The cheap SSDs thread

[VirtualLarry]

Ebay item # 291575011967

ADATA Premier SP550 2.5" 120GB SATA III TLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) ASP

Newegg on ebay

$32.99

120GB TLC SSD, for $32.99 FS. Not too bad.

 

[BlueWeasel]

I upgraded my computer to the Adata SP550 (480GB) drive a few weeks ago. It gets a bad rap due to its poor write performance with big files. However, it's not like there will be big seqential writes if used for a OS/application drive (which is what I use it for).

I've been very pleased with it so far.

 

[cbn]

I upgraded my computer to the Adata SP550 (480GB) drive a few weeks ago. It gets a bad rap due to its poor write performance with big files. However, it's not like there will be big seqential writes if used for a OS/application drive (which is what I use it for).

I've been very pleased with it so far.

Glad to hear you are happy.

SP550 does have slower sequential write than other TLC drives.....but the 480GB version does have a pretty good size SLC cache AFAIK... so yes, performance should still be quite good with small files. The major thing I am concerned about with that drive is Read degradation. Based on forum reports these SM2256 drives appear to be worse than other planar TLC drives in that respect.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2467748&highlight=

http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=38241634&postcount=4

What SSD were you using before?

 

[BlueWeasel]

I just bought a Dell XPS 8900 system at work and it didn't come with a SSD. I wanted something larger than 250GB and picked up the Adata drive.

Prior to this, I was using a 840 EVO with a old AMD system. Honestly, the 840 may benchmark faster but I don't really notice much of a difference with general OS use, launching apps, etc.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Anyone here buy any of those "cheap Chinese SSDs"? Gloway, Hectron, KingFast, KingDian, etc.?

I'm kind of curious how it worked out. I've ordered a few of the aforementioned ones, from seller "xtrememicro" on ebay. (I think that's the seller, could be wrong.) They seem to have the cheapest semi-legit (?) SSDs on ebay, that aren't US name-brand SSDs. One may be their house brand.

Figured I could go for an even cheaper build, for my linux-based browser machines. My goal is to get a machine put together with SSD for under $150, with new parts.

ECS A55F-M4 v2.0 FM1 micro-ATX mobo $28
A4-6320 dual-core FM1 APU 2.8Ghz $14
Heatsink / fan $8 shipped
8GB DDR3 RAM $25-30
32GB KingFast SSD $16 shipped or 60GB Hectron SSD $22 shipped
Just need cheap case + PSU for micro-ATX, SuperBiiz has them for $38 shipped

total: $134

Linux: Free!

 

[Elixer]

Anyone here buy any of those "cheap Chinese SSDs"? Gloway, Hectron, KingFast, KingDian, etc.?

I'm kind of curious how it worked out. I've ordered a few of the aforementioned ones, from seller "xtrememicro" on ebay. (I think that's the seller, could be wrong.) They seem to have the cheapest semi-legit (?) SSDs on ebay, that aren't US name-brand SSDs. One may be their house brand.

Do those even have any warranty at all? The only no-name brand that I have seen in the wild had horrible performance, and failed in 90 days.

 

[geecee]

Sandisk Plus 480GB @Amazon for $94. It's one of those Deal of the Day things. Don't know the specs but will update when I find them.
http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Plus-...disk 480 gb&qid=1464714485&ref_=sr_1_3&sr=8-3

Nothing definitive on Sandisk's site, but the Q&A at Amazon seems to indicate it's MLC with either a Silicon Motion or a Sandforce controller.

 

[Macgyversite]

Isnt that sorta the goal of these threads.......

SSD thread
Videocard thread
Case and PSU thread

If you spend a few months here and other sites. You can build a good gaming system or HTPC on the cheap.

 

[cbn]

Sandisk Plus 480GB @Amazon for $94. It's one of those Deal of the Day things. Don't know the specs but will update when I find them.
http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Plus-...disk 480 gb&qid=1464714485&ref_=sr_1_3&sr=8-3

Nothing definitive on Sandisk's site, but the Q&A at Amazon seems to indicate it's MLC with either a Silicon Motion or a Sandforce controller.

It uses the Silicon Motion SM2246XT controller (a dram-less version of the SM2246EN).

 

[VirtualLarry]

Do those even have any warranty at all? The only no-name brand that I have seen in the wild had horrible performance, and failed in 90 days.

