G.Skill Titan 256GB SSD

[imported_TimBob]

Originally posted by: Old Hippie

Seems like you guys are having better luck on Nvidia chipsets

I'm using an Intel P35 on an Abit IP35-Pro.

I wonder if you got a defective unit?

Maybe.
I just sent the following to G.Skill tech support so we'll see what they have to say:

I recently purchased a 128gb Titan SSD and having some performance issues. I have a lot of responsiveness issues (stuttering) while copying files and installing software. The system is pretty much unusable while doing either of those things. I know this was somewhat common in previous SSDs, but was under the assumption based on reviews that it wasn't an issue with the Titan due to it's dual controllers. Other users I've spoken with do not seem to have this problem either. I've tried several tweaks like stopping defrag, indexing, prefetch. I have all updates installed as well as the newest x48 chipset drivers and Intel Matrix Storage Manger. Reinstalled Vista a few times.

Is it possible that there is something wrong with drive or is this to be expected?

I'm running Vista 64.
Asus Rampage Formula w/q9550
8 GB G.Skill DDR2-1066

 

[imported_TimBob]

Already got a response:

Dear customer



Yes Titan SSD should not have a lot of stuttering. You don?t need to tweak this drive. The only thing you need to do is disable the super fetch. If disable super fetch doesn?t help, please rma with us.



Thank you

GSKILL SUPPORT

 

[Old Hippie]

Originally posted by: TimBob
Already got a response:

Dear customer



Yes Titan SSD should not have a lot of stuttering. You don?t need to tweak this drive. The only thing you need to do is disable the super fetch. If disable super fetch doesn?t help, please rma with us.



Thank you

GSKILL SUPPORT

That was quick!

 

[imported_TimBob]

Also, for anyone interested in the OCZ apex/vertex, just read this from the OCZ forum:

Newegg should have Apex up and Sku'd by 2/2. 120 and 250GB models shipped from Taiwan yesterday. Other retailers have them already.

Vertex is Friday/Monday shipment. Who will have them first, I do not know.

 

[allthatisman]

Originally posted by: TimBob

I have used the tweak utility from OCZ forums.

Allthatisman, in my case, I don't see the stutters as little unnoticeable hiccups. What I'm experiencing is definitely noticeable. If I'm installing something on my Titan, my system is basically useless until the install is finished.

Seems like you guys are having better luck on Nvidia chipsets. I might try it out on my EVGA 680i at some point just to see if it reacts better to the Nvidia controller.

Now that I'm done with installs, it performs beautifully.

I haven't updated my profile yet, but I recently upgraded to a Gigabyte UD3R P45 motherboard, so its not an Nvidia thing either. I used that SSD tweaker and I really would like to "un-do" all the tweaks except for superfetch, but I have no idea where to start, and the program only implements the tweaks, it doesn't un-do them... not that anything is wrong, but if GSkill tech support says that no other tweaks are needed, I am inclined to take thier advice.

 

[coolVariable]

Originally posted by: TimBob
I've reinstalled Vista 64 + software/games 3 times. Windows 7 twice. I'd definitely say that I've filled up my drive.

I have used the tweak utility from OCZ forums.

Allthatisman, in my case, I don't see the stutters as little unnoticeable hiccups. What I'm experiencing is definitely noticeable. If I'm installing something on my Titan, my system is basically useless until the install is finished.

Seems like you guys are having better luck on Nvidia chipsets. I might try it out on my EVGA 680i at some point just to see if it reacts better to the Nvidia controller.

Now that I'm done with installs, it performs beautifully.

I will be very interested to see whether the new drive will cause the same issues.
I really believe this is a steadystate issue ... the others (who don't have issues) probably didn't fill their drive. or they are using it differently?

 

[coolVariable]

Originally posted by: TimBob
Also, for anyone interested in the OCZ apex/vertex, just read this from the OCZ forum:

Newegg should have Apex up and Sku'd by 2/2. 120 and 250GB models shipped from Taiwan yesterday. Other retailers have them already.

Vertex is Friday/Monday shipment. Who will have them first, I do not know.

I am actually more interested when Frys or Amazon will have them.
Newegg's RMA policy on SSDs sucks big time.
If those drives don't perform, I want to be able to return them.

 

[imported_TimBob]

Originally posted by: allthatisman

Originally posted by: TimBob

I have used the tweak utility from OCZ forums.

