Samsung 830 or Crucial M4 Help quite urgent!

I am going to buy a notebook with the options samsung 830 or crucial m4

Both are 240GB or something.


I checked online and m4 is more popular but is released like last year while samusung was release not too


If possible i would like to have some positive answers

 

Both are very good drives, the 830 is slightly faster, the M4 is slightly less power hungry. you can't go wrong either way. The samsung has a nice software toolbox though.

 

For months I thought the M4 was the way to go. Then after researching extensively...I have changed over to the Samsung 830 camp. Faster, interesting controller (made by Samsung) and the Magician software much resembles the Intel SSD Toolbox...which has many great features. My vote for Samsung 830

 

Go for the 830 if the price difference is within $20.

In my case price difference was a $50 so pretty easy decision for me to choose the M4 over the 830.

 

Samsun 830, insane speed, nice software (Samsung SSD Magician), very snappy system. All in all, awesome experience.

 

830 in my basket.

 

256gig M4 in mine

The M4 is battle tested. The 830 is still too new imo

 

Samsung is second best in the industry for reliability. Samsung and Intel are the two companies that make all their own components, and they are both much more reliable than anything else out there.

 

Check neweggs prices on M4 ssd's today.

 

Have the same decision between these two SSDs and for me it comes down to price, then price, then other stuff. Sadly, Pricing on the M4 increased more than $20 when the latest bug fix/firmware was posted a few days ago.

Today, when I checked, pricing looked like this on brand new units:
Samsung 830 256GB(bare drive) - $365
Samsung 830 256GB(kit w/Norton Ghost and transfer cable) - $380
Crucial M4 256GB (bare drive) - $295

 

There might be a coupon which reduces these prices but here is what I found on NewEgg. All prices include free delivery.
M4 256 - $340
Samsung 830 256 - $400

 

check out previous reputation for issues and reliability of the SSDs that came out from both companies.

with the above in mind, Samsung FTW

... Intel as well FTW

 

IMO, if money is no object and reliability plus good performance is your need, then Intel all the way. Wish I could afford a 510 series.

One more thought.... if I keep my docs and other static files on my secondary HD, then my primary SSD is just for dynamic files like my OS and certain apps... so my risk is much lower than when we used to raid stack barracudas and play games with caching? YMMV.

 

Samsung is NOT worth another $60.

There is a reason why so many of us have M4's

 

Agreed, but what do you use instead of Norton Ghost to transfer the OS and drivers from your current HDD to the SDD?

 

I've used Acronis using the backup-restore (not clone) three times without any real problems. If you have either a Western Digital or Seagate HDD, you can download a free version of Acronis from Western Digital or Seagate's website. Both of these free versions check to see if you have that make of HDD (Western Digital if you got it from their web site, or Seagate if you got it from their web site) connected. IIRC, the hard drive "make check" does not care if either the source or destination is the right HDD make, it just checks to make sure that HDD make is connected to the pc when it runs.

I also know some ex-coworkers who used Windows 7 backup-restore without any issues.

 

^^^ i did a fresh install on my SSD, but Acronis is what I would use.

 

I would probably spend $60 more for the better reliability. It really is a personal decision. Performance wise you won't notice a difference, but the Intel and Samsung drives really are a lot more reliable. If you have a SSD fail, suddenly that $60 for a more reliable drive won't seem very expensive.

 

Go for the Samsung 830. I've had the 830 256gb for a couple of months and very happy it it...fast speeds and not a single BSOD (still on original FW). Also unlike the Crucial M4 you don't have to manually faff around with your Win settings to optimize SSD. The Samsung's Magician software is very user friendly and one click is all it takes to optimize your SSD

 

I depends. $60 more on a $500 purchase, maybe. $60 more on a $200 purchase just doesn't make any sense to me? Anyone who is worried about an SSD failing probably has a very good system/documents backup plan in effect anyway, right? Spending $60 more on a $200 SSD seems alot like those Best Buy extended warranties which they try and sell you on everything you buy at their store. Most times, they don't make any sense.

I believe these SSDs come with warranties too... so if one fails within that period(1-2 years?), you are covered regardless of which one you buy. Anyone buying an SSD now probably won't be happy with the performance of current SSDs in a few years and will have upgraded from whatever we buy today.

Then again, if a little more peace of mind(debateable) is worth $60 to you, go for it!

 

i dont mind the price

i mind which one is better.

 

If price is no object, I'd get the Intel 510.

 

No samsung 830 or wildfire or m4 ?

 

The Intel 510 is superior in terms of overall reliability so if money isn't an issue go for that. Otherwise, i'd suggest the M4 or 830, which one over the other will depend on the person who answers your question. I do not have a wildfire, nor know anyone who owns one, but with the little amount of research i did, it appears to be as stable as SF-2281 drives get.

