The new SSD Thread (Benchmarks, Brands, News and Advice)

[MadBoris]

Surely these firmware updates increasing the random writes for the X25 will sacrifice something as a compromise? Isn't that how it works? How much can you really tweak the firmware of an already fast as hell drive?

Because firmware is just software like any software. A programmer/engineer given enough time will find new tricks and ways to optimize their code and optimize algorithms. They will also have time to fix what is broke, so yes bugs leak into firmware just like any software. It takes time to find but their is almost always ways to speed things up from a first release of any software.

The slow down the x-25m's have which is often fixed by a full drive capacity benchmark sweep is very likely a firmware bug, not a controller. A controller is a pretty dumb tool, firmware is the brain that tells it how to work under certain conditions. All the conditions can't be tested like in the real world so revisions at times have to fix issues.

Having said that, if they want to change performance where the hardware has no more to give and if they want sacrifice it to optimize for the strengths of certain environments or workloads then they an do that to.

[monakh]

I hope you guys can advice me on possible 1.8 inch ZIF SSD drive for my Dell D420. There are quite a few different ones available on ebay starting from expensive Mtron Mobi ending with some OEM drives from China. If anyone could share his experience maybe it would help me save some $

I have a D430 and I have used the Mtron drives in the past. Check with RocketDisk. Drop them a line on compatibility for the Mobi and you should hear back immediately on a weekday. They are pretty efficient. Johnny from RD monitors this thread from time to time. Yes, I know they are expensive but they are SLC and fast and beat the Samsung PATA drives hands-down.

[IntelUser]

Surely these firmware updates increasing the random writes for the X25 will sacrifice something as a compromise? Isn't that how it works? How much can you really tweak the firmware of an already fast as hell drive?

That depends. Vertex have done it with firmware 1275. Maybe X25-M has room. Maybe it doesn't.

[Jlbrightbill]

Vertex firmware 1.10 has improved every single benchmark category in my IOmeter tests, so yes, it does appear to be possible.

[nu_D]

So they're releasing new firmware for the X-25? hmm. Anand did mention that there should be some sort of "news" of sorts in the next few weeks...

Should be interesting... I am seriously considering buying this monster when I buy a new laptop in June.... if they can jack up performance even more and lower the cost to $300.... am in.

As far as storage is concerned... I think people are looking at SSDs from the wrong perspective. You are buying it for performance... NOT storage. You want storage? Buy an external TB drive for ~$150. You want out of this world performance? Buy an SSD. I am looking at it like you would a CPU.... from that perspective, $350 ain't too bad man. Granted, $300 is better. lolz.

But ya.... can't wait to find out what Intel has in store for us.

[MadBoris]

So they're releasing new firmware for the X-25?

I don't think it's difficult to extrapolate that. Unless Intel was sending all drive owners new drives next week, then it would have to be a firmware.

As far as storage is concerned... I think people are looking at SSDs from the wrong perspective. You are buying it for performance... NOT storage. You want storage? Buy an external TB drive for ~$150.

I wouldn't carry around a seperate storage drive for a laptop, so it is looking at it the right way for laptops. I think SSD's are worthwhile for laptops because of the poor storage performance on laptops. Although I am glad people are funding the "SSD research program", I wouldn't get one for my desktop yet (I'd update CPU's, mobos, or vid cards first for now). My 2 raptors and 2TB of data is working out just fine until it makes sense for me to get a desktop SSD. But I still will "require" running the OS and ALL installed games and applications off the fast drive, otherwise it is completely worthless except for reboots where I shave 45 seconds off reboot weekly, woohoo. $300 for 250-500GB top mainstream SSD performance will then make it a justifiable purchase to me for desktop.

If size doesn't matter you can short stroke TB drives too and get great performance from them too.

As for a laptop it makes all the sense in the world to want decent storage if you actually will utilize it for more than email and web surfing. That's what makes SSD's like the Samsung 256 win win for price/GB and price/performance.

[davepermen]

MadBoris: better update to an ssd on the desktop first. it's worth MUCH more than a cpu upgrade. believe me. Videocard is another matter.


In the end, the main way i suggest ssd's is when people want to buy a new system. then, an ssd is cheaper and helps much more in performance.

[nu_D]

You don't think it's difficult to extrapolate? OH? NO?? Are you sure? Are you really really sure? Well then, tell me what IS difficult Boris!!

Wait. Unless intel is sending all drive owners new drivers?? NOOO man. They wouldn't???? Would they??? I think I should go check my mailbox!!!

It was a rhetorical question, tool.

Well, that's my point- if your going to be carrying around your laptop in the first place, you really don't need more than 60GB of music/movies/games. If you do, then well.....you're not exactly carrying it around. Besides, an external 2.5in drive like the WD Passport ain't that big.... put it in next to your charger and you won't notice that big of an increase in size/weight in your bag.... unless your carrying around your laptop in your pocket, and after reading what you said, I wouldn't be surprised if your trying to fit your 17in laptop into your back pocket.

If your laptop is sitting at a desk, then connecting an external drive by eSata ain't that bad, considering your probably plugging in a few things anyway.

No matter how many TB drives you "short stroke" you won't get the performance of a single SSD. A few of your statements lead me to believe you don't quite understand the sort of performance SSDs give...and no again tool, it's not just about reboots.

I look at an SSD as a CPU- for performance.
You look at them as an HD- for storage.... and that's my point... if your looking at it for storage, then well, you shouldn't be looking at an SSD in the first place. EVEN with 256gb, your still going to need another drive.

Each to his own.

[mullenbooger]

It was a rhetorical question, tool.

I love tool, they're a great band =)

Calm down, its not a big deal

[Jlbrightbill]

otherwise it is completely worthless except for reboots where I shave 45 seconds off reboot weekly, woohoo.

I think most of the SSD owners in this thread will agree with me when I say this: You don't realize how completely and utterly ridiculous you sound when you spout off stuff like this.

No amount of RAIDed Raptors can match 0.12ms reads and 10-30 MB/s 4K writes.

Until you own a good SSD and then go back to mechanical drives, you just sound silly.