Upgrading to SSD

dltre · Dec 23, 2010, 09:34 PM

Hey Guys, I'm new to Hardware Heaven, but I've been coming here for reviews for a few months now.

I currently have a 250 GB Seagate HDD in my computer and it appears to be dying. So I decided I want to get an SSD. I'm looking for a 60-128 GB with a price range below $250 and a w/r speed of 200/100. I did a little reading about some SSDs, such as some have Samsung chips or Intel chips in them, but I don't know what is better, could someone please help me choose a good SSD? BTW, I live in Canada and Boxing day is just around the corner. I'm hoping to find some good deals.

--Thanks

dltre · Dec 23, 2010, 10:58 PM

I was looking around at SSDs, and I found a boxing day sale list:
Corsair Force 60GB - $80
OCZ Vertex II 60 GB - $90
OCZ Vertex II 120 GB - $180
All three of them have w/r speed of 285/275..
I think thats pretty good...
I might get the OCZ Vertex II 120 GB...any thought?
Is this a good SSD?

mkk · Dec 23, 2010, 11:08 PM

It's a good option and being bigger also means that in practice the write speeds will be a bit better. If you want an SSD and need a 120GB sized one then I'd say go for it. Personally I'm fine with a 60GB drive (happens to be the Force 60GB btw) for OS and programs, but a bit more space can always be useful. Both Corsair force and OCZ Vertex 2 uses the Sandforce-1200 controller and are virtually identical products. That controller has had its problems but drives sold today should have the latest firmware which has been problem free for me. Another great drive around the same price point is the Crucial C300 series. Let the price decide.

**synthesis204** · Dec 24, 2010, 01:19 AM

I personally use a Sandforce GSkill Phoenix Pro 60GB...never had any issues with it, good customer support. OCZ drives have a reputation for being very fast, but also dying relatively quicker than others. Of the above listed, my vote would be for the Corsair Force drive.

thunderclap · Dec 24, 2010, 03:23 AM

I picked up an OCZ Vertex 2 90GB 3.5" drive at Newegg.com for $150 after rebate. It's now at about $185. Great drive.

Tipstaff · Dec 24, 2010, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dltre

Hey Guys, I'm new to Hardware Heaven, but I've been coming here for reviews for a few months now.

I currently have a 250 GB Seagate HDD in my computer and it appears to be dying. So I decided I want to get an SSD. I'm looking for a 60-128 GB with a price range below $250 and a w/r speed of 200/100. I did a little reading about some SSDs, such as some have Samsung chips or Intel chips in them, but I don't know what is better, could someone please help me choose a good SSD? BTW, I live in Canada and Boxing day is just around the corner. I'm hoping to find some good deals.

--Thanks

Since you're in Canada (although they do sell in the US too) look on NCIX's site tomorrow after 4PM PST/7PM EST as they start their Boxing Week Sale. You can bet that a ton of SSDs will be on sale (among other things).

My personal choice would be the OCZ Vertex 2 Extended 120GB drive which on sale was sitting at $229-249 or so before the rebate (but I'm sure it will be cheaper tomorrow).

***Veridian3*** · Dec 24, 2010, 11:18 AM

OCZ generally release the firmware updates for their drives faster than other manufacturers, if that is important to you.

Judas · Dec 24, 2010, 03:27 PM

i'm still deliberating on the SSD side for my own systems..

Price vs performance/failure rate/additional issues.

I think i was to get one now though i would be leaning towards an intel SSD.... but that's just me

blibbax · Dec 24, 2010, 04:54 PM

If you're looking to replace your HDD with an SSD, as oppose to adding an SSD in, you might want to look at a cheap HDD for the rest of your data too (unless of course you use less than 100GB atm).

Tipstaff · Dec 25, 2010, 01:36 AM

There you go. NCIX has the OCZ Vertex II Extended 120GB drive on sale for $219 before rebate ($189 after rebate).

dltre · Dec 27, 2010, 04:53 AM

Thanks,
I want to the store today to buy an OCZ Vertex II 120GB, it was $179.99 at Canada Computers, but it was sold out...
So I ended up getting a Corsair F60 for $79.99 (After rebate). I rebuilt my computer and tweaked windows a bit. Now I have the F60 to boot and everything else on a WD 1 TB HDD.

mkk · Dec 27, 2010, 01:53 PM

That was a good deal. It should come with firmware v2.0 already on it, but if you want to check you can do so with a free little program called CrystalDiskInfo. Corsair Force drives (and other Sandforce-1200 based drives) with older firmware had problems with systems that were up and running for more than a day at a time. Don't be scared by the temperature reading though, it's always way off. (these drives draw very little power anyway)

dltre · Dec 27, 2010, 07:02 PM

Thanks for the tip, Ill try it right now.

dltre · Dec 27, 2010, 07:27 PM

Just Checked, it came with 2.0, but thanks for the info.