 

Yoda, how do you know the Samsung is more realiable than the M4? The M4 is rock solid and the 830 has only been out a few months. M4's don't fail, so your $60 is better spent elsewhere

I own a Wildfire in my desktop and i can say that it is rock solid also. It has better 32nm nand memory which makes all the difference in the world. Its usually the cheaper sandforce drives sporting 25nm nand that have issues.

Why do you guys keep saying the 830 and intel drives are more realiable compared to the M4? Where is the evidence? Its all hearsay and personal preference until i see empirical evidence that suggests otherwise. We aren't comparing to OCZ or Corasair sandforce drives that had very real documented issues...we are comparing to the M4 which has an excellent track record

For example this test that showed the Vertex 3 with real issues but zero issues with M4's in the same period:
http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/f...h-of-testing-13-Vertex-3-s-with-2.15-firmware

 

there's already an issue with the M4 - check the last page with threads from the SSD section.

besides, there have been issues with their previous C300 drive as well.

- on the other hand, nobody complained from Samsung.

I think I'm done here.

 

Done w/ what? An incorrect post? Apparently you're not reading up on a BSOD issue when applying a non-essential Samsung 830 [FW] update - http://forum.notebookreview.com/sol...ge/613245-samsung-830-ssd-19.html#post8235098. People *are* complaining.

In regards to the C300, I haven't noticed a single issue since I purchased / installed to the C300 ([FW] 0007) 15+ months ago. Dunno if anyone else is having issues. As for the M4, [FW] 0309 has been released and appears to have resolved the issue. See the thread you just quoted for more details.

 

Yes, that's the 5200hr glitch that was resolved with the 0309 firmware update, but the M4 drive isn't anymore or less stable as a result of it.

And we aren't talking about the C300 here...we are talking about the M4.

 

Samsung 830

 

why do you mean by incorrect post ?

you dont have to update the firmware on the Samsung, people that did that decided to do so by themselves. The drive works fine even without the update.

M4 on the other hand works until that specific hour of use, so you kinda HAVE to update it.

cant you see the difference.

besides, nobody bricked their Samsung yet, people just disconnect and reconnect it and it works fine, so probably minor bug in the firmware update.

P.S. glad you dont have problems with the C300. I can surely find posts of people BSOD-ing on that one big time in the past. Unlike the 470 by samsung.

 

Samsung produces very reliable SSDs and the reputation of those drives are very high at the moment.

 

Quick price check on 256GB units show:
M4 - $330
Samsung 830 KIT - $377

$47 more for the samsung might be a better deal considering you get norton Ghost, Samsung SSD Magician, mounting screws and a SATA/USB cable for making it easy to transfer data from your current HD to the SDD. As a bonus, you get the Batman game and a desktop HD caddy.

I think I might wait a bit longer to get my 128GB SSD as the difference between the bare drive M4 and the Samsung Kit is only $35($175 vs $210).

 

You implied there were no complaints against Samsung. An entire Firmware was released causing plenty complaints. So that post was obvisouly incorrect.

Now, was there data loss? No. Easy work around? Yes. AFAIK, the same applies to the M4. The drive is not bricked. The Data is safe, and to get past the problem, a [FW] update is applied.

 

There are firmware issues (minor/major) with all SSD's none are safe including the 830.

In terms of reliability the Samsung is not anymore reliable than the M4, warranty is the same on both.

If the price difference between a bare M4 and 830 kit is $20 - $30 get the Samsung because it's faster, has software and comes with mounting kit (worth $30 altogether IMO).

If the price difference between a bare M4 and 830 kit is $50 - $60 get the Crucial for better value.

 

Also don't forget that the samung 830 SSD which comes in a laptop kit is suitable for both 7mm & 9mm thick drives (comes with spacer) whereas the Crucial M4 is only designed for 9mm drives. Of course i know that the M4 can easily be modded to fit 7mm drives however with the latest M4s (from fw 009 onwards) Crucial can easily tell if the drive has been opened and this clearly invalidates the warranty.

 

It is no secret that Samsung is one of the most reliable SSD manufactures. In fact a quick Google search will show you just how reliable. A lot of people don't realize that most of these SSD's are currently running off of Samsung technology that was sold to them. Samsung has been in the memory business for close to twenty years.

I don't think Crucial makes a bad product nor do I think their SSD's are unstable. I would much rather purchase a Crucial M4 than a OCZ Vertex or a Patriot Wild Fire.

Right now in the SSD market, I think it is very hard to argue the fact that Intel and Samsung are currently making the most reliable drives. Just take a look at user reviews and blog posts.

Those that are currently on the fence about spending more on a Samsung 830 than a Crucial M4, keep in mind that the Samsung 830 is the newer product with better software and newer technology. Right now, the Samsung 830's are also coming with a free download of "Bat Man Arkham City" so there is your $60 difference right there.

