SSD Buying Confusion!

[DarkCreed]

Hi!

I am pretty sure this is one of the most frequently asked question in the forum!

I have been saving up to get an SSD for my rig for quite a while, but there has been a long going price vs performance vs features war going in my head regarding various companies and their different models of SSD. Now i am totally confused on what to get!!

My confusion is between the following:-

Samsung 840 EVO 250GB

Samsung 840 PRO 256GB

Intel 530 240GB

Intel 730 240GB

Crucial M500 240GB

Crucial M550 256GB

Sandisk X110 256GB

Sandisk X210 256GB

 

I have kept my budget around A$200-250. I mostly use my computer for photo editing and games. I am thinking of making the SSD as my boot drive (How else can I leverage the performance improvement provided by SSD?)

Which SSD will be most suited for my work?

Is it worth spending the extra bit on Intel 730, Samsung 840 PRO?

How much does MLC or TLC NAND affect the performance of the drive in long term? 

I have been reading various posts on forum lately and came to a conclusion that reliability is not really an issue on SSD for the work I will be using it for, but does that mean Intel's 5yr warranty is better than Samsung's 3yr?

Should I buy the drive from a local Australian vendor(higher price) or Amazon? How does the warranty work if i get the drive from Amazon? Will the manufacture will provide support in Australia if I buy SSD from Amazon?

 

Thanks!!

 

[JLCitadel]

840 pro or 730 i'd recommend based on word of mouth through the forums.

[TheRoss0411]

I have the 840 Evo and it's amazing

[Enderman]

730 for reliability

840 for speed

[Ryan Leech]

The intel 730 is better than all of the other drives including the over-hyped EVO

[Wtalk2]

The Intel 730 is the best IMO in that lineup but I don't think it is really worth it. The Samsung 840 PRO or Samsung 840 EVO would be just fine for everyday use.

[hojnikb]

The intel 730 is better than all of the other drives including the over-hyped EVO

The Intel 730 is the best IMO in that lineup but I don't think it is really worth it. The Samsung 840 PRO or Samsung 840 EVO would be just fine for everyday use.

 

Actually, 730 is slower than 840PRO.

[Wtalk2]

Actually, 730 is slower than 840PRO.

Really? That's surprising

[Ryan Leech]

Actually, 730 is slower than 840PRO.

What exactly do you mean by "slower"?

[flibberdipper]

Get the EVO or the M550.

[Wtalk2]

What exactly do you mean by "slower"?

I'm guessing he means sequential transfer rates. 

[WoodenMarker]

What do you mean by long term?

[ultimatemythbuster]

I've got an 840 Pro 512GB and a M500 240GB.  They're both fast and reliable.  I'd recommend either one.

[DarkCreed]

What do you mean by long term?

By long term i mean as SSD performance degrades eventually by too much writing on it, How long should i expect it to last like 3-5 yrs? Plus how much performance degradation will be noticeable in time?

 

 

The intel 730 is better than all of the other drives including the over-hyped EVO

I am kinda inclined towards 730 but in Aussie land i will have to pay about A$300+Shipping   from a local vendor, even from Amazon its gonna set me back about A$260+Shipping. Plus how does the warranty works when i get stuff from Amazon :unsure: ??

One of the reasons i am thinking is Intel 730 worth the price and effort.

 

 

The Intel 730 is the best IMO in that lineup but I don't think it is really worth it. The Samsung 840 PRO or Samsung 840 EVO would be just fine for everyday use.

Samsung 840 EVO and Samsung 840 Pro is more recommended by everyone for general use and their price to performance ratio is pretty good, but is TLC NAND used in it any good in terms of long term lasting coz from what i hear TLC gives slower performance and degrades at much faster comparing to MLC. 

 

Thanks for ur quick replies!

I know there are too many questions in this post but i tend to think a lot and explore all the options before picking something for my rig!

[renz62]

I guess you won't notice any dramatic difference if you get an EVO or any other SSD. It will all be fast.

I'd stick with a reliable SSD just to be sure for long term use.

[Ryan Leech]

By long term i mean as SSD performance degrades eventually by too much writing on it, How long should i expect it to last like 3-5 yrs? Plus how much performance degradation will be noticeable in time?

 

 

I am kinda inclined towards 730 but in Aussie land i will have to pay about A$300+Shipping   from a local vendor, even from Amazon its gonna set me back about A$260+Shipping. Plus how does the warranty works when i get stuff from Amazon :unsure: ??

One of the reasons i am thinking is Intel 730 worth the price and effort.

 

 

Samsung 840 EVO and Samsung 840 Pro is more recommended by everyone for general use and their price to performance ratio is pretty good, but is TLC NAND used in it any good in terms of long term lasting coz from what i hear TLC gives slower performance and degrades at much faster comparing to MLC. 

 

Thanks for ur quick replies!

I know there are too many questions in this post but i tend to think a lot and explore all the options before picking something for my rig!

The 730 has a 5 year warranty even if you buy from amazon

[Faa]

The price you'd be paying for a 840 pro or 730 you can get a higher capacity drive from Crucial. Forget high-end ssds, performance isn't really important aslong as its an ssd and get the biggest one for the lowest price. Price/capacity makes more sense to me than price/performance.

[WoodenMarker]

By long term i mean as SSD performance degrades eventually by too much writing on it, How long should i expect it to last like 3-5 yrs? Plus how much performance degradation will be noticeable in time?

Unless you're heavily writing to the ssd, any decent modern drive should have no issue lasting 5+ years and likely longer than you'd need it. http://us.hardware.info/reviews/4178/10/hardwareinfo-tests-lifespan-of-samsung-ssd-840-250gb-tlc-ssd-updated-with-final-conclusion-final-update-20-6-2013

[hojnikb]

What exactly do you mean by "slower"?

Slower in pretty much every corner. Random and sequential speeds

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7803/intel-ssd-730-480gb-review/4

 

730 only shines, when performance consistency is a concern, but this is not relavent for avarange users anyway (that more of a server centric thing).

So yeah, with the prices 730 runs, its really a pointless drive.

[hojnikb]

As far as peformance over time is concerned; you don't need to worry about that. Unless you're running trimless enviroment, your ssd will be in tiptop state all of the time.

 

Also dont worry about wearing out TLC or MLC; it has more than enough endurance.You're never gonna wear it out.

[DarkCreed]

So in the end its just better to go with an SSD giving more price to size ratio?

I am more inclined towards Crucial and Intel, whats the major difference between Crucial M500 and M550? Is M550 really better?

The prices on Intel 730 240GB and Crucial M500 480GB is about the same around A$270

Which one should i go for?? or should I just get a Samsung 840Pro 256GB @ A$229?

[hojnikb]

So in the end its just better to go with an SSD giving more price to size ratio?

 

 

Yes.

 

I am more inclined towards Crucial and Intel, whats the major difference between Crucial M500 and M550? Is M550 really better?

 

Yes, m550 is faster but i right now its not worth the extra cost. Just get m500

 

The prices on Intel 730 240GB and Crucial M500 480GB is about the same around A$270

Which one should i go for?? or should I just get a Samsung 840Pro 256GB @ A$229?

Just get m500. More space > more speed is almost always a better choice. If you really need speed, then sata drives aren't your thing anyway