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    Is the Apple 128gb SSD option worth it?

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by Phunky, Jun 18, 2009.

  1. Phunky

    Phunky Newbie

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    Hi guys, looking to pickup a new 2.8 MBP with my ADC discount and am pondering whether the 128gb SSD option is worth it? Its only an extra A$260 with the discount.
    Whilst the consensus is that the Intel and OCZ Vertex drives are the best in the market, they are also the most expensive, and with the SATA cap at 1.5gb, is it money wasted?
    So basically I am just looking for thoughts on whether you think the Apple SSD is worth getting both price and performance wise?

    Many thanks
     
    Phunky, Jun 18, 2009
    #1
  2. crazycanuk

    crazycanuk Notebook Virtuoso

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    the apple SSD is NOT worth the upgrade price, snag one of the Intel or OCZ drives if or when they get the sata problem addressed
     
    crazycanuk, Jun 18, 2009
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  3. Budding

    Budding Notebook Virtuoso

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    Hold on. AUD 260 is about equal to USD 210, which is actually a very good price for a 128GB SSD (since most are $300+). Of course, on the down side, you will not get the xxxGB HD that would come as default with the machine, but it saves you some hassle etc.

    The 1.5Gb/s cap on the SATA interface is a limiting factor, but you will still be able to notice a difference in performance when compared to normal HDs.
     
    Budding, Jun 19, 2009
    #3
  4. ljhfasfdadds

    ljhfasfdadds Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yeah after some thought I think I will go for the Apple SSD with the ADC discount given the price
    I can always upgrade down the track when the next gen SSD controllers come out and the price drops

    Plus there have been problems with Intel and Bootcamp, and the speed limit on the SATA controller seems to have quite a large effect

    This graph shows an Intel X25-M (taken from macrumours)
    [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
    ljhfasfdadds, Jun 19, 2009
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  5. MrX8503

    MrX8503 Notebook Evangelist

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    Unless the Apple SSD is the higher end one, the Intel and Vertex would destroy it in speed. This is why it costs $300 plus.

    IMO, I would not buy an ssd with a 1.5gb cap. I think someone on macrumours did a bench of his vertex and its speed was cut in half.
     
    MrX8503, Jun 19, 2009
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  6. WilliamG

    WilliamG Notebook Deity

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    Yes, get the Vertex 120GB (fastest Vertex model currently). It changed the way my MBP runs more than any other upgrade I've ever had over the years.
     
    WilliamG, Jun 19, 2009
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  7. jessea510

    jessea510 Notebook Consultant

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    Unless Apple decides to take the limit off I would not get one of the higher speed SSD(Intel, Vertex,...) because you will not use it to its full potential. If the SSD that Apple offers is the Samsung with first generation controller than I will go with it because it is not capped by the limit since its max throughput is like 100Mb/s but is still very fast and responsive. Plus it has lower power use than basically all SSDs.
    Just my .02 cents
     
    jessea510, Jun 19, 2009
    #7