Samsung 128GB, $129 or Crucial 128GB $114?

[MoInSTL]

I've been watching MC prices for awhile and they are having a sale on SSD drives.

The two I am looking at are the Samsung 830, 128GB for $129 and the Crucial M4 with Marvell Controller for $114.

I have the 64GB Samsung 830 and am pleased with it as well as the SSD Magician software. Should I just fork over the $16 difference to add the 128GB to my system and use the 64GB as a boot drive or save $16 and go with the Crucial? I am thinking managing both drives with the same software would be convenient. I have no idea what the Crucial comes with.

FWIW, they are selling the OCZ Agility 120GB for $79 AR.

Thanks in advance.

Edit: Samsung MC price is the same as NE. The NE Crucial price is higher.

 

[JohnnyChuttz]

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/425?vs=533

 

[Gigantopithecus]

You just missed the 128GB 830 on sale at Newegg for $90. If you're patient, I suspect both drives will drop below $100 again sooner than later.

 

[corkyg]

Go for the Samsung. The $10 is in the noise level.

 

[Concillian]

Go for the M4, the performance difference is in the noise level.

 

[ronbo613]

You just missed the 128GB 830 on sale at Newegg for $90.

Just about everyone missed out on that sale, including me. I put one in the shopping cart at like 7:30AM. When I clicked "Checkout" 30 seconds later, they were sold out. I'll get 'em next time....

 

[LokutusofBorg]

The Samsungs have the edge performance-wise over the M4s. If they're that close in price then the 830 is the better deal, IMO.

 

[tornadog]

Just about everyone missed out on that sale, including me. I put one in the shopping cart at like 7:30AM. When I clicked "Checkout" 30 seconds later, they were sold out. I'll get 'em next time....

was that 7:30 am pst? because I ordered one at 7:30 am CST, and it went through without a hitch.

 

[Coup27]

The Samsung is an overall better package. It's faster, newer and has a polished toolbox program. The reason I mention newer is because the m4 has been out a long time now so expect a new driver from Crucial this year.

I would not hesitate to purchase an m4 myself as it is a quality drive, but if an 830 can be head for a small premium, it's worth it.

 

[Nawlins]

You just missed the 128GB 830 on sale at Newegg for $90.

Good news...the m4 256GB is on sale for 179.99 at Newegg with promo code EMCYTZT1768.

 

[TemjinGold]

Better news...it's $169.99 at Buy.com if you apply the $10 new customer coupon.

 

[santilmo]

I am also planning to get an SSD and Samsung 128GB is one of them that I am currently looking at... How does this compare to an Intel 520 120GB? Which could be a better buy in terms of overall performance and reliability?

 

[perdomot]

I am also planning to get an SSD and Samsung 128GB is one of them that I am currently looking at... How does this compare to an Intel 520 120GB? Which could be a better buy in terms of overall performance and reliability?

They have reviews of both drives at Storagereview.com so check that out.

 

[Coup27]

You can hardly split the 520 and the 830. In benchmarks they perform about the same and they both offer good toolbox programs. You won't go wrong with either but I know theres quite a few users who prefer the 830 because it isn't Sandforce.

 

[bryanW1995]

Go for the Samsung. The $10 is in the noise level.

Huh?

Anything over $100 for a quality 128gb ssd is too much, and I'm assuming you're joking about hearing "noise" from either ssd.

 

[Zap]

Better news...it's $169.99 at Buy.com if you apply the $10 new customer coupon.

Best news... get up to 5% cashback through Shop Discover or other CB offers.

 

[robertdrumm]

The 830 has reliability that mac will trust. The m4 like said earlier is better in performance, but it wont last as long and will have more issues. Samsung is one of the best companies out there right now. I have looked over probably 50 reviews and the samsung has the almost if not the least issues of all ssd's. Samsung also make the majority of the parts for thier sd, making any issues easier to solve. I plan to buy Samsung ssd once they hit the hundred dollar range. I was so mad when i missed the sale for $90.

 

[MoInSTL]

Thanks for all the replies. Actually, since I already have the 830 64GB , it makes sense to me to keep it simple by using the same toolbox program. I have an Intel 320, 120GB in my laptop but it's SATA 3Gb/s as is my notebook. It's been reliable since I installed it back in January and I like the toolbox.

So I'll wait as I have noticed a lot of deals lately as well as newer drives in the pipeline. Which along with cheaper NAND costs should keep lowering the prices. http://www.fastestssd.com/category/new-ssds/

 

[santilmo]

You can hardly split the 520 and the 830. In benchmarks they perform about the same and they both offer good toolbox programs. You won't go wrong with either but I know theres quite a few users who prefer the 830 because it isn't Sandforce.

Ok, right... But compared to 520, the 830 has 320MB/s Sequential Write Speed versus 520's 500 MB/s Sequential Write... Would that difference be "not" noticeable in real world performance?

 

[jwilliams4200]

Ok, right... But compared to 520, the 830 has 320MB/s Sequential Write Speed versus 520's 500 MB/s Sequential Write... Would that difference be "not" noticeable in real world performance?

The 120GB Intel 520 won't get anywhere near 320MB/s write speed on incompressible data. It would probably be around half that.

 

[jihe]

I've been watching MC prices for awhile and they are having a sale on SSD drives.

The two I am looking at are the Samsung 830, 128GB for $129 and the Crucial M4 with Marvell Controller for $114.

I have the 64GB Samsung 830 and am pleased with it as well as the SSD Magician software. Should I just fork over the $16 difference to add the 128GB to my system and use the 64GB as a boot drive or save $16 and go with the Crucial? I am thinking managing both drives with the same software would be convenient. I have no idea what the Crucial comes with.

FWIW, they are selling the OCZ Agility 120GB for $79 AR.

Thanks in advance.

Edit: Samsung MC price is the same as NE. The NE Crucial price is higher.

Friends don't let friends buy OCZ.

 

[Coup27]

Ok, right... But compared to 520, the 830 has 320MB/s Sequential Write Speed versus 520's 500 MB/s Sequential Write... Would that difference be "not" noticeable in real world performance?

Like jwilliams has said, the Intel drive performs vastly different depending on if the data is compressible or incompressible. In real world usage outside of benchmarks, you will not be able to tell the difference between the two drives.

 

[Dark Shroud]

Get the Samsung, use Samsung's SSD Magician software, enjoy the performance.

 

[WilliamM2]

Get the Samsung, use Samsung's SSD Magician software, enjoy the performance.

I agree, I was lucky enough to get in on the $90 sale though.

I was using a 470 I got last year, I've never found any use for the Magician software with Win7, just another unnecessary program loading at startup.

 

[Coup27]

I've never found any use for the Magician software with Win7, just another unnecessary program loading at startup.

True with Windows 7 Magician becomes more of a convenient companion for certain tasks than a requirement. I removed the startup entry after installing it but I leave it on as its quicker to use for checking for updates and useful if you want to make a secure erase USB stick.