Blade M.2 SSD Performance Review / Swapping Instructions / Cloning

Windows recovery is on the stock SSD, so there is no way to pull it off to use on the new drive unless you mirror the drive.

Just ask Support to send you a USB recovery drive. I did.... May try to get another it's a pretty cool little drive.

 

the XP491 is PCIe and therefore will not work for us. I'm in the same boat as you and am between the Samsung 850EVO and the M600 (and now the 500GB MX200 after seeing its benchmarks here). Im going to wait till there are some benchmarks for the 500GB EVO, but I think I'm probably gonna go with the 512GB M600 for the few extra GB's.

whatever drive I go with I will just be doing a clean install of 8.1 Pro w/WMC, no recovery partition.

 

I upgrade my 2015 Blade with a new 500 gb Evo Drive. Here are the Crystal Disk results.

 

Greetings folks,

Great thread. Best SSD related info on the web about this machine I have seen yet. Been eyeballing Razer Blade 2015 14" model for a while and ready to purchase.

A few questions:

First, cloning. For new-purchasers, is the reason you guys are cloning your drives exclusively to preserve the OEM recovery partition? Or are there other razer-specific software/firmware/bootloader/etc features which are lost if I just install a Windows 8.1 install formatting the entire disk and using a single partition? For example I see the cool razer logo at boot. Is that the EFI bootloader, or does that razer logo replace the Windows 8 logo/splash screen? If it replaces the Windows 8 splash screen, how do I restore that after formatting the disk and installing Windows?

Second, resale value. Do razer blade laptops hold even 50-60% of their MSRP after 1-year used? It's tough to tell looking at eBay as there are so few listings. As someone who will not use a laptop for more than 18 months it is just so hard to justify buying such an expensive razer laptop if it can't be resold for a reasonable amount compared to a macbook pro. Macbook pros resell for an average of 80% their original MSRP after 12 to 18 months!

Third, battery replacement. How much is it going to cost me to send in my 2015 razer blade 14" for a replacement battery out of warranty? How how many charges does a razer blade laptop get? I use many dells and lenovo X series laptops that reach 40% of their original run-time after just one year, but use other machines from fujitsu and apple that are still at 75% after a year. How does the razer blade compare in this category?

 

Haven't been keeping up much with the Razer forum and just posted up my SSD replacement story, and then saw this. Looks like I should have gone with the Micron instead of the Transcend. My unit is giving very acceptable performance, however, although I could swear my original Samsung didn't get the higher results your testing shows.

My replacement process seems simpler than yours - I just used Microsoft's free online tool to create a bootable USB for installing Windows(used a nice little 64 GB Mushkin USB 3.0 key - very fast on the Blade's USB 3.0 ports).
After the easy installation of the Transcend drive, I booted using the USB key, and Windows installed, activated (using the Windows key from the sticker on the bottom of my Razer) and booted into my new account using my Microsoft account ID and synced up my 24 gigs of OneDrive space in less than an hour on a 150mbps home internet connection. After re-locating my documents, music, pictures and video folders to a corresponding set of sub-folders in my OneDrive folder, I was back up and running with all my data and saved game files.

Spent the better part of a day reinstalling software and configuring - mostly games (games are all Steam, and were done from a Steam backup on a 512 GB Pocket Vault USB 3.0 SSD), plus Office 365 and Visual Studio 2013 (also done from a locally-stored ISO on the Pocket Vault), plus a quick handful of miscellany (VLC, Handbrake, 7Zip, Gnugpg, Chrome, etc.).

A pretty painless experience overall, mostly due to ample cloud backup space, fast Internet, and gloriously fast USB 3.0 storage.

I downloaded the disk benchmark software you used, and ran a quick bench on my Transcend. It's just a hair faster than the one you benched, but certainly in the same ballpark:



Anyway, glad your replacement was ultimately successful, and jealous of that Micron's performance!

 

Glad you got it all working flawlessly though I'm not sure how your replacement process was easier...by cloning the drive you avoid having to reinstall, re-download and re-configure everything and can just get right to work/gaming. At least that's how it worked when I did it recently. The only things I downloaded where the things I couldn't fit on the SSD before

 

Maybe it wasn't simpler, I don't know. Just seems like hfm's description made it sound like quite a bit of trouble. In any case, I got a fresh install of Windows out of it, and always use that opportunity to correct any setup or configuration issues I had before that I wished I had done differently - seems like there's always something I think of after it's too late to change it easily

 

Actually , I should probably change this. If you just perform a backup instead it will restore with zero issues. For some reason cloning the drive is much more troublesome.

