark test?

As long as the SSD worked well and did not fail, you probably could not tell the difference between the brands if you did not use a benchmark.

What makes them "fast" is the access speed. It shows up mostly in booting, but also in application loading, virus scans, and overall "snappiness". It's tough to go back to a standard HDD.

So shop based on price, reliability, and support.

Sandisk is not heard of much, so it's tough to rate its support/reliability.

If the Sandisk works without issues, then it would be an excellent choice given the price. But who knows about reliability and support? Have you Googled for that on the Sandisk?

 

[PSCO2007]

What does that benchmark test?

As long as the SSD worked well and did not fail, you probably could not tell the difference between the brands if you did not use a benchmark.

What makes them "fast" is the access speed. It shows up mostly in booting, but also in application loading, virus scans, and overall "snappiness". It's tough to go back to a standard HDD.

So shop based on price, reliability, and support.

Sandisk is not heard of much, so it's tough to rate its support/reliability.

If the Sandisk works without issues, then it would be an excellent choice given the price. But who knows about reliability and support? Have you Googled for that on the Sandisk?

If the Sandisk works without issues, then it would be an excellent choice given the price. But who knows about reliability and support? Have you Googled for that on the Sandisk?[/QUOTE]


That's how I learned of the Benchmark test - Lots of good reviews, some negative.

 

[bigmck]

I am starting to wonder if I will really see a noticable increase in speed.

BTW- Have you had any major problems with the Samsung SSD ?

Thanks,

Paul

You will see a HUGE jump in the performance of your PC. An SSD accesses your programs in what seems like instantaneously. No matter what brand you get, it will be a great investment.

 

[essenbe]

I agree with Crucial, Samsung and Intel. They seem to have the best reliability rating. As far as I know, sandisk are relatively new to the SSD market and have not been out long enough for a reliability rating. I've always believed that reliability is the most important factor because the worst performing SSD is 10 time faster than the best mechanical drive. I own Crucial, Samsung, Intel and OCZ SSDs, and in actual useage, there is very little difference. Benchmarks show differences, but then too it depends on which benchmark you use. In actual useage, I'd be happy with any of the ones I own.

 

[PSCO2007]

Thanks to all who replied.

It makes it a lot easier when knowledgeable folks have opinions.

 

[kbrady1979]

Look on Newegg for the Samsung. 3 weeks out of 4 it is $100 or less for the OEM model (not the desktop or laptop model). Cheapest I've seen it for was $85 about a month ago. Well worth it, Samsung has surpassed Intel for reliability in my eyes, and I have/had both.

A quick note about Samsung drives: They don't use Sandforce controllers, so the read/write speeds are the same across the board, no matter what data you are dealing with......compressible or incompressible.

 

[PSCO2007]

Look on Newegg for the Samsung, 3 weeks out of 4 it is $100 or less for the OEM model (not the desktop or laptop model). Cheapest I've seen it for was $85 about a month ago. Well worth it, Samsung has surpassed Intel for reliability in my eyes, and I have/had both.

What's the difference between the OEM and the Desktop model?

 

[kbrady1979]

Desktop model comes with a 2.5" to 3.5" mounting bracket, a SATA data cable, and a molex to SATA power adapter. The OEM model comes with the drive, magician software and the screws.
http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/productimage/20-147-134-09.jpg
There is desktop model.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

...Sandisk is not heard of much, so it's tough to rate its support/reliability...

I can give you an idea of Sandisk's support. Several years ago, I had a 16GB SD card go south only two years into a five year warranty. I emailed them about getting it replaced under warranty. That started a string of emails in which they played twenty questions until they found a loophole they could use to deny my claim; it had been purchased from Amazon.com with their so called "frustration free" packaging (it wasn't in their sealed package). Their website said nothing about their products having to be in their packaging to have the warranty honored. I can understand their concern for counterfeits but they could have at least looked at the darned thing instead of just blowing me off like they did. I haven't bought a single SanDisk product since then, nor will I ever buy any of those weasel's products again.

 

[PSCO2007]

...Sandisk is not heard of much, so it's tough to rate its support/reliability...

I can give you an idea of Sandisk's support. Several years ago, I had a 16GB SD card go south only two years into a five year warranty. I emailed them about getting it replaced under warranty. That started a string of emails in which they played twenty questions until they found a loophole they could use to deny my claim; it had been purchased from Amazon.com with their so called "frustration free" packaging (it wasn't in their sealed package). Their website said nothing about their products having to be in their packaging to have the warranty honored. I can understand their concern for counterfeits but they could have at least looked at the darned thing instead of just blowing me off like they did. I haven't bought a single SanDisk product since then, nor will I ever buy any of those weasel's products again.

Thanks,

That rules out Sandisk.

Customer service is important to me..

I'll stick to Samsung.

 

[PSCO2007]

Desktop model comes with a 2.5" to 3.5" mounting bracket, a SATA data cable, and a molex to SATA power adapter. The OEM model comes with the drive, magician software and the screws.
http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/productimage/20-147-134-09.jpg
There is desktop model.

Thanks for the reply.
My case (Thermaltake) accepts 2 and 1/2" drives and the motherboard came with extra power adapters, so I guess I can go with the OEM.

 

[kbrady1979]

I don't think you will be disappointed in the Samsung. After getting two(2) Intel 520 SSD's that went bad, I am 1000% happy with my Samsung. I ran a Crystal Disk Mark test on it earlier tonight and it still rocks along at the same speed it did when I first got it!

 

[PSCO2007]

I don't think you will be disappointed in the Samsung. After getting two(2) Intel 520 SSD's that went bad, I am 1000% happy with my Samsung. I ran a Crystal Disk Mark test on it earlier tonight and it still rocks along at the same speed it did when I first got it!

I ran a couple of tests on my current hdd.
The Hdtach shows speeds, but the Crystal Disk Mark shows zeros(unless I am not using it correctly).

Can you tell me if I can expect a significant improvement with the SSD?

Thanks,

Paul

 

[kbrady1979]

Bring up Crystal Disk Mark, select the drive you want to test from the drop down box (your image is showing C: drive currently) I usually test 2 or 3 passes @ 1000MB ( your image is showing 5 passes at 1000MB) and when you have it set the way you want, click the "All" green box and wait for it to get done.

Here is what my Samsung tested at earlier tonight......

 

[PSCO2007]

Bring up Crystal Disk Mark, select the drive you want to test from the drop down box (your image is showing C: drive currently) I usually test 2 or 3 passes @ 1000MB ( your image is showing 5 passes at 1000MB) and when you have it set the way you want, click the "All" green box and wait for it to get done.

Here is what my Samsung tested at earlier tonight......

Thanks,
I knew I did something wrong.
My results are quite a bit lower than yours.
You've convinced me.

Thanks for all your time and advice.

 

[kbrady1979]

That is really good for a mechanical HD. It is almost identical to my Seagate Barracuda 7200.14 2TB storage drive. In my opinion, the only set of numbers that you will be able to "feel" are the 4K numbers (3rd row of numbers). The difference between HDD and SSD 4K reads/writes is what makes it worth it to get a SSD. Start/Restart time and application load time is what you will see and feel everyday when you are running a SSD. You can do the math for yourself but look at the difference between your 4K read speed and mine.....that is, as they say, "where it's at!"

Hope you catch a good deal on it and good luck! You'll love it