SSD suggestions

Joe 90 · 07-02-2013, 20:23

I've been thinking about getting an SSD for ages now and had planned to move to Windows 8 in the same upgrade. However I'm now thinking of sticking with Windows 7 but putting Ubuntu on an SSD.

This has become increasingly tempting, shall we say, since I can't install ubuntu on my virtualbox at work & I want to get to grips with linux again.

So, what do people suggest in an SSD? It doesn't need to be all that big because I've got a server & plenty of capacity in other drives (providing I don't get problems reading from those NTFS disks) but theres so much out there I don't know where to start.

This looked like a good price, I just couldn't see any speeds stats; http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-Seri...0264485&sr=1-2

Stan_Lite · 07-02-2013, 20:49

These figures from OcUK:

Samsung 250GB SSD 840 SATA 6Gb/s
• Capacity: 250GB
• Sequential Read: 540MB/s
• Sequential Write: 250MB/s
• Random Read (QD32, 4KB): 96,000 IOPS
• Random Write (QD32, 4KB): 62,000 IOPS
• Random Read (QD1, 4KB): 7,900 IOPS
• Random Write (QD1, 4KB): 29,000 IOPS
• Warranty: 3 Year

And for the Pro version (which I have the 128GB version of and am happy with):

Samsung 256GB SSD 840 PRO SATA 6Gb/s
• Capacity: 256GB
• Sequential Read: 540MB/s
• Sequential Write: 520MB/s
• Random Read (QD32, 4KB): 100,000 IOPS
• Random Write (QD32, 4KB): 90,000 IOPS
• Random Read (QD1, 4KB): 9,900 IOPS
• Random Write (QD1, 4KB): 31,000 IOPS
• Active Power Use: 0.068W (down from 0.24W for 830 Series)
• Idle Power Use: 0.042W (down from 0.14W for 830 Series)
• Warranty: 5 Year

The Samsung 840 series is generally considered one of the top models currently available for the home user. I would suggest that, if write speed isn't too important, you'd be as well with the one you linked to.

Zirax · 07-02-2013, 22:24

Got to agree with Stan

Another good brand but slower is the Crucial M4 drives. The reason I mention them is within weeks of a flaw being found, a firmware fix was out and patched. Outstanding, considering the complete POS OCZ Agility drive I have as a paperweight!

Joe 90 · 07-02-2013, 22:35

Great thanks guys. Might go with an 840 pro then with all the overtime I've worked lately!

Just had a thought though - my hardware if fairly old... 2008 upgrade I believe so if my motherboard only supports 3gb/s SATA then surely there's no point spending £170 on a super-dooper SSD. Equally so, my knowledge of hardware & compatibility isn't what it was when I was a teenager.

This is my mobo: http://uk.asus.com/Motherboards/Inte...specifications

Zirax · 07-02-2013, 23:02

You are right there, your board will be saturated. However with one of these....

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...tid=49&subcat=

Joe 90 · 07-02-2013, 23:19

Brilliant, I assumed PCI-E could bring harmony to the situation

Nutcase · 08-02-2013, 21:29

I've got a couple of M4s and more than happy with them

volospian · 09-02-2013, 21:36

I have an ocz agility 3. it's the second one. the first died. this one is unstable and hangs occasionally, but then my mobo is not supported and is ancient, so I'm not surprised. It's a lot faster than a hhd and my mobo doesn't even support ahci. about 30 seconds from power on to internet...

Joe 90 · 10-02-2013, 22:05

My 256gb 840 pro should arrive tomorrow. Now I just need to pick a version of Linux Mint.

Joe 90 · 11-02-2013, 21:04

Got it

http://instagram.com/p/VmCoTdyvia/

Now I need to decide what to do with my partitions. Not setup a linux box in years. Might also get some more ram, 4gb isn't much nowadays!

