Need a reliable SSD

[Darth_Tom]

I'm looking for an SSD in the 120GB range that doesn't seem to have a terrible record. I fear the newest generation of drives like the Vertex 3, which seems to be a terrible choice. I've been thinking of getting a Vertex 2 or similar speed SSD, because I'm moving from an IDE hard drive. 280 MB/s is already enough to amaze me to death. I like the pricepoint of the Vertex 2's, but they don't seem exactly reliable either based on the Newegg ratings. I can go to Intel, but by then I'm almost at the price point of the newest generation of drives.

 

Can anyone reassure me on the Vertex 2s, or offer a similarly priced/similar performing alternative that is more reliable?

[xly15]

I would say go with the Vertex you are planning on getting. From what I have heard and read they are very good.

[imm0rt41]

I have seen quite a few Agility II drives, which are like the lower end cousin of the Vertex II. I have a Patriot Inferno but I have only had it a week so I can't comment on the reliability lol

[IVIYTH0S]

I like my Vertex 2, and I know it isn't comforting to say but I don't trust any SSD like I do mechanical drives but I'm very good with creating monthly images of my OS drives on both my laptop and desktop.

 

What's your price range??

Edited July 13, 2011 by IVIYTH0S

[medbor]

Watch out so you don't get the E (i.e. 25nm) ones. They are supposed do have less left over space for broken sectors and stuff like that..

 

I would reccomend against OCZ, since they have the most horror stories (also sells the most drives, that could be part of the answer).

 

Reliability and SSD are somewhat opposites it seems, they break just as often as mechanical drives according to my local stores.

 

Read and write speeds are almost a useless upgrade, the main difference between a SSD and HDD are latency. In speed they are a factor 2-5 faster, but in latency they are 70-200 times faster (so that is by far the biggest benefit).

[Darth_Tom]

Well, I was willing to pay $250 for one of the 500+MB/s drives, so I guess my budget is pretty open for things like the Vertex 2. I don't want to spend more than $200, because then I feel like I'm paying too much for that level of performance. Obviously the lower the better? And I was planning on picking up a smaller external 2.5" HDD pretty much only for backing up images of the SSD.

[Krieg1337]

I like my G.Skill Phoenix 60gb SSD. The only problem is that if you go into hibernate/sleep it will kill your drive(the sandforce 1200 controller had issues with this). But if you don't need those functions, its perfect. For reliability, always go Intel. They have a 0.4% or so return rate for all of their SSD's combined. The 510 series is fast and reliable, but also quite expensive. Crucial is also very good with price/reliability/speed ratios.

[Wolfrider]

The crucial real SSD M4 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442&cm_re=crucial_m4-_-20-148-442-_-Product) is the perfect choice if you don't want to spend the money on a revodrive.

Its a little over your budget but its the best you will find for that price

[IVIYTH0S]

I just got a Kingston 64GB drive for my HTPC, so far so good!

[imm0rt41]

I like my G.Skill Phoenix 60gb SSD. The only problem is that if you go into hibernate/sleep it will kill your drive(the sandforce 1200 controller had issues with this). But if you don't need those functions, its perfect. For reliability, always go Intel. They have a 0.4% or so return rate for all of their SSD's combined. The 510 series is fast and reliable, but also quite expensive. Crucial is also very good with price/reliability/speed ratios.

I would second the Intel recommendation. We bought 25 Intel 320 series drives, and 25 OCZ Agility II drives. 1 Intel has failed, 10 OCZ's have failed. Keep in mind we are using them in a way most people probably aren't, but the OCZ drives seemed to be more finnicky from what I could tell. I installed all of the drives too lol

[pkilway]

I love my Agility 2 SSD.

 

But there's two different versions of the Agility 2 and Vertex 2 SSD's, the good ones and the bad ones. You need to look for the E in the model number, STAY AWAY from those drives.

 

Ex.

 

OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD2-2VTX60G vs. OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD2-2VTXE60G

 

The E stands for Extended, which means it's using a 25 nm NAND. For a short period of time OCZ changed all the model numbers to the E version, but the PR disaster that fell out after that change lead them to create the two different model numbers.

 

Here's an article from Tom's Hardware about the Vertex 2 (non-E vs E) performance.

 

So stay clear of the E models, which are normally the one's that are a sale (for a reason).

[IVIYTH0S]

I love my Agility 2 SSD.

 

But there's two different versions of the Agility 2 and Vertex 2 SSD's, the good ones and the bad ones. You need to look for the E in the model number, STAY AWAY from those drives.

 

Ex.

 

OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD2-2VTX60G vs. OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD2-2VTXE60G

 

The E stands for Extended, which means it's using a 25 nm NAND. For a short period of time OCZ changed all the model numbers to the E version, but the PR disaster that fell out after that change lead them to create the two different model numbers.

 

Here's an article from Tom's Hardware about the Vertex 2 (non-E vs E) performance.

 

So stay clear of the E models, which are normally the one's that are a sale (for a reason).

Crap, I'll have to make sure my Vertex isn't an E lol