Which 120/128GB SSD for $99?

[taisingera]

I am planning to buy my first SSD and would like to aim for 120/128GB at around $100. Which one on Newegg would you recommend?

I know Samsung 840 is nice but has TLC instead of MLC. BTW, for now it will only be used on SATA2 Intel controller.

TIA

 

[dave_the_nerd]

If you're just using it in a SATA2 system, the TLC won't hurt you much.

These should work pretty well too, if you just don't want the TLC.

http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Ultra-...dp/B0093HMKVI/

(I know, not Newegg...)

 

[LoveMachine]

The TLC issue is really a non-issue. http://us.hardware.info/reviews/417...d-840-250gb-tlc-ssd-update-update-7-29-5-2013

 

[fffblackmage]

From what little I know, TLC has lower endurance, but does that really matter under normal desktop usage? AFAIK, the SSD will still last for several years, and I'll probably have upgraded from it long before it dies.

I'm also looking for a new SSD to upgrade from my current Agility 60GB. Newegg has the Samsung 840 for $90 with promo code (EMCXRTW23) right now, and I'm thinking of just getting it. Before I do, I'm looking at alternatives. How about Intel 330/335? Is the Crucial M4/Micron C400 still a good choice?

 

[gus6464]

I have an 840 and it's a nice SSD. Write performance is lower than my 830 but read is up there neck and neck.

 

[birthdaymonkey]

The TLC issue is really a non-issue. http://us.hardware.info/reviews/417...d-840-250gb-tlc-ssd-update-update-7-29-5-2013

Thanks for that link. The "TLC is bad" FUD just refuses to die!

 

[taisingera]

From what little I know, TLC has lower endurance, but does that really matter under normal desktop usage? AFAIK, the SSD will still last for several years, and I'll probably have upgraded from it long before it dies.

I'm also looking for a new SSD to upgrade from my current Agility 60GB. Newegg has the Samsung 840 for $80 with promo code right now, and I'm thinking of just getting it. Before I do, I'm looking at alternatives. How about Intel 330/335? Is the Crucial M4/Micron C400 still a good choice?

Where is the promo code for the Samsung?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I thought the main problem with TLC was that it was slower?

 

[taisingera]

Just ordered the Samsung 840 120GB for $99 - 10 Promo Code -10 combo deal with a 3.5-2.5 adapter. Even if it lasts at least 5 years, that should be good. I am putting all my media on a 500GB laptop drive anyway.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Just ordered the Samsung 840 120GB for $99 - 10 Promo Code -10 combo deal with a 3.5-2.5 adapter. Even if it lasts at least 5 years, that should be good. I am putting all my media on a 500GB laptop drive anyway.

thats how mine is set up too.

You have a backup for when that laptop hdd fails, right?

 

[taisingera]

thats how mine is set up too.

You have a backup for when that laptop hdd fails, right?

Yes, all my media is on another external laptop harddrive. I used to have the 3.5" enclosures but they are too big, bulky and need external power.

 

[WTSherman]

I saw that deal after I just paid $139 for 840 pro.

 

[Essence_of_War]

Nice, let us know how you like it!

I couldn't be paid to go back

 

[taisingera]

I've been reading up on all the things to prep the SSD, like aligning it, and all the things to disable in windows. I already have a practice of disabling System Restore, so disabling hibernation, superfetch, and other things should be easy.

 

[fffblackmage]

I bought my first SSD just over 3 years ago (OCZ Agility). I did nothing to prep it. Really, you don't need to do anything; just use it like a normal HDD.

Assuming you use Windows 7 or 8, things like alignment, disabling defrag and disabling hibernation are automatically done when you install the OS. I recommend you leave superfetch on. AFAIK, there's no penalty for leaving it on.

 

[taisingera]

Finally installed the Samsung 840 120GB in my system. Coming from the loud WD 640GB hard drive, this thing is fast and silent. Here are the tweaks I did:

changed TEMP,TMP variables to the HDD
put IE, FF, Chrome cache and DL folders to HDD
Disabled: Prefetch,Superfetch,Hibernate,Defrag,Indexing and System Restore
Via Samsung Magician, page file is 100MB to 1024 MB
Write Cache Buffer enabled
Write Cache Buffer Flushing disabled
Under System Failure, disabled write event to system log and disabled memory dump

Also upgraded from 4 to 8GB of RAM. Can't run it at 1600 speed unless I OC, and went from 7-7-7-21 1.35V GSkill to 8-8-8-24 1.5v Crucial Sport only because I got the deal for $51 on Newegg for the ram.

 

[kmmatney]

The only problem with putting TMP files to the hard drive is that it will slow things down. When I first started using SSDs a few years back, I would write to a RAM drive, to keep things quick. However it was a bit of a hassle (expecially with Chrome) so now I just disable Indexing, Restore, and Hibernation and then let the Samsung magician software optimize the rest. I don't think you need to worry about preventing TMP writes to the SSD - my original SSDs are running fine after several years now.