Allthatisman, in my case, I don't see the stutters as little unnoticeable hiccups. What I'm experiencing is definitely noticeable. If I'm installing something on my Titan, my system is basically useless until the install is finished.

Seems like you guys are having better luck on Nvidia chipsets. I might try it out on my EVGA 680i at some point just to see if it reacts better to the Nvidia controller.

Now that I'm done with installs, it performs beautifully.

I haven't updated my profile yet, but I recently upgraded to a Gigabyte UD3R P45 motherboard, so its not an Nvidia thing either. I used that SSD tweaker and I really would like to "un-do" all the tweaks except for superfetch, but I have no idea where to start, and the program only implements the tweaks, it doesn't un-do them... not that anything is wrong, but if GSkill tech support says that no other tweaks are needed, I am inclined to take thier advice.

The tweaker has been updated. It now can revert to default.

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: coolVariable

Originally posted by: TimBob
Also, for anyone interested in the OCZ apex/vertex, just read this from the OCZ forum:

Newegg should have Apex up and Sku'd by 2/2. 120 and 250GB models shipped from Taiwan yesterday. Other retailers have them already.

Vertex is Friday/Monday shipment. Who will have them first, I do not know.

I am actually more interested when Frys or Amazon will have them.
Newegg's RMA policy on SSDs sucks big time.
If those drives don't perform, I want to be able to return them.

which is why newegg has such a bad policy on those . rule of thumb, if they aren't gonna let you return it, its probably not worth buying.

 

[coolVariable]

Originally posted by: taltamir

Originally posted by: coolVariable

Originally posted by: TimBob
Also, for anyone interested in the OCZ apex/vertex, just read this from the OCZ forum:

Newegg should have Apex up and Sku'd by 2/2. 120 and 250GB models shipped from Taiwan yesterday. Other retailers have them already.

Vertex is Friday/Monday shipment. Who will have them first, I do not know.

I am actually more interested when Frys or Amazon will have them.
Newegg's RMA policy on SSDs sucks big time.
If those drives don't perform, I want to be able to return them.

which is why newegg has such a bad policy on those . rule of thumb, if they aren't gonna let you return it, its probably not worth buying.

Couldn't agree more.
My hat is off though to g.skill for the big banner ad on top of AT.
OCZ would have probably pulled all advertising the way we talk about them ;-)

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: coolVariable

Originally posted by: taltamir

Originally posted by: coolVariable

Originally posted by: TimBob
Also, for anyone interested in the OCZ apex/vertex, just read this from the OCZ forum:

Newegg should have Apex up and Sku'd by 2/2. 120 and 250GB models shipped from Taiwan yesterday. Other retailers have them already.

Vertex is Friday/Monday shipment. Who will have them first, I do not know.

I am actually more interested when Frys or Amazon will have them.
Newegg's RMA policy on SSDs sucks big time.
If those drives don't perform, I want to be able to return them.

which is why newegg has such a bad policy on those . rule of thumb, if they aren't gonna let you return it, its probably not worth buying.

Couldn't agree more.
My hat is off though to g.skill for the big banner ad on top of AT.
OCZ would have probably pulled all advertising the way we talk about them ;-)

Actually a good share of Neweggs RMA policy is dictated by whatever restrictions/limitations the OEM places on Newegg's ability to return product to the OEM.

I.e. if Newegg isn't allowing OCZ returns then you can bet it is because OCZ won't allow retailers like Newegg to return unsold/returned stock to OCZ either.

And when an OEM won't take their sh!t back...well you kinda know right then and there what it must be worth.

But really is OCZ really in any different situation than AMD was with their B2 stepping Phenoms? AMD did not do a recall and would not replace a customer's B2 with a B3 just because the customer wanted a fixed Phenom. Instead AMD just sold those B2's at ever cheaper and cheaper prices until the inventory was gone. I see many parallels with OCZ.

 

[taltamir]

i didn't specify who "they" were . But yea, I expect they will just be sold off to people.

 

[Old Hippie]

I must be missing something...

Just because returns are not allowed at Newegg, that makes the item crap?

The Newegg items that are not returnable to them are still under warranty by the manfg. that will accept a return if it's defective.

My thought would be, they get soo many returns from Newegg by people that have no idea what's going on and blame the manfg. ( I assume you have read some of the ignorant incompatability/no workey on mi igronamis 1974 top of the line muther boored AND nweg didnt kis my ase weth ovrnite shippering ) that maybe they only want to deal with people that can spell?