Thanks for the input. That doesn't sound so good. Hopefully, the ones I ordered won't die in 90 days. But, given that they're cheap Chinese ... "crap" (?), then they might indeed be crap.

Edit: Then again, I've had a cutting-edge, made from a US company, SSD die in a month too. So it can happen to any SSD.

 

[cbn]

Anyone here buy any of those "cheap Chinese SSDs"? Gloway, Hectron, KingFast, KingDian, etc.?

I'm kind of curious how it worked out. I've ordered a few of the aforementioned ones, from seller "xtrememicro" on ebay. (I think that's the seller, could be wrong.) They seem to have the cheapest semi-legit (?) SSDs on ebay, that aren't US name-brand SSDs. One may be their house brand.

Do those even have any warranty at all? The only no-name brand that I have seen in the wild had horrible performance, and failed in 90 days.

According to the Kingfast website, the SSDs have a 3 year warranty:

https://www.kingfast-ssd.com/index.php?_route_=f6-series/f6-series-sata3&product_id=57

http://www.kfast.com.cn/service-24.html

Here is the RMA page I found for Kingfast:

http://www.kfast.com.cn/service-26.html

And According to the XtremeMicro ebay page:

This item is guaranteed against DOA. 60 days guarantee is also provided.
You can return the item back to us for a refund or replacement within the 60 days warranty period.
Refund or repalcement will be issued once the item is received and fault is confirmed by us.
Please ensure the item is fully tested before sending it back to us, as a 10% re-stocking fee will be charged where the item is found working.
We will cover half of shipping cost you pay for sending the item back to us.
We will pay for any cost incurred when shipping the repalcement item back to you.

(Keep in mind both Kingfast and XtremeMicro are in China)

P.S. I couldn't find any warranty info on the Hectron SSD, but it does carry XtremeMicro's 60 day DOA policy.

 

[cbn]

If anyone is interested in Kingfast, I did find out there was an incident of a fake SSD being sent to a reviewer.

More info in this post.

Hopefully the problem has been corrected since then.

 

[Macgyversite]

Below

 

[Macgyversite]

Well considering they liked the real drive a lot.(2 years ago) These Chinese drives might save you money and get equal or slightly better performance than the big names.....

http://www.thessdreview.com/our-reviews/kingfast-f3-plus-ssd-review-240gb-the-real-thing/

If anyone is interested in Kingfast, I did find out there was an incident of a fake SSD being sent to a reviewer.

More info in this post.

Hopefully the problem has been corrected since then.

Good read on the fake drive article.......

It can happen to anyone not just these Cheaper Chinese drives.......

http://www.thessdreview.com/daily-n...w-sample-ssd-contains-fake-nand-flash-memory/

 

[Macgyversite]

The Above Amazon drive is on sale at Best buy. 480gb for $95 + tax.

www.bestbuy.com/site/sandisk-480gb-internal-sata-solid-state-drive-for-laptops-multi/4906204.p

 

[Ranulf]

Newegg Shocker deal, 120GB Kingston Fury $39.99

Looks like a sandforce controller.

http://www.newegg.com/Special/ShellShocker.aspx?cm_sp=Homepage_SS-_-P1_20-104-483-_-06012016&Index=1

Amazon has price matched.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Newegg's got the Adata SP550 (TLC) 240GB SSD for $52.99 FS on their ebay store.

---

Kingston UV400 240GB TLC 2.5" SATA6G SSD $50.99 FS @ Newegg
Now $57.99 with promo code ESCEKEH34
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820242258&ignorebbr=1

Also in a combo (the 120GB UV400) with a Seagate 1TB desktop HDD for $79.99.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.2946201

---

REFURB Intel 320 Series 160GB MLC SATAII 2.5" SSDs $39.99 FS @ Newegg
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167391&ignorebbr=1

These Intel drives are practically indestructible, these use an older generation MLC NAND that has higher P/E cycles. Not the fastest SSD on the block, but still acceptable performance, even given today's TLC drives. If you want longevity, you want MLC, and Intel MLC are some of the best.

 

[Mike64]

Kingston UV400 240GB TLC 2.5" SATA6G SSD $50.99 FS @ Newegg

It's already OOS at that price.

