Decided to get an SSD drive. Please help me find the best option...

Hi everyone...

Alright, I need to consolidate all of my hard drives, and I've decided to get get an SSD!

So, I'd get an SSD (64GB or 128GB) as my main drive, and one 500GB drive for the Ultrabay caddy.

Are any of you operating an SSD drive now. Which is the fastest, problem-free drive? So which brand should I get??

I hear Intel makes the "best" ones, with the Intel X25-M for the 2.5" size, and then there's an "extreme" one in the Intel X25-E.

So what kind of performance increases can I expect between the X25-M, and the X25-E??

Cost is not necessarily a problem, but I love a deal. Where do you guys with SSD's buy yours? It's simply getting the best one that suits my needs and compatible with my T60p.

Thank you all very much!

 

Yea, I hear ya. What are you running? My system came with a T2500 (Core Duo 2GHz, 32-bit CPU), but about 10 months ago, I upgraded it to the fastest my motherboard can handle (Intel 945PM), and also because I wanted 64-bit, so that came out to the T7600 (Core 2 Duo 2.33GHz, 64-bit CPU). What does your system consist of??

If you like speed, do you have a wireless-N network yet?? After I installed the latest firmware on the DSL modem the other day, as well as installed a new driver that came out for my 802.11n Atheros card, I almost fell over!

I was doing several simultaneous downloads, while talking on the phone via Skype with ZERO call quality degradation. I was also browsing the Internet a little here and there, while all this was happening...AND, if that wasn't enough, I was slinging NBC through my SlingBox, which is in the San Francisco area all the way over here to Europe, where I'll be for another 5-7 days. It was streaming at over 1Mbps. Crazy beautiful stuff! I learned so much when it comes to 802.11n, including with the help of this, and other forums! I'd be more than happy to help, and share my experiences.

Anyway, yea, I'm getting my SSD this week. I didn't know there were so many variables with these SSD's. SLC (single cell) ones are brutally FAST, vs. the MLC (multiple cell) kind. I've decided to get a 64GB one from Mtron, or Samsung. I haven't decided as to which just yet. I don't want to go over $1k, so anything over 64GB is out, and anything less (such as 32GB) would not be enough space, being that Vista x64 by itself takes up about 12GB, and then there has to be space for all the apps.

Then a 500GB 5,400rpm as my 2nd drive (also internal by way of the Ultrabay caddy) for all my stuff, source files for all of my software (I hate discs). But the OS, and all the apps, etc. need to be on the SSD.

The ones on the Intel site from the link you provided are all MLC's. The read, and mostly write speeds, gave that away, as well did the continuation of the article where it says "The SLC drives of this type are shipping later this... ", etc.

So since I'm going for an expensive drive to begin with, I'm gonna go all out and so as to be really blown away. Hence, I'm opting for an SLC.

Hah, imagine Vista loading in seconds, and every app starting at a moment's notice. Browsing will be great, downloads faster...And whatever I download will just get moved to the "500GB storage area ". lol...

If a few of us buy together, we'll get a better price. Are you in, dude? I could probably convince a few friends to get one through me, too. If need be, you can always justify it to yourself on the "life is short" basis.

And think of all the electricity you save, because it needs so much less power. That thing will pay for itself in no more than like 80 or so years. And if you have a wife, just tell her that kid needs to grow up in reality. All public schools are conveniently outfitted with a metal detector anyway.

So what say you, sir?

EDIT: Alright, I'm getting the Intel X25-M, which is an MLC one. The SLC will be out shortly, but for a number of reasons is not of interest to me. It blows EVERYTHING else away that's out there in terms of SSD's. And it's not even that expensive. $595 is the expected retail, and it's not 64GB, which most of the SSD's are in that price range, it's 80GB!! Much less expensive than the stuff at dvnation! Let's do it!

 

Nope, not a typo. The largest 2.5" laptop drive running at 7,200rpm is currently 320GB.

 

Yea, I read the wiki page, amongst tons of other sites. Check this one out, though:

http://hothardware.com/Articles/Intel-X25M-80GB-SATA-Solid-State-Drive-Intel-Ups-The-Ante/

What do you think? I almost gave up on the idea, too, but the Intel one is supposedly rock solid, spacey, and not too pricey. All the ones around $200 are ****. But the X25-M blows even all the SLC's away, even though it is MLC itself.

Arie, and Steve, if you happen to read the article with an open mind, please tell me your honest opinions. I'm still on the fence, but darn, those numbers are just crazy. And 80GB is a nice size one to start with. IMHO of course.

 

I have really been chopping at the bit for a 2nd drive to complete my April home-build. I've been watching SSD performance/price and VelociRaptor offer from WD. I'm going to wait until the holidays and see what happens. I would love to try out a SSD, but for now I feel should stay with HDD / high performance offers. ... currently both types are to pricey.

 

Hey, I missed all your reponses since my last post.

Well, I've ordered the X25-M from Intel, and I'm back in L.A. as of yesterday. The guy I got it from got me a KILLER deal, and much to my surprise, he had it drop-shipped from his distributor, which ended up being close by in California.

So...I'm about to pick it up, and try this baby out tonight! If it REALLY doesn't work, I'll just give it back or do whatever with it. With that said, I've taken "risks" (if you can call this a risk) before, and thus far, have not been disappointed. Plus, I'll be your guinea pig, and gladly.

If it does work, I'll do weekly updates as well as a full report on it after 30 days of usage. I will NOT sugar-coat anything. It's not my style, so you'll get a TRUE, HANDS-ON review, from someone who will throw a LOT at it, and for a period of THIRTY days, and not just a quick benchmark that probably lasts for no more than a few hours I would think.

Arie, I know the drive is a NAND Flash, as well as MLC (as opposed to SLC), and that the write speeds will be its weak point, but compared to what? It even "blows away" one of the best SLC SSD. Whatever it is, it will certainly outperform my current, and extremely well working 7,200rpm drive. And yes, ALL of the reviews said the weak point was the write performance.

As for the Wiki page of SSDs, that site is a joke at best. And I've owned 7,200rpm drives for a LONG time. It was great seeing the difference between my now former 5,400rpm. I have two 200GB 7k2 drives internally (by way of Ultrabay caddy) for a combined 400GB right now. Before I noticed the 320GB 7k2 drive around the same time I did the SSD's, and I was about to get it, along with a 500GB 5k4 for "storage" to consolidate all of my 200, 160, and 100GB drives, three of which are 7k2, and two are 5k4.

You're right, 7k2 drives are noticeably faster than 5k4 ones. But I'm ready for the next generation! I'm gonna post one more thing (unrelated), and then head up to Santa Monica Blvd. to pick this baby up!

As for it being pricey. Well, yea, that comes with the territory with SSD's right now. But I wanted it, so tonight, let's see what happens. First impression post coming back tomorrow.

Well, if it won't work out, I'll be getting the 320GB 7k2 drive, and a 500GB 5k4. I hope it won't come to that, and something tells me that it won't.

I'll also do my own benchies, with direct comparisons to my 7k2 drives. This'll be FUUUNNNN!! I'm excited!

 

If all you need is more speed WD makes 10k Raptor drives. I have been using one for a year now and it made a world of difference

 

Elaborate please. Do they come in the 2.5" form factor??

 

I'm not aware of 2.5 "/10k Raptor for Notebooks. They do have them for severs. They require a 12 volt power supply and good cooling (they run hot).