Cheapest large capacity SSD?

Im getting tired of the clicking noise coming from the remaining HD in my G73JH (i already replaced one with a 160GB X25-M for the OS and applications) and i want to replace it with a large capacity SSD, becouse it will be used for storage.
It doesnt need to be the fastest thing out there, just proper trim support (i dont want any of those indilinx controllers) and be as large as it can for as low price as you can get it (250GB+ at least).
I know the Postville refresh from Intel will have a 300GB and 600GB X25-M, which i am sure would be a perfect choice for me, but seeing as the release got pushed yet again to feb 2010 i just dont think i can wait anymore.

So any suggestions are welcome .

 

Agility 2 240GB is $469.

Have you tried solving the clicking of your HDD?

As an alternative you could consider Seagate Momentus XT, if you've solved the clicking issue.

PS. What's wrong with TRIM on Indilinx? Just curious.

 

Indilinx controllers are the worst you can get on SSDs. They cause stuttering and freezing. Ive had two such drives and i know first hand how bad it is. They also didnt have trim back then, not sure if they made any newer ones. I just dont want any indilinx again, they were horrible.
The Agility is my prime candidate, but its still kinda expensive for the capacity you get...
Noone found any cheaper, larger ones on the market yet by any chance?

And what do you mean fix the clicking? All my HDs always clicked and vibrated when they are used... Its not loud, but being noise sensitive it bothers me.
The Momentus XT also has the same moving parts so i dont see how it would be any better and those 4GB NAND memory is just a poor excuse to write Hybrid SSD at least in my oppinion...

 

Are you sure you aren't talking about JMicron? These controllers are known for stuttering.

 

Using a SSD for storage would high cost per GB.

Have you considered a quieter 2.5" sata HDD by Toshiba/Fujitsu/Hitachi instead? Also your G73JH could also have the ODD swapped out for a 12.7mm caddy, housing a 1TB 12.7mm 2.5" sata HDD (see sig). Can set your HDD standby time to have it go to standby while it's not being used to quieten things down.

 

Those too.. but i dont think theyre used anymore or are they?

Anything over 500GB is overkill for me on a notebook and not needed (but i do need more than 160GB i have on the X25-M). And i dont want another HD (much less a slower 5400rpm one), becouse the vibrations and clicking noises are bothering me and none are completely quiet like an SSD. My HD is used all the time to download torrents to it so i cant have it on standby. I also dont want to get rid of my BD-ROM, since i dont intend to lug around an external one when i need it.

 

JMicron has improved their controller. It's now being used in Kingston V and WD Edge for example. It no longer stutters.

Netiher does Indilinx as far as I know.

 

Hmm.. well are those any cheaper now for the capacities im looking at and have proper trim (i know the older Kingstons never got trim even though it was promised right)?

 

I only checked Newegg. Agility 2 240GB for $469 was the cheapest.

That's a good deal, it's even slightly faster than your Intel G2.

Ebay could have some good deals for 256GB Samsungs or 240GB Sandforce.

 

I hoped there was something else out already, but it seams ill have to shell out around 500€ if i want to get a decent one...

 

I forgot you were in Europe. I checked Geizhals. It seems that the Agility 2 240GB is the best deal in Europe too. It costs 435 euro.

 

Yeah, thats what i was afraid of... Agility 2 being my best bet. Ill see if i can find a used one cheaper somewhere .

 

I'm just curious, but what kind of environment do you use your laptop in where you can hear the hard drive click?

 

he could have overly sensitive ears.

 

Pretty much no noise in my apartment where i mostly use it and i am very noise sensitive, so i even hear the low vibration noise that comes from the HD, which also bothers me.
Theres also the high pitched buzzing coming from the power brick which i hear too, but i cramed that in my desk drawer so its no longer audible.

 

i agree with the clicking sound.. i also get it sometimes but really , the G73JH power brick doesn't make that much noise.. like i only heard it when my ear was close to it.. really close... u must really have sensitive hearing..

 

Not sure if they're still running it, but I got a pretty good deal on my Crucial for only $400. It's a pretty darn good drive, freakin' amazing for the price.

 

The Crucial looks real nice.
Large SSD with trim support for a low price - just what i was looking for. Thanks .

 

I think this is the Crucial drive being referred to for $400:

CT256M225 - 256GB, 2.5-inch Solid State Drive , from Crucial.comUS

 

The M225 is a good drive, it does have an Indilinx controller though, which you said you did not want.

Unfortunately European prices are a lot higher, as usual.

 

I just ordered one of them from the EU Crucial website (UK based) .
Ran me 379€ with shipping, but thats still nice for what you get.

 

That's a very good deal. Where can I find it? it's listed as £461.76 inc. VAT or €549.89

CT256M225 - 256GB, 2.5-inch Solid State Drive , from Crucial.com GB

 

Just so everyone knows, OCZ Vertex 2 120GB is $190 after rebate.

