Need SSD

[lambchops511]

Need a SSD for external backup storage, tired of rotational media dying on me. Will only buy Intel. Please recommend best bang for buck (there are so many models!).

 

[Blain]

Need a SSD for external backup storage, tired of rotational media dying on me. Will only buy Intel. Please recommend best bang for buck (there are so many models!).

Are you an Intel stock holder, or is there another reason for your allegiance to this particular brand?

 

[MontyAC]

Go to Newegg and get the cheapest Intel if that's all you want.

 

[lambchops511]

Are you an Intel stock holder, or is there another reason for your allegiance to this particular brand?

My understanding is Intel drives are $10 more. That premium is worth it for the extra Intel validation no?

My data is worth more to be than saving $10 and having a drive die because of some firmware issue etc...

What model is good for bang-for-buck for GB / dollar. There's so many models Intel 320 / 520 / etc...

 

[Coup27]

Crucial m4, Samsung 830, and the new Plextor's are just as, if not more reliable than the current Intel's. Considering the current Intel's are all based on SandForce, I would much rather have one of the aforementioned 3.

 

[n0x1ous]

Number 1 in reliability is Samsung 830. If it must be intel and speed isnt top issue go for a 320 series. 330 series is the sweet spot unless you want to stay away from sandforce.

 

[Blain]

Number 1 in reliability is Samsung 830.

Are their SSD's specifically more reliable than other brand models?
If that's the case, is there a web site you could point to for that information?

I'm as ready to jump on the Samsung bandwagon as the next guy, I just need the justification to do so.

Edited :$

 

[Coup27]

Blain, they are two different people. Your post makes no sense.

 

[Blain]

Blain, they are two different people. Your post makes no sense.

Thank you, my search result comprehension is off this afternoon.

 

[Coup27]

I would agree that the 830 is the #1 in reliability. The Crucial m4 has received 4 firmware updates. The 830 has received 2, although technically the second update only corrected a bug in the actual updater.

Non-Intel SF based drives have been plagued with problems. Intel's 320 never did remove the 8MB bug 100%. There are also reports in the wild of BSOD's with the 330 and 520. Plextor's new line up looks promising as does the new LAMD controller.

But right now, the 830 is up there with the rest of them for speed, has been out for a while now and has proven to be solid.

 

[TJCS]

newegg have ran at least two promos with Samsung 830 128GB at $89.99 and I would grab that if I were in your shoes.

 

[n0x1ous]

Are their SSD's specifically more reliable than other brand models?
If that's the case, is there a web site you could point to for that information?

I'm as ready to jump on the Samsung bandwagon as the next guy, I just need the justification to do so.

Edited :$

While I don't have numbers to show you, know that Apple and most other OEM's use the 830 as the upgrade option from the OEM. That should tell you something about its reliability and validation. Also Samsung 830 is the only SSD completely made up of parts by the same company. Samsung makes the NAND and the controller in house.

Intel - Intel/Micron Flash with Sandforce Controller
Crucial - Intel/Micron Flash with Marvell Controller
Plextor - 3rd party Flash with Marvell Controller
Vertex 4 - 3rd party Flash with Marvell Controller (Indilinx Infused Firmware but Marvell Controller)
on and on and on

Samsung - Samsung Flash with Samsung Controller + most OEM contracts = reliability and validation excellence.

 

[bryanW1995]

I got into a reliability discussion a few weeks ago. IIRC, crucial has been far and away the most reliable ssd manufacturer recently. Intel and Samsung also score very high. Plextor and some others might also be ok, but they don't have the history and validation programs that the big 3 have.

 

[n0x1ous]

I got into a reliability discussion a few weeks ago. IIRC, crucial has been far and away the most reliable ssd manufacturer recently. Intel and Samsung also score very high. Plextor and some others might also be ok, but they don't have the history and validation programs that the big 3 have.

you would put crucial ahead of samsung in reliability? I haven't seen anything to suggest that. They have been selling in the retail market longer as Samsung was OEM only initially so maybe more history points available?

I would still personally take the Sammy's over anything for reliability.

 

[bryanW1995]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2255339

 

[n0x1ous]

Interesting there are no Samsung numbers in there...

Would be nice to see results from the likes of a Newegg or Amazon instead of a "large French retailer" but interesting nonetheless.

 

[Blain]

RMA results from a single French etailer is a starting point anyway.

 

[lambchops511]

Thanks. Just bought an Intel 330 240 Gib for $200 newegg.com

 

[zon2020]

I got into a reliability discussion a few weeks ago. IIRC, crucial has been far and away the most reliable ssd manufacturer recently. Intel and Samsung also score very high. Plextor and some others might also be ok, but they don't have the history and validation programs that the big 3 have.

I'm curious what you base this on.

Plextor has had no problems or recalls of which I'm aware. Nor has Samsung. Intel has a well-earned reputation for quality including for their Intel, Marvell and Sandforce controller based models. Expect for their most recent (cheaper) models, Intel and Plextor give 5 year warranties. There are other excellent, reliable drives like the Corsair Performance Pro series.

Crucial is a fine drive, but you can't ignore that they had a major firmware problem with the 5,000 hour bug. They fixed it, but I'm at a loss how you put them ahead of really good products that have not had similar problems.

I wish people, when they post "X is the most reliable" would actually cite to some data to support those claims. I'm not convinced such data exists except very anecdotally for some very specific models (like the OCZ Petrol) or very systemically like the well known SF2281 bug which, given the dominance of that controller in the market, probably isn't a very big deal any more.

Plus, the fact that some companies make various models using different makes and models of controllers makes "X Brand is best" rather useless. It strikes me that data regarding specific models or lines is necessary to be meaningful.

 

[bryanW1995]

Interesting there are no Samsung numbers in there...

Would be nice to see results from the likes of a Newegg or Amazon instead of a "large French retailer" but interesting nonetheless.

Anand validated their info in a mar 2011 article. This is obviously newer data, but at least their older data was known to be correct.

 

[FreeAtLast2012]

Great choice, buying an Intel SSD. I have the 120GB 330 and it's great. Also, it comes with a 3 year international warranty, plus SATA 6GB/s cable, and mounting bracket.

 

[Blain]

Since the Intel 330 uses a non-Intel controller, I consider it no better than other run of the mill Sandforce SSD's with 3 year warranties.

 

[postmortemIA]

Since the Intel 330 uses a non-Intel controller, I consider it no better than other run of the mill Sandforce SSD's with 3 year warranties.

Ditto. Since controller seems to be culprit when there's problem' i don't see how intel SSDs can be better than others that use SF.

 

[TemjinGold]

Ditto. Since controller seems to be culprit when there's problem' i don't see how intel SSDs can be better than others that use SF.

Perhaps because they poured lots of money and an extra year into testing before market?

 

[Blain]

Perhaps because they poured lots of money and an extra year into testing before market?

Perhaps they don't pour any more money or time into testing before market than Samsung, Crucial or any of the other SSD brands.

Of course when they produced their own controllers, I'm sure they spent more and tested longer.
But now they're assembling stock controllers like most everyone else.