Good SSD Brands to buy?

[Jemjem787]

Im looking for an SSD, At least 60Gb, mainly just for the OS because i heard it speeds up your computer, Are there any recommended brands for SSD's that you guys would be willing to share? Thanks.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Samsung, Intel, and Crucial; any of them. I have an Intel. If I were buying tomorrow, I'd probably get a Samsung.

 

[cytherian]

Sandisk is an excellent choice, as they've been in solid state memory for decades. Samsung has a great reputation, as does Crucial and Intel. OCZ is a newer manufacturer and has tried to leapfrog the competition with clever testing scenarios, so I'm a little leery of them. Transcend is good, but the general opinions I've seen still put them behind Sandisk.

I would get 128Gb or 120Gb instead of 60Gb. The cost difference isn't huge and it's just a nice good margin of space to have. I've read that SSD works a little more efficiently when disk space is more than 50% free too.

Also, if you're not in any rush, I'd wait for the late autumn deals. There are bound to be a good number of them coming up soon. SSD technology is still on a nice progressive improvement curve. We may see more significant performance improvements on the consumer side next year. So, I wouldn't bother spending all the extra money getting more than 256Gb. Going higher than that makes a noticeable jump in cost per gigabyte.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hum Samsung 830 or Crucial M4 I have - personally I like the Samsung. I do have a SanDisk Extreme that I haven't tried out yet though will be interesting when I test it out on the new build.

Oh and personal choice again but all mine are 120GB's for that extra space that can be emptied int the HDD for keeping.

 

[kbrady1979]

Samsung 830
OCZ Vertex 4
Crucial M4
Plextor M3 Pro/M5 Pro

I cannot recommend the Intel 520 series with the Sandforce controller because I had TWO of them that were fine for a day and then crapped out. Although I am sure most people have different experiences with them. I am running a Samsung now, and it is the cats ass!

 

[Anthony]

I have heard good things about the Samsung SSDs. One thing to add though, make sure your Laptop has the right connector for the SSD!!

How to Install an SSD in Your Laptop | PCWorld

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Samsung 830
OCZ Vertex 4
Crucial M4
Plextor M3 Pro/M5 Pro

I cannot recommend the Intel 520 series with the Sandforce controller because I had TWO of them that were fine for a day and then crapped out. Although I am sure most people have different experiences with them. I am running a Samsung now, and it is the cats ass!

Agree 100% kb it was banded around for a long time re that Sandforce issue and even though they say it has been fixed but I just won't go with them.

Samsung out here are real cheap at the moment @ $109 for a 120GB don't know but usually cheaper in the States.

 

[kbrady1979]

I got my Samsung 128gb OEM model for $100 a few months ago, but I know for a fact they have been as cheap as $85! You can't go wrong with a Samsung, and if you keep an eye on them, you might be able to get them on the cheap

 

[smarteyeball]

Intel 520, Crucial M4, Samsung 830 - can't go wrong with any of these series.

 

[fireberd]

A highly regarded custom recording system PC builder posted on the Cakewalk Sonar forum that he only uses Intel SSD's on his systems.

 

[cytherian]

The Sandforce problem was with the 2281 version. Apparently there was some AES-256 encryption routine that didn't function properly and it was impossible to update it with replacement firmware. I think most consumer users use 128 bit encryption features in browsers, so it probably won't affect people outside of enterprise systems. Unfortunately for Sandforce, a lot of vendors used this version so it became a stain on their reputation. I don't know much beyond this, but in my opinion it's not an advantage to avoid Sandforce controller SSD's for the consumer market.

 

[Layback Bear]

What ever brand you pick, I would compare warranties. The only SSD I have ever had is a Intel 510. Works great with 5 year warranty.

 

[pparks1]

I avoid Sandforce controllers and it's done me well.

I buy Intel or Samsung and they have been solid.

 

[kbrady1979]

I started out with an Intel X25-M 120gb for my first SSD. Flawless performance and reliability. Fast Forward: New build, and in need of a SATA III SSD. Read hardware reviews saying Intel has worked on new Sandforce controller for their 520 series of drives and has ironed out the bugs...in other words, they've "Intel'd" it. Ordered computer components from Newegg which included the Intel 520 120gb SSD. Installed components, and SSD worked great for a day. Next day, blue screens all day long. Did research and some of the blue screens are the same as the "Sandforce" blue screen. RMA'd drive and got another Intel. Installed and ran for about a day then more of the same.....blue screens. Called Newegg up, told them what was going on, got my money back on the Intel and purchased the Samsung 830. Installed the new SSD.........no problems since. Now I'm not saying all of the issues was with the Sandforce controller on the new Intel 520 drives, but my old X25-M is still working and the biggest difference in the two are the controllers.

On a side note, benchmarks of the Intel 520 on incompressible data was just downright crap. ATTO benchmarks were some of the highest I had ever seen, but throw AS SSD on it and the Seq. WRITE numbers were only about 20MB/s faster than my Intel X25-M SATA II drive. I know Sandforce delivers great numbers with compressible data, but I thought the numbers I were getting were extremely low. The Samsung drive produces the same numbers no matter what kind of data it is testing.....and more importantly, has not thrown any blue screens up. I really wish the Intel 520 would have used an updated Intel controller like the X25-M, that would have been nice.

 

[Jemjem787]

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

 

[kbrady1979]

Yes, that is the SSD we are talking about, the Samsung 830. Newegg has it for about the same price, 99.99 I think, but that is for the OEM model. It only comes with the drive, and software. If you need a desktop upgrade kit, it is about $20 higher.

 

[UnknownReverent]

I'm surprised I haven't heard anyone say anything about Mushkin. I got an SSD from them and it has been great so far.

 

[Jemjem787]

If you need a desktop upgrade kit, it is about $20 higher.

What is that?

 

[UnknownReverent]

It's for if you don't have 2.5 inch drive mounting. Some cases only have mounting for 3.5 drives.

 

[kbrady1979]

The desktop kit comes with a 2.5"-->3.5" adapter to mount it in the same space as a normal HDD. There is also a Notebook Upgrade kit that comes with an eSATA cable, but the OEM version will work just fine for a laptop, it is a 7mm thick SSD.