OCZ 120GB Vertex 2 Series 2.5" SATA Solid State Drive (SSD) $188.99 shipped AR at Newegg
Newegg has the OCZ 120GB Vertex 2 Series 2.5" SATA Solid State Drive (SSD) for $240 - $25 off promo code BTEYWNY28 - exclusive $30 rebate + $3.99 shipping = $188.99. NEWEGG

Next lowest price on PriceGrabber is $263.99.

Edit: Link to NewEgg now works.

 

wth.. if i'd known this , i'd get it.. brb... i thought the deal had been over..

 

The price there is wrong (seams they forgot to update it), when you click the buy now you will see the actual price you will pay .

Thats the price you get if you put it in your basket:
CT256M225 256GB, 2.5-inch Solid State Drive
Subtotal: € 305.99
Tax calculated at 17.5% for United Kingdom € 53.55
Estimated Total € 359.54

And add shipping (17€ in my case for UPS express).

 

Wow very nice deal! I'm tempted but I promised myself I wouldn't buy anymore SSDs this week

 

Well its a really good deal in my oppinion, i just couldnt resist it .

 

Ok. This is absolutely frickin ridiculous. You want a cheap large capacity SSD?

Crucial is selling their M225 series SSD's (Indilinx controller) for unbelievably low prices.

Crucial.com has refurbished Crucial M225 Series 2.5" Solid State Drives on Sale: 128GB $128, and 256GB $256 with free shipping. CRUCIAL
128GB Crucial M225 2.5" Solid-State Drive - $128
256GB Crucial M225 2.5" Solid-State Drive - $256

I don't really need an SSD, but I am totally getting a 256GB Indilinx SSD for $256. That is just ridiculous.

 

They are really cheap but... 30 day warranty?? normally Crucial gives 5 years on these drives.

I wonder how much has been written to them. I'd say proceed with caution.

 

:-O !!!!!

It's irrelevant anyway. They are no longer available. Literally, 30 seconds after I posted, they were gone. The time it took to post to this forum was enough time for them to all sell out. If I hadn't posted, I probably could have gotten my order in.

DANGIT.

 

The 128GB in your link shows it there. Do you have link to 256GB because I can't find it. Of course refurb, does that mean wear on the SSD?

 

Memory upgrades from Crucial.com - Refurbished parts

At the bottom...

 

all the crucial deals are dead i got in on the 128gb for $128 and last time around picked up a 64gb kingston new for $65 after rebates. So expect a $1 per gig sooner than later.

 

Mine is on its way... But i didnt take a refurb.
Id never risk something like that - i mean 1 month warranty for a product that you dont know how it was treated... for all you know you could get a completely worn down one with cells that cant be written to any more or one that performs far under specs becouse of all the wear (might not be the case when you get it, but it could happen just after that one month, imagine that )...
Rather pay a bit more for a new one with a 5 year warranty and be sure youre covered .

 

They make 512 gb units

 

I received the SSD yesterday, but as you can see from the photo, its obvious the box was already opened and i have a bad feeling they sent me a refurb instead of a brand new one...



Theres also a tiny scratch on the SSD, but it wont easily show up on photos...

So do you know any software that i can use to check if the cells have been written to yet or not and check for any worn out cells?
I already notified them of this, and demanded an explanation, but there has been no reply yet... but when they wanted payment they were replying almost instantly..

 

Try SSDlife and CDI.

 

HellCry, you could also try the Intel SSD Toolbox (v2) along with the suggestions by Phil. But if one gives you any information, they should all give you pretty much the same info (all are reading the SMART info on the drive).

I would return it as-is. (No need to 'test' anything imo).

Good luck.

 

Thanks for those.
Seams the drive is brand new.
Space was unallocated when i put it in the laptop, speeds well within specs, 100% health, powered on 1 time; all as it should be.

Id usually also return it but i just didnt have time right now, and im glad i didnt now. Saved me a whole lot of trouble.

 

Im really enjoying the lack of clicking and vibrating .

 

HellCry,

Don't want to make you paranoid, but doesn't Secure Erase - or, a Firmware flash (or re-flash) set all parameters to '0'?

Hope that all is fine with your drive and glad you're already enjoying it.

 

Hmm a firmware flash would probably reset the numbers... but the health and speed is real and i am covered by a 5 year warranty, so if something should happen in the near future ill make sure i get a proper replacement.

 

What does a warranty cover though? Basically if it stops working right? Not if it slows to a crawl or loses a significant amount of storage space.

 

doesn't your drive have standard 0.002 firmware.. if its 0.001 one version , u won't have TRIM.. just check that mine came with the newer version with TRIM so i don't see how your's doesn't.

 

I have the latest 1916 firmware that has TRIM. Came shipped with it.
I think you confused your C300 with my M225 .

 

ok didn't know they were different.

 

C300 uses a Marvell controller, M225 is an older model with Indilinx controller, like the Vertex 1.

 

ok so i guess the C300 is better?

 

Technically, yes, the Crucial C300 is better than the Crucial M225. From a practical sense, the user won't be able to tell a difference in day-to-day use.