Also, your Transcend performance increase might be due to the fact that it looks like your firmware is newer.

 

Well, if I'd been doing drive images or full backups, I probably would have tried a restore instead of a rebuild. I just know that my process works fine for me, so I've never bothered with setting up anything more robust.

I obviously couldn't even have tried a clone, since my original drive was toasted to the point of being undetectable by the machine's BIOS. In addition, I had been running Windows 10 and having a few issues, so I had kind of been wanting to go back to 8.1 anyway, so it all worked out.

I'm not dissatisfied with the performance of the Transcend, but sorry I didn't see your post before I ordered, since that would definitely have changed my mind about which product to purchase.

 

Quick question for anyone with a recommendation. The only one easily available is the Transcend MT800 for a 500gb model - so I want to know if I'll notice a difference in speeds if I were to buy that one as opposed to say, an M600 (in daily use).

Also, would anyone recommend this one instead:
http://www.ncix.com/detail/crucial-mx200-500gb-m-2-2280-47-107371.htm

Or maybe even wait for the Samsung 850?

Edit:
Woops, posted too soon.. I think I got all my answers already.. Seems like the MX200 has higher performance or competes with most, but has a little less storage (12gb reserve as mentioned before in this thread). I think I'll go with the Crucial - I've bought their SSDs before and they seem reliable.

 

ErwinComp currently has the Micron M600 512GB on sale for $239 if anyone cares:
http://www.erwincomp.com/micron-m60...ial-mtfddav512mbf-1an12abyy.html#.VWH7LlVViko

Also it appears the Samsung 850 Evo 500GB has been released and it's only $195:
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-850-E...e=UTF8&qid=1432484758&sr=8-2&keywords=evo+m.2

 

Accidental dupe, delete.

 

Thanks a lot! That is exactly what i need now. i just registry to reply you. Seems like mx200(m600) or 850evo are the best chioce now, but is micron reliable? Many people said in forum that micron's ssd always can't be recognize by system suddenly(blackout?), and you need to reboot your computer several times.Have you ever meet this situation on Razer Blade?

 

No, it's been solid. Crucial is Micron's consumer division, so if crucial is good, micron is good.

 

Thx，so 850evo and mx200, which one do you recommend? 850evo's benchmark is highest but use TLC, not sure if that's Ok.

 

I don't think you could go wrong either way to tell you the truth. I don't really have an opinion about one over the other on those two drives.

 

BIG thanks to you hfm! Upgraded my 2015 Blade with a new 512GB Samsung 850 Evo M.2 today. No issues at all. Just hated spending the $$$ on Macrium. It did work well though. Only step I had to do beyond your instructions was to afterward merge the additional ~256GB of new, unallocated space into my existing C drive using freeware utility AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard Edition 5.6

 

It's possible you could have used the free version of macrium. At any rate, start doing backups now that you have it.

I'll add your advice in.

 

I've been using the built in Windows backup to clone my system to new drives with no issues.

 

For anyone else hoping for higher capacity m.2 SSD's, I just read today that Samsung is releasing a 2TB 850Pro and 2TB 850EVO in 2.5" Sata form factor. while that isn't all that exciting for us, the same Samsung press release said they will also be releasing larger capacity 850Evo's and in msata and m.2 form factors. hopefully that means we will soon see a 1TB 850 EVO. crossing my fingers. link below.

http://global.samsungtomorrow.com/s...ssds-with-launch-of-2-tb-850-pro-and-850-evo/

 

That's great news! Hopefully we'll see something official soon regarding m.2 SATA exact specs.

Although, I'm really hoping that Razer moves to PCIe with the next Blade.

 

Just wanted to add a potential new Samsung drive to the mix: http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015...nvme-with-v-nand-for-eye-popping-performance/

 

PCIe

 

Can Mario or anymone please help me I bought the samsung evo 850 500gb ssd and have all toops to open laptop, i tried to replace the ssd with the new one adding sticky sticker behind new drive and screwing it back but it wont appear in the bios?? it shows old 256gb drive. also I made acronis backup and still doesnt see the new ssd. Am I doing something wrong?