Dec 23, 2010, 09:34 PM	#1
dltre HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 20 Rep Power: 0	Upgrading to SSD Hey Guys, I'm new to Hardware Heaven, but I've been coming here for reviews for a few months now. I currently have a 250 GB Seagate HDD in my computer and it appears to be dying. So I decided I want to get an SSD. I'm looking for a 60-128 GB with a price range below $250 and a w/r speed of 200/100. I did a little reading about some SSDs, such as some have Samsung chips or Intel chips in them, but I don't know what is better, could someone please help me choose a good SSD? BTW, I live in Canada and Boxing day is just around the corner. I'm hoping to find some good deals. --Thanks Last edited by dltre; Dec 23, 2010 at 09:41 PM.

Dec 23, 2010, 10:58 PM	Thread Starter #2
dltre HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 20 Rep Power: 0	Re: Upgrading to SSD I was looking around at SSDs, and I found a boxing day sale list: Corsair Force 60GB - $80 OCZ Vertex II 60 GB - $90 OCZ Vertex II 120 GB - $180 All three of them have w/r speed of 285/275.. I think thats pretty good... I might get the OCZ Vertex II 120 GB...any thought? Is this a good SSD?

Dec 23, 2010, 11:08 PM	#3
mkk Cthulhu/Dagon 2012 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gefle, Sweden Posts: 4,490 Rep Power: 132 System Specs	Re: Upgrading to SSD It's a good option and being bigger also means that in practice the write speeds will be a bit better. If you want an SSD and need a 120GB sized one then I'd say go for it. Personally I'm fine with a 60GB drive (happens to be the Force 60GB btw) for OS and programs, but a bit more space can always be useful. Both Corsair force and OCZ Vertex 2 uses the Sandforce-1200 controller and are virtually identical products. That controller has had its problems but drives sold today should have the latest firmware which has been problem free for me. Another great drive around the same price point is the Crucial C300 series. Let the price decide.

Dec 24, 2010, 01:19 AM	#4
synthesis204 Dragonborn Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,175 Rep Power: 97 System Specs	Re: Upgrading to SSD I personally use a Sandforce GSkill Phoenix Pro 60GB...never had any issues with it, good customer support. OCZ drives have a reputation for being very fast, but also dying relatively quicker than others. Of the above listed, my vote would be for the Corsair Force drive.

Dec 24, 2010, 03:23 AM	#5
thunderclap HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 348 Rep Power: 34	Re: Upgrading to SSD I picked up an OCZ Vertex 2 90GB 3.5" drive at Newegg.com for $150 after rebate. It's now at about $185. Great drive. __________________ Marc B. Genrefinity.net - Your source for all things in the horror, science fiction and fantasy genres

Dec 24, 2010, 11:18 AM	#7
*Veridian3* Administrator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cloaked Posts: 5,028 Rep Power: 181	Re: Upgrading to SSD OCZ generally release the firmware updates for their drives faster than other manufacturers, if that is important to you.

Dec 24, 2010, 04:54 PM	#9
blibbax What does this do? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 4,230 Rep Power: 254 System Specs	Re: Upgrading to SSD If you're looking to replace your HDD with an SSD, as oppose to adding an SSD in, you might want to look at a cheap HDD for the rest of your data too (unless of course you use less than 100GB atm). __________________ Donate the spare computing power of your PC to help to cure Alzheimer's, ALS, Huntington's, Parkinson's disease and cancer: Fold for HH!

Dec 25, 2010, 01:36 AM	#10
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,773 Rep Power: 190 System Specs	Re: Upgrading to SSD There you go. NCIX has the OCZ Vertex II Extended 120GB drive on sale for $219 before rebate ($189 after rebate). __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick.

Dec 27, 2010, 04:53 AM	Thread Starter #11
dltre HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 20 Rep Power: 0	Re: Upgrading to SSD Thanks, I want to the store today to buy an OCZ Vertex II 120GB, it was $179.99 at Canada Computers, but it was sold out... So I ended up getting a Corsair F60 for $79.99 (After rebate). I rebuilt my computer and tweaked windows a bit. Now I have the F60 to boot and everything else on a WD 1 TB HDD.

Dec 27, 2010, 01:53 PM	#12
mkk Cthulhu/Dagon 2012 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gefle, Sweden Posts: 4,490 Rep Power: 132 System Specs	Re: Upgrading to SSD That was a good deal. It should come with firmware v2.0 already on it, but if you want to check you can do so with a free little program called CrystalDiskInfo. Corsair Force drives (and other Sandforce-1200 based drives) with older firmware had problems with systems that were up and running for more than a day at a time. Don't be scared by the temperature reading though, it's always way off. (these drives draw very little power anyway)

Dec 27, 2010, 07:02 PM	Thread Starter #13
dltre HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 20 Rep Power: 0	Re: Upgrading to SSD Thanks for the tip, Ill try it right now.

Dec 27, 2010, 07:27 PM	Thread Starter #14
dltre HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 20 Rep Power: 0	Re: Upgrading to SSD Just Checked, it came with 2.0, but thanks for the info.