SSD considerations, under $200

[enzo matrix]

So I am debating between 3 solid state drives. The cheapest is the OCZ solid 2 30GB at $85. Next is the intel x25-V 40GB at $120. Finally, the $190 OCZ Agility 2. All prices Canadian. Anything higher priced, is out of my range and the OCZ agility is cutting it close.

I will be using it as a boot drive but I will also be putting one or two games on it, for the load times at lan parties and the such. I will move all of my "documents" "downloads" "pictures" etc. directories to a 500GB WD Black, where the rest of my games will also reside.

I would like to stay below $200 after taxes, below is even better. I am considering the OCZ Agility because of the seemingly amazing read and write performance aswell as the highest capacity. But it is at the edge of my budget and I will only get it if it is really worth it over the intel. I mean, will I feel that much difference? Also, as such, I do not mind a 30GB drive as it will still fit one or two games (19.1GB right now with my windows 7 install) but I worry about using up so much space. I also worry about the write speeds of the intel drive.

So make up your mind, explain your reasoning and solidify some of my worries and put others to rest. Thanks in advance.

If you have any other SSD suggestions, please feel free. But this is the best I could come up with, with my research.

[Dar_ell]

I would personally choose the intel x25-V 40GB, or you can try to find a cheap intel x25-M 80-GB ( its around 240 at canadacomputers.). I would also look around in the buy/sell section if you can score a good deal.

[Smoothie]

Personally, I would get the Vertex 2 than the Agility 2. You can get a Vertex 2 60 GB for $189CDN with $10 MIR. Newegg.ca - OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD2-2VTXE60G 2.5" 60GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

The difference between the Agility 2 60 GB and the Vertex 2 60 GB is the IOPS for the 4k Random Write. Agility 2 has 10,000 IOPS while the Vertex 2 has 50,000 IOPS. Other than that, they are pretty much identical.

[enzo matrix]

Thanks for the replies!
I've considered the vertex 2, but it's over my budget and the difference in performance seems minor from what I have read.
I've considered the X25-M but again with price. Plus there's still a lack of write speeds.

[ipaine]

You could also look towards the Kingston drives.

NCIX.com - Buy Kingston SSDNow V Series Gen II 64GB 2.5IN SATA2 Solid State Disk Flash Drive - SNV425-S2/64GB In Canada.
$114.99 today $159.99 normal price

NCIX.com - Buy Kingston SSDNow V+ Series 64GB 2.5IN SSD SATA Solid State Disk Flash Drive - SNVP325-S2/64GB In Canada.
$192.07

I'm sure that you will find that a 30-40GB drive is just too small. I have all my photos, docs, etc. on another drive as well but the SSD fills up fast when you consider the size of some games these days, 8-16GB.

[snoosebum]

I see today the Agility 2 is $164 at the egg before a $10 MIR
Newegg.ca - 72-HOUR SALE! $49.99 WD 640GB HDD, $129.99 MS Office 2010 Home & Student (3 users)…
NCIX has a $20 MIR, possibly worth trying a price match with NCIX?

[Smoothie]

NCIX has a great deal going on for the Vertex 2 60 GB, its $169.99 with $20 MIR ($149.99).
NCIX.com - Buy OCZ Vertex 2 Extended Sandforce 60GB 2.5IN SATA2 Solid State Disk Flash Drive SSD - OCZSSD2-2VTXE60G In Canada.

There is this also, a Intel SSD 40 GB with a Western Digitial 500GB Blue HD for $139.99 with free shipping. I was going to post the link but now there sale page won't load for me... Maybe they are correcting something?

Edit: Seems to be on and off for me, but here's the link: NCIX.com - Buy NCIX Storage Bundle Deal Intel X25-V 40GB SSD & Western Digital 500GB Blue Hard Drive - X25-V 40GB & WD 500GB BLUE In Canada.

[lcdguy]

i personally love the 40GB SSD's but after you've loaded something like W7 x64 there is only around 8GB left. I would either consider atleast a 60-80GB capcity or get 2 40GB and raid the 2 of them. I currently run 5 40GB Intel SSD's in RAID 5. Blazingly fast.

[Smoothie]

I got the Vertex 2 for $169.99, plus I already had a $10 gift card at NCIX. After shipping and tax (HST...) it was just under $200CDN. Now I have to wait and send out the $20 MIR to bring that to $180. Still a great deal :)

[lowfat]

Originally Posted by lcdguy

i personally love the 40GB SSD's but after you've loaded something like W7 x64 there is only around 8GB left.

Depends on how your page file is. But you most definitely should have more than 8GB left from a 40GB drive. My file server has 20GB free on its X25-V. And this is w/ all its software installed and a 2GB page file on it.