ssd purchase question

[Dorkenstein]

I finally have the money in place for a decent SSD. My question is, would I be doing myself a huge disservice by buying an OCZ when I could still hang on for the intel's to be in stock? I mean, is there a massive difference between say a G2 and a Vertex? I understand the OCZ has destructive firmware flashing whereas the intel doesn't, but is that all? Thanks.

 

[taltamir]

i hear the new OCZ has non destructive flashing, but don't quote me on that...
I got a G2, never had a vertex, so i can't tell you.

 

[Binky]

OCZ firmware updates do NOT destroy the data.

Intel is faster and more expensive. OCZ and other indilinx-based drives are very very fast and cheaper. Intel has less size options (80gb, 160gb), while the indilinx drives run from 30gb to 320gb, with more coming out soon. All of these are significantly faster than any mechanical HD you have ever used.

 

[Dorkenstein]

Ideally I'd love to have a g2, but as I haven't ever seen them available anywhere and I have no idea when I'll be able to easily buy one, I guess I'll go for a vertex. Do they run out of the box or do you have to do some kind of special format first? And does newegg's lax hard drive packing apply to SSD's also? Thanks.

 

[flexy]

well the SSDs surely can take more beatings that conventional HDs..so i wouldnt worry too much about the packaging

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: Binky
OCZ firmware updates do NOT destroy the data.

Intel is faster and more expensive. OCZ and other indilinx-based drives are very very fast and cheaper. Intel has less size options (80gb, 160gb), while the indilinx drives run from 30gb to 320gb, with more coming out soon. All of these are significantly faster than any mechanical HD you have ever used.

OCZ firmware updates USED TO destroy the data. if you upgrade from a fairly recent version to the latest version it will not.

Intel is NOT more expensive.. the G2 is actually CHEAPER per GB. the prices are dropping on the vertex and the like, but too slowly, and not enough to matter in my opinion. They need to go much lower to make it a good choice again.

 

[Binky]

The buyer of a brand new drive today doesn't care about the firmware that came in the drives a few months ago.

The Supertalent 64gb drive is on sale for $139 ($2.17/gb) at newegg today. The Intel drive is $229 ($2.86/gb), and out of stock. True, indilinx drives have dropped pretty slow given the Intel competition, but the Intel drives aren't really out and readily available yet.

 

[taltamir]

that super talent sale is amazing, but it is not the MSRP, it is just a massive awesome sale.
It is such a good price that I am actually almost regretting buying my intel G2 80GB... i could have saved 90$ and gotten the 64GB super talent ME.

but when the sale ends and the ST drive is back at 190$ vs the intel for 225$ (once price gouging dies down)... than intel is a better choice.

Of course, lack of availability and blow out sales distort those figures wildly.

 

[Dorkenstein]

The Super Talent drives are already sold out as of this post, unfortunately.

 

[TitusTroy]

Originally posted by: Binky
Intel has less size options (80gb, 160gb), while the indilinx drives run from 30gb to 320gb, with more coming out soon

that's the main problem with Intel SSD's in my opinion...and it's the reason I went with a G.Skill Falcon 256GB SSD

 

[Binky]

Still in stock (I think) at superbiiz for $128
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php...cdf6335e2776b361e&c=CJ

I think this will be the normal price range for the 64gb intilinx drives...once Intel actually has more drives on the shelves.

 

[taltamir]

it is 138$
edit: there is a 10$ off coupon

 

[Binky]

"$10 off with coupon SSDSALE10"

Edit: Interesting...this post was in response to the post below it. I'm a time traveler.

 

[Dorkenstein]

Hmm, I'm tempted, just not sure if I'll regret the small storage space right off the bat.

 

[Dorkenstein]

Does the Super Talent drive have the garbage removal feature or trim? I can't tell, and I think I might need those features. Thanks.

 

[taltamir]

no, it is a custom OCZ thing that will only be in the vertex and not other indilinx controllers.
it is also completely pointless if you have TRIM. since trim replaces it and does a better job of it. But if you run something older than win7 than it will be valuable

 

[Dorkenstein]

Last minute question. I can get a 64 gb Super Talent drive for less than a 60gb OCZ vertex, but I am under the impression that OCZ is better for some reason. They're the exact same drive, aren't they? Is there a firmware advantage anywhere? Thanks.

 

[taltamir]

until very recently there was not, recently OCZ announced a custom firmware with garbage collection for their drive. However that will ONLY be useful if you do NOT have trim... aka, if you run it on XP or Vista instead of win7... trim will make such garbage collection obsolete.

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: Binky
The buyer of a brand new drive today doesn't care about the firmware that came in the drives a few months ago.

Correct under select circumstances only. If you happen to buy a drive that has been sitting on a retailer's shelf for a few months (certainly not improbable in B&M retail and/or a smaller online retailer) you could easily get a drive with the older firmware revision that requires a destructive flash to update.

Just to make sure I would flash immediately to the latest firmware before installing your OS.

 

[Dorkenstein]

Well, is it somewhat reasonable to install SOME games on an SSD and others on a mechanical drive? If so, would a 64 gb drive do? I can grab another 64gb but I don't have the spare change for a 120 or 128. Thanks for any input.

 

[betaflame]

Yeah it's fine, that's what I do. Windows+Steam on a 32GB cheap Jmicron SSD and everything else on a 200GB leading partition on a 640GB dual platter WD.

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: Dorkenstein
Well, is it somewhat reasonable to install SOME games on an SSD and others on a mechanical drive? If so, would a 64 gb drive do? I can grab another 64gb but I don't have the spare change for a 120 or 128. Thanks for any input.

do you have 64GB worth of games that load really slowly?
If a game loads really really fast, then it will not benefit (noticeably) from a fast SSD. Framerates will be unaffected.

 

[Dorkenstein]

I have one game in particular that, with mods and texture addons, could come close to maxing the drive (64gb) out. It has terrible stuttering problems in some instances that I've heard reports of several users fixing by loading it on an SSD. To be honest, I don't think it's worth buying an SSD solely for one game, so I was/am conflicted. I might just pick up a plain old mechanical drive and use my existing 64 gb SSD for windows. But then I get down to splitting hairs on mechanical drives and their assorted speeds and pros/cons. I will probably get a WD Cav Black 640.

 

[Dorkenstein]

Well, I just received the envelope with the ssd in it. But the sender's address is displayed as 'RMA Warehouse'. I'm not sure if I should open it, should I send it back if it's a previously rma-ed item?

 

[taltamir]

ouch... which company did you buy it from?