Mine is just fine.

PS Personally, I think you fellows that shit on this new technology and it's growing pains are just jealous that you don't have the disposable income to find out for yourself.

Every technology grows thru growing pains and will always be improved with time.

When Newegg permits SSD drives for an RMA they'll probably no longer be cutting edge and you'll be allowed to RMA to them, just like the masses that can't quite understand why their 1066 RAM is only showing 800 when they boot....or maybe it won't boot because it's incompatable......

 

[taltamir]

defective =! crap. defective = broken. crap = poor performance/overhyped/overpriced/falsely advertised/tends to break and than have the warranty not honored. (note, that it is not all those things at once, for example some of those things definitely do not fit the drive we are discussing, but they are some possible definitions for crap).

as for "growing pains" and "improve over time"... what you are buying will never, ever, improve. the technology will improve and eventually something GOOD will be released, but it will not be this drive...at which point you should buy it. In fact it already HAPPENED, its called the intel X25.
But buying something inferior for a lot more money and than excusing it by saying that the "technology" involved in it has "potential"... well actually i don't even know how to describe that.

 

[Old Hippie]

In fact it already HAPPENED, its called the intel X25.

And those have the same return policy from Newegg.

 

[Old Hippie]

defective =! crap. defective = broken. crap = poor performance/overhyped/overpriced/falsely advertised/tends to break and than have the warranty not honored. (note, that it is not all those things at once, for example some of those things definitely do not fit the drive we are discussing, but they are some possible definitions for crap).

Fine and dandy, but it's not NOTHING to do with Newegg.

They are a distributor not a manufacture.

The fact that Newegg will not accept a return has nothing to do with the products merits.

 

[taltamir]

there is a difference between "is not always an indication of" and "has nothing to do with"... generally speaking, newegg, the manufacturer, and other retails tend to forbid returns when there is a very good reason for a very large amount of people to return the item. Either because it is way overpriced (like the intel), or because it performs poorly, or other issues.
Sometimes however, there are exceptions to that rule.

 

[Old Hippie]

Originally posted by: taltamir
there is a difference between "is not always an indication of" and "has nothing to do with"... generally speaking, newegg, the manufacturer, and other retails tend to forbid returns when there is a very good reason for a very large amount of people to return the item. Either because it is way overpriced (like the intel), or because it performs poorly, or other issues.
Sometimes however, there are exceptions to that rule.

Well, I guess you'll have to determine when that will apply. :roll:

 

[allthatisman]

I think it's funny that a discussion about a particular drive has turned into a smear campaign against the entire SSD tech thus far, save the Intel drives. So far I think me and maybe two other people actually own the G Skill Titan, and personally I couldn't be happier with my purchase, as I have said in all my previous posts. I would also like to call to the attention of the "critics" that I have yet to see a piece of hardware released for consumers that doesn't get a group of people that all have a similar gripe and that gripe turns into a global problem for an entire product line... Take your pick, 48XX series, GTX 200 series AMD processors... fill in your blank. The fact of the matter is that most of the posts on these forums are designed to fix a problem a user might be having, and RARELY is it a thread praising how normal the product they have is operating. In my over 15 years of computer "enthusiasm" I have had more hard disk drive failures than I have fingers, and wonder why it has taken this long to come up with an alternative. I honestly don't know where all the harsh critisism is coming from considering where storage has been all these years...

 

[taltamir]

it comes from the very poor performance. and false advertising.

This will be solved, just like early LCD issues were resolved. But until they are resolved a person would be wise to stay away.

 

[jedisolo]

I own this drive and I have been using it in my Thinkpad T400 since I bought the drive 2 weeks ago, I couldn't have been happier with my purchase.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: jedisolo
I own this drive and I have been using it in my Thinkpad T400 since I bought the drive 2 weeks ago, I couldn't have been happier with my purchase.

Yeah I'll bet these drives are the ultimate upgrade for a laptop as they are way faster than the 4200rpm drives, and they use less power. In many ways it gives laptops performance parity with the desktop. All they need now is better GPUs.

 

[Old Hippie]

Mine is just fine.

There's nothing wrong with these particular units.

 

[Rubycon]

What it be worth it to put in a netbook? This thing is so slow I want to cry!

 

[aka1nas]

I am pretty happy with mine now that it is all dialed in. Haven't noticed any stutters for the last 5 days. I have about 100GB of 128GB used.