As an aside, didja see the review some idiot (hopefully a 12-year old idiot who lied when asked whether he was 13) left on Newegg? The reviews there have gotten almost (though fortunately not quite) as bad as the ones on Amazon.<sigh> I guess we should just be glad neither's are anywhere near the level of the ones at Best Buy.<bigger sigh>

REFURB Intel 320 Series 160GB MLC SATAII 2.5" SSDs $39.99 FS @ Newegg

I saw nothing about this in the product listing and have vague concerns about what exactly "refurb" means in this context... Do you have any idea if there's a possibility of getting one that's been really heavily written to?

 

[VirtualLarry]

I saw nothing about this in the product listing and have vague concerns about what exactly "refurb" means in this context... Do you have any idea if there's a possibility of getting one that's been really heavily written to?

Sure, it's possible. I've purchased "used" (really, all that "refurb" means in this context, other than "used and wiped") Intel 320 Series SSDs on ebay. They had like 99% lifespan left. They're quite durable, due to huge number of P/E cycles. I would be surprised to hear of getting one with like 50TB written or more. Or maybe I'm just lucky. Mine have had like 5TB written or less, or something around that.

 

[cbn]

For those looking for M.2 form factor, here is the MydigitalSSD Bullet proof 5 eco for $42.99/ free shipping (120GB), $69.99 free shipping (240GB), $129.99 free shipping (480GB):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=0D9-000C-00053

(It is a SATA 6 Gbps M.2280 form factor drive that uses the Phison S10 controller and Toshiba planar TLC NAND)

SSDReview gave this an "a top value" rating in their review (dated May 3, 2016):

http://www.thessdreview.com/our-rev...eco-m-2-ssd-review-512gb-untouchable-value/5/

Its price is untouchable and one of the lowest we could find on the market. The odd part is that the only thing we can see restricting sales of this SSD is lack of consumer knowledge. $129.99 for a 480GB SSD is phenomenal!

 

[Macgyversite]

Besides the form factor. Are these any faster/slower than other TLC drives?

 

[DesiPower]

check out these SANDISK newegg promo deals (ends 6/11)

1 TB - $224
512 - $115
256 - $62
128 - $40

and some more...

Micron 480 - $105

ADATA Premier SP550 2.5" 480GB - $95AR

 

[cbn]

OCZ trion 150 240GB 2.5" SSD, $49.99 AR free shipping:

($10 rebate expires 6/11/2016)

Controller is a toshiba branded Phison S10. It uses Toshiba 15nm planar TLC NAND.

http://www.frys.com/product/8760671?site=sa:adpages page:P160 date:060516

P.S. Unlike the SM2256 planar TLC NAND drives, these have not yet been reported to suffer from Read speed degradation.

 

[Beer4Me]

For those looking for M.2 form factor, here is the MydigitalSSD Bullet proof 5 eco for $42.99/ free shipping (120GB), $69.99 free shipping (240GB), $129.99 free shipping (480GB):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=0D9-000C-00053

(It is a SATA 6 Gbps M.2280 form factor drive that uses the Phison S10 controller and Toshiba planar TLC NAND)

SSDReview gave this an "a top value" rating in their review (dated May 3, 2016):

http://www.thessdreview.com/our-rev...eco-m-2-ssd-review-512gb-untouchable-value/5/

I've purchased a couple of these SSDs (1 7mm and 1 msata), and both had ZERO issues. They were also surprisingly quick. "Felt" as fast as the 840 EVO in terms of daily usage, but this was several years ago. Anyway, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another from these guys if the price was right and I was in the market. Also, their support/RMA is all US-based.

Lately, I've been pimping PNY SSD's in my systems, specifically the CS21xx and CS22xx series (all MLC NAND based) drives. I recently had a run in with their support/RMA process @ PNY, and it was painless and quite good. Their HQ/Support is based out of New Jersey.

 

[Captante]

check out these SANDISK newegg promo deals (ends 6/11)

1 TB - $224
512 - $115
256 - $62
128 - $40

and some more...

Micron 480 - $105

ADATA Premier SP550 2.5" 480GB - $95AR

Great prices especially for the Micron 480.

One concern for me though is that none of the listed drives (aside from the Adata) are actually being sold by Newegg.

"Marketplace" sellers are scary enough with Amazon customer service backing you up ... with Newegg you're much more likely to be on your own if you have issues.