An Introduction to the Solid State Drive

[acaurora]

What I dont like about that video is that it is comparing a (probably) Sandisk SSD to a 1.8" normal HDD. Most laptops out there, aside from the ultraportables use 2.5" HDDs, and even then there are several factors, such as Perpendicular Recording, if it is a hybrid drive with some flash memory built in, rotational speed as well as cache. If they did a 7200 RPM notebook HDD vs a SSD would prove to be a more feasible and understandable comparison, although I wouldn't be surprised if they compare it with a 5400 RPM just to make SSD look that much better.

I'm not saying SSD is bad, I'm just saying that the video comparison might have been adjusted to overinflate the performance gap between SSD and regular HDDs intentionally.

[Les]

The comparison was done here at NBR in this Thread:

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3962

You may be surprised at the results.

[gilo]

I wanted SSD from the first moment .

But at 20$ a gig vs. 7200RPM at 1$ a gig , its not worth it ,
other then the cool effect its not that faster then a HDD .

Let me know when they reach 2-3$ a gig .

[martynas]

.... blah blah.....

With my formatting habits, I'm sure I'll kill an SSD in no time. Unfortunate fact.

....blah blah...

What are your formatting habits? do you do quick format? (I doubt that you sit ant wait for about 4hrs to do full reformat).

Why I'm asking? - because if you do quick format, then that's nothing more than rewriting few MB's of info. Even if you do full reformat not entire hdd is rewritten.

[squawks]

One of the disadvantages failed to be mentioned about SDDs is their slower write speed when writing to multiple cells (it is at best half that of the HDD):

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3962

The ATTO Disk Benchmark program registered a remarkably lower transfer write rate for the SDD compared to the 7200RPM drive (almost 25% of the HDD) and ironically, the author appears to be biased as he fails to note this observation. HDTune, on the other hand, gave better transfer rates scores to the SDD.

Tom's Hardware also confirms the file write performance that ATTO suggested (SDD's performance just half of HDD): http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/08/...th/page11.html

They also mention that SSDs perform "pathetically" for I/O operations; e.g. they can't be used for servers.

This isn't to say that SSDs are bad - I believe the pros outweigh the cons and am waiting impatiently for them to become more affordable so that technology may 'progress'.

[kash04]

does anyone have a part number for the 64gb ssd please? @ dell

[n19htmare]

Author appears to be biased because he owns an SSD drive.

The placebo effect will do great things when trying to justify a $400 upgrade for minuscule performance gain.

[Les]

Squawks...

Watch for then next article. The Mtron I have (but have yet tested) claims write speed at 80MB/s and the one that will be arriving as a pre-release is 90MB/s write.

Biased, yes just a bit but adjusting as I gain experience as a reviewer. I cannot alter the tests however and they are there for you to see.

Thanks for the reply.

PS...Its funny you mentioned Toms as I have been asked to do a SSD exclusive with them. I am mulling this over presently.

and n19htmare:

I did not pay any more for this drive and wouldn't even review them if they didn't perform as they claim. You can ignore all that I write but you cannot ignore the above video or tests conducted on the drive. Im the first to concede their is problems with pricing, size and availability. Is the performance gain worth it?

I spoke with Dell Friday and was informed that they have got no 64Gb SSDs left and, further, they are almost impossible to get in due to the sudden demand. They have even removed them from some International sites as an option. Guess that answers the question.

And I concede that, in the first article, I did overlook the poor write speed. It was my first. Don't condemn me guys.

[Tranquility]

And I concede that, in the first article, I did overlook the poor write speed. It was my first. Don't condemn me guys.

Hang 'em!!!!

I've seen that random write speed is attrocious. I wonder, however, if Mtron has overcome this issue. I thought I read somewhere that there is a design that avoids the problem. Mtron may be the one, but not sure.

[Les]

I have a Mtron arriving today for testing. Its with DHL at the moment.