Wonder if I can still find any DDR2 800 like I've got :/

07-02-2013, 20:23	#1
Joe 90 Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chester Posts: 2,345	SSD suggestions I've been thinking about getting an SSD for ages now and had planned to move to Windows 8 in the same upgrade. However I'm now thinking of sticking with Windows 7 but putting Ubuntu on an SSD. This has become increasingly tempting, shall we say, since I can't install ubuntu on my virtualbox at work & I want to get to grips with linux again. So, what do people suggest in an SSD? It doesn't need to be all that big because I've got a server & plenty of capacity in other drives (providing I don't get problems reading from those NTFS disks) but theres so much out there I don't know where to start. This looked like a good price, I just couldn't see any speeds stats; http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-Seri...0264485&sr=1-2 __________________ 360 Blog \| Join GiffGaff \| Twitter

07-02-2013, 20:49	#2
Stan_Lite Stan, Stan the FLASHER MAN! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In bed with your sister Posts: 5,483	These figures from OcUK: Samsung 250GB SSD 840 SATA 6Gb/s • Capacity: 250GB • Sequential Read: 540MB/s • Sequential Write: 250MB/s • Random Read (QD32, 4KB): 96,000 IOPS • Random Write (QD32, 4KB): 62,000 IOPS • Random Read (QD1, 4KB): 7,900 IOPS • Random Write (QD1, 4KB): 29,000 IOPS • Warranty: 3 Year And for the Pro version (which I have the 128GB version of and am happy with): Samsung 256GB SSD 840 PRO SATA 6Gb/s • Capacity: 256GB • Sequential Read: 540MB/s • Sequential Write: 520MB/s • Random Read (QD32, 4KB): 100,000 IOPS • Random Write (QD32, 4KB): 90,000 IOPS • Random Read (QD1, 4KB): 9,900 IOPS • Random Write (QD1, 4KB): 31,000 IOPS • Active Power Use: 0.068W (down from 0.24W for 830 Series) • Idle Power Use: 0.042W (down from 0.14W for 830 Series) • Warranty: 5 Year The Samsung 840 series is generally considered one of the top models currently available for the home user. I would suggest that, if write speed isn't too important, you'd be as well with the one you linked to. __________________ Just because I have a short attention span doesn't mean I...

07-02-2013, 22:35	#4
Joe 90 Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chester Posts: 2,345	Great thanks guys. Might go with an 840 pro then with all the overtime I've worked lately! Just had a thought though - my hardware if fairly old... 2008 upgrade I believe so if my motherboard only supports 3gb/s SATA then surely there's no point spending £170 on a super-dooper SSD. Equally so, my knowledge of hardware & compatibility isn't what it was when I was a teenager. This is my mobo: http://uk.asus.com/Motherboards/Inte...specifications __________________ 360 Blog \| Join GiffGaff \| Twitter Last edited by Joe 90; 07-02-2013 at 22:48.

07-02-2013, 23:19	#6
Joe 90 Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chester Posts: 2,345	Brilliant, I assumed PCI-E could bring harmony to the situation __________________ 360 Blog \| Join GiffGaff \| Twitter

10-02-2013, 22:05	#9
Joe 90 Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chester Posts: 2,345	My 256gb 840 pro should arrive tomorrow. Now I just need to pick a version of Linux Mint. __________________ 360 Blog \| Join GiffGaff \| Twitter

07-02-2013, 22:24	#3
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	Got to agree with Stan Another good brand but slower is the Crucial M4 drives. The reason I mention them is within weeks of a flaw being found, a firmware fix was out and patched. Outstanding, considering the complete POS OCZ Agility drive I have as a paperweight!

07-02-2013, 23:02	#5
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	You are right there, your board will be saturated. However with one of these.... http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...tid=49&subcat=

08-02-2013, 21:29	#7
Nutcase Moonshine Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chelmsford, innit! Posts: 3,979	I've got a couple of M4s and more than happy with them

09-02-2013, 21:36	#8
volospian Vodka Martini Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 786	I have an ocz agility 3. it's the second one. the first died. this one is unstable and hangs occasionally, but then my mobo is not supported and is ancient, so I'm not surprised. It's a lot faster than a hhd and my mobo doesn't even support ahci. about 30 seconds from power on to internet...

11-02-2013, 21:04	#10
Joe 90 Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chester Posts: 2,345	Got it http://instagram.com/p/VmCoTdyvia/ Now I need to decide what to do with my partitions. Not setup a linux box in years. Might also get some more ram, 4gb isn't much nowadays! Wonder if I can still find any DDR2 800 like I've got :/ __________________ 360 Blog \| Join GiffGaff \| Twitter Last edited by Joe 90; 11-02-2013 at 21:07.