This quote from Amandtech says it all when it comes to Samsung SSd reliability:::::

"Samsung is a dangerous competitor in the SSD space. Not only does it make its own controller, DRAM and NAND, but it also has an incredible track record in terms of reliability. Samsung SSDs were among the first I reviewed and while they weren't anywhere near the fastest back then, every last one of those drives is still working without issue in my lab today. It's also worth pointing out that Samsung SSDs are also one of the two options Apple rebrands and delivers in its Mac lineup. To continue to hold on to Apple's business for this long is an impressive feat on Samsung's part."

 

Well said.

The only thing I would argue is the quote above. I would rephrase it to say "...hard to argue the fact that Intel, Samsung, and Crucial are currently making the most reliable drives." As you noted, the user reviews and blog posts support that conclusion.

 

@ psychopomp1

If OP is looking for a 7mm drive he wouldn't be looking at the Crucial M4 and many other SSD's for comparison in the first place.

@ jrwingate6

Batman: Arkham Asylum is not worth $60, Batman: Arkham Asylum GOTY Edition can be found on Steam sale for $4.99.

 

Sorry, I meant to say Arkham City which is worth $50.

 

There is no argument, Intel and Samsung are by far the best, and everyone else is fighting for third. Both Intel and Samsung produce all their own parts, with their own processes, all in-house. Other manufactures buy parts (often from Samsung and Intel) and piece them together to make their drives.

It is just well accepted fact, primarily in the server space (where enough drives are used to provide meaningful data), that Intel and Samsung are MUCH more reliable than any other company. It doesn't make other companies bad, it doesn't mean their drives will fail. It means that in general Intel and Samsung drives last longer, fail less, and perform better over a long term with a heavy workload. I guarantee if you take a look at any professional SSD server cluster they are using a Samsung or Intel drive, because their experience with thousands of drives has led them to prefer these brands.

 

So if sold on Ebay, how much could you get for the Batman game, desktop bracket, Norton Ghost(after using it to transfer your stuff to the SSD) and the external cable?

 

I am not interested in selling it and quite frankly, none of that made me purchase the Samsung 830 over any other drive. Batman Arkham City was a huge perk for me however because I've been wanting to buy the game and now I get it for free. Even if the Samsung didn't come with anything more than the M4, I still would have purchased it after reading many many reviews from reputable sources.

Bottom line:

The Samsung 830 is newer technology, comes with better software, is faster, very reliably with one of the best if not the best track record in the memory space. Lastly, I like buying my technology directly from the source when possible. Samsung sold Crucial and multiple other SSD manufacturers the technology and patents required to build these drives.

My 128gb Samsung 830 was only $20 more than the M4. Small price to pay for everything I listed above.

How did I know this thread would turn into a SSD war with everyone trying to justify their purchase.

 

Quick question folks. I'm going to be purchasing either a Envy 15 or Sager 5165 and have been looking at these two SSDs. I am leaning towards the Samsung Kit but would like to get some sort of confirmation from you all. I read the actual physical installation of the SSD will take 3-5 minutes. Is that correct and would it be the same for both drives? Thanks

 

@ govtdog

- You can easily net $20 for Batman: Arkham City on eBay.

- Norton Ghost is worth $10 brand new, if used even once nothing.

- The brackets are worth nothing.


*[All prices are lower than those of normal eBay listings simply because you want to sell not offer than same price as the sellers on eBay.] *

 

Only took me a couple of minutes to install my 830 256gb SSD in my thinkpad X220 notebook. Really is a doddle

Do you know for sure the OP is looking for a 9mm drive? Just because the samsung 830 is 7mm doesn't mean to say that all of a sudden people will stop modding the Crucial M4. The point i was trying to make was if the OP is looking for a 7mm drive then he can wave goodbye to the warranty on the Crucial if he were to purchase it.

 

No I don't, but if OP isn't (have 9mm drive bay) then this is a pointless comparison thread to start with...

The Samsung 830 is compatible with both 7mm and 9mm bays so anyone specifically looking for 7mm drive ATM should just get the 830 no questions asked.

Being 7mm compatible is only an advantage if the user needs such dimensions for the SSD to fit into the laptop, if not then it's basically useless and even so it's still not quite an advantage since the user shouldn't be looking at 9mm drives in the first place.

So your point with the Samsung 830 being 7mm compatible (as an advantage) is irrelevant in this specific thread since OP is comparing it to a 9mm drive, so it's almost basically a given that OP has a 9mm drive bay which can accommodate either the 830 or M4.

 

Thanks Nemex77 for actually answering my question and trying to help!

I don't do online PC gaming so Batman would get sold in order to try and help justify the currently $45 price difference between the M4 and the 830. If Batman was for Xbox 360, that WOULD be of value to me.
Magician, Ghost and the Cable IS of value to me.

 

Where did you find the Samsung Kit for $377? Thanks.

 

Random Ebay Sales like this one

 

I found the 830 here today at a great price ($368 shipped). Shipped out same day and should have it by Monday!