The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    First time SSD buyer, advice needed

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by lidowxx, Aug 17, 2011.

  1. lidowxx

    lidowxx Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    169
    Messages:
    801
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    So after hearing and seeing so many wonderful things about SSD, I decided to scrape up and invest a little on a small size SSD, only OS and my favorite and most used programs/games will be installed on it, so I suppose 60Gb should be enough.

    I would like to spend around 100-150$, any recommendations? oh, almost forgot, it will be added to the m17 in my signature. Thanks!!
     
    lidowxx, Aug 17, 2011
    #1
  2. anseio

    anseio All ways are my ways.

    Reputations:
    1,940
    Messages:
    2,418
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55

    I'm always a big fan of Intel.

    My real question is... did you get the 1.5TB Raid 0 setup with your M17xR3? Will you be breaking that up so you can fit in the SSD? I'm curious for a good gaming laptop in the next few years.
     
    anseio, Aug 17, 2011
    #2
  3. lidowxx

    lidowxx Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    169
    Messages:
    801
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Any specific intel model? From what I have heard, intel SSDs aren't that fast but very reliable. What about crucial or kingston?

    To your question, no, I didn't get the 1.5TB raid0, I just got the default cheapest HDD option(320gb 7200RPM HDD) they offered, I had the upgrade in mind when I pulled the trigger.
     
    lidowxx, Aug 17, 2011
    #3
  4. Vaio97

    Vaio97 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    196
    Messages:
    113
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Intel 320's will be getting a fix from Intel for a potential "8mb error/issue" that stopped a lot of folks from buying a 320, until the "problem" was fixed.

    Intel to finally issue firmware fix for faulty 320 series SSDs -- Engadget


    Now that the fix is coming in a few days, I wouldn't hesitate to buy one. Intel had the lowest "failure rate" amongst SSD re-sellers/manufacturers.

    Crucial C300/M4 is widely popular as well. As are the Samsung SSD's, but Samsung did release a press release for a new generation of SSD's for October; so I'd hold off on a Samsung drive, until then, if you want to go the Samsung route.
     
    Vaio97, Aug 17, 2011
    #4
  5. kinkydink

    kinkydink Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    20
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Some good advice there thanks.

    Been wanting to get some Samsung SSDs and holding out sounds like the way too go.
     
    kinkydink, Aug 17, 2011
    #5
  6. madmattd

    madmattd Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    367
    Messages:
    1,138
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Crucial, Intel, Samsung. Any of their models are good, though as Vaio said, Samsung has their Sata 3 SSD coming out in a couple months. The Crucial M4 is usually the best drive for the price, though the Intel 320 is good too, albeit a SATA 2 drive.
     
    madmattd, Aug 17, 2011
    #6
  7. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

    Reputations:
    5,413
    Messages:
    10,711
    Likes Received:
    1,204
    Trophy Points:
    581
    Most people wouldn't notice the difference between SATA 2 and SATA 3. If you want a cheaper drive, SATA 2 are at good price points now, Samsung's 470 series, G2, 320 series. Your M17x has SATA 3 as it is Sandy Bridge, but SSD will not improve gaming performance, just decrease load times.
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Aug 17, 2011
    #7
  8. lidowxx

    lidowxx Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    169
    Messages:
    801
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Yes, I am well aware that it will only lower the load times, but I do close and open some heavy programs (mainly photoshop, maya) often, so a SSD will benefit them greatly also. Thanks for the info on SATA 2/SATA 3. Already ordered a crucial M4 64GB.
     
    lidowxx, Aug 19, 2011
    #8