 

Update. Got it working after sticking sticky tape on motherboard! Thx for ur help.

 

Just want to add the first 1TB drive I've seen to the mix: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...FqT9EEhcr3v4Nw8ASXYpYRoCNYHw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

thanks, you beat me to it. I almost bought one of the Samsung EVO 500GB's last week when newegg had em on sale for about 150 after coupon code. so glad I didn't now. definitely gonna grab one of the new Sandisk 1TB's unless the samsung 1TB comes out in the next couple days. Below is a link to the spec sheet for the new Sandisk 1TB and it looks to be the about the fastest option so far as well according to the listed specs.
https://www.sandisk.com/content/dam...nterprise/data-sheets/X400_datasheet_v1.0.pdf

 

So I just bought the Sandisk x400 1TB from Newegg for $326. I'll run some benchmarks when it arrives and let everyone know how she performs. I almost bought it from amazon for less than 300 until i realized it was the 2.5" x400 and they used the m.2 picture instead of the 2.5". So if you see it on amazon with the picture of the m.2 look closer and it says 2.5". Newegg seems to be the only place to find the 1TB m.2 version. They are actually not the seller themselves. It was sold through newegg marketplace by reseller BuyVPC. there was one other reseller in newegg (computer Upgrade King) but they had it listed for 499.

 

so the 1TB Sandisk from newegg was a 3rd party selller that listed it as the 2280 but shipped me a 2.5" sata version. I got an RMA which initially had a $48 restock fee on it. I called back and newegg is refunding me the restock fee as well. in looking back now they have 2 3rd party sellers with it, but the lowest price is now $500 and the other reseller is $630 which is too much for me. loooks like im waiting for a price drop or for samsung to show us their 1TB version and hopefully start a price war between them. I bet once samsung drops theirs the price I paid would be reached by 1 or the other in a month or so. for now ill stick with my 256.

 

I'm not sure there is an m.2 SATA SSD larger than 512 still..

Sent from a 128th Legion Stormtrooper 6P

 

there wasn't until this came out. its big advertising piece is that its the worlds 1st 1TB m.2 2280 SSD. Anyway, I RMA'd the 2.5" one I got from newegg and just went back a few minutes ago to find another seller, Computer Upgrade King, has dropped the price they had it listed on newegg for. After verifying the listing is definitely for the m.2 version I bought one from that vendor through newegg for $239! it says special savings of $83.21 from that seller. hopefully this one is actually the correct item in m.2 interface/form factor. if it is im glad the first was the wrong item because I just saved about 100 off what I paid initially. Ill update everyone when it arrives.

 

I'm not sure whats going on with finding this drive in stock. I reordered it yesterday through newegg 3rd party vendor Computer Upgrade King and looking at the newegg item page it now says SOLD OUT and not OUT OF STOCK as it normally does when they expect to get more in. I wouldn't be concerned except for the fact that on my account orders page its still saying its in "order verification" and has been for a day now. I don't know if its to do with being sold by a 3rd party, but generally my order is past that point and my card is charged within a couple hours. My card hasn't been charged yet which makes me feel like they might just cancel my order and say it was listed in error or some garbage like that. Ill update this post when the order status changes. I can say I will be pretty damn mad if I get screwed out of my order again while still waiting for my money back on the 1st one I ordered when they sent me the 2.5" version.

 

Well my 2nd order from newegg just got voided out with no reason given after sitting in verification for 3 days. I'm SOO PISSED. calling them tomorrrow to see if I can get them to honor the price when they do eventually come in stock. after all I did buy it twice to have the wrong item shipped once requiring an RMA and a second time that Sat for 3 days before they just cancel it for no reason. I also got a screenshot of the listing and it says price match in the corner. I think they should match their own price I paid and was voided when it comes in stock if it lists for more than I paid this last time.

 

was on Newegg looking for a SSD upgrade they have the Sandisk x400 1tb for a $100 less than the Samsung 850 evo 1tb is the Samsung worth the extra $100?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA65C3RM4403

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...gclid=CIDoue2orM0CFZNhfgod574BRQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

I just upgraded to the 1TB X400 from the stock 512GB SSD. Happy with it so far, and got a bit of a write boost too (not that I notice it outside of crystaldiskmark).

Other than benchmarking I doubt you'd notice the difference between the Sandisk and the Samsung.

 

Thanks for the heads up! Ill have to grab one of the X400s!