help me pick out an ssd...

[andyhan95]

i am aiming to buy a 120 or 128gb sata3 ssd.
my current choices have narrowed down to the samsung pm830, intel 520, corsair force 3 (or gt). i would also include the crucial m4, but they don't sell them anymore for some reason (where i live). also, ocz are nice but i'd like to avoid them.

i am a price conscious buyer, this is going to be my boot drive, i will use trim, and my priorities are 4k reads/writes and stuff like that (cuz the big numbers like 550mb/s are not very important for everyday use and im not benchmarking much anyway)

also, i want the most painless one in terms of firmware updates and trimming cuz im not THAT techy. lol

so... please spill out your thoughts!

[Adzsask]

All above mentioned drives are good, also add mushkin chronos deluxe, and kingston hyper X to the list.

[LoTech]

Hard Drives - Desktop & External Drives at Memory Express
you can order the Crucial drives here if you want to. I personally went with the samsung 830 and its been great. Very slick packaging as well I might add lots of extra stuff. If I hadn't got the Samsung I would have gotten the Intel's just from what I have read about reliability.

[Squeetard]

IMO the Intel 520 is the way to go. they took the sandforce firmware and did miracles with it.

[AkG]

Well you have a mix of SF2281, Sammy and Marvel controllers.

Long version:
My first recommendation is pick the controller.

Generally the SF2281 is a beast of a controller BUT it needs a TRIM environment to keep all that performance.
The Marvel is a tad slower BUT doesnt care about TRIM. It can take care of itself. The M4 uses the Marvel controller. Other just as good drives that use it are Corsair Performance 3 and Corsair Performance PRO.
The Sammy controller....well its slow. Its a decent all rounder but I would firmly pick it last.

I would pick the Marvel over the SF2281 if you do not know what TRIM is.
The ONLY exception to this is the Intel 520. It has a toolbox which allows it to restore its performance in non-trim environments...giving you the best of both worlds. ;)

Secondly. I would pick your NAND type.
There are 3 types of NAND.

Cheapest is ONFi 1. It is slow, and I dont like it. IMHO it is also probably not going to live as long as the others as its CHEAP and all things being equal cheap == shorter lifespan. It is rated for 3K write cycles....and I doubt the avg will go much more than this. The Corsair Force 3 (non GT) uses ONFi 1. It is why it is the cheapest of your list.

In the middle is ONF2. It is fast and can be very good. It is rated for either 3k or 5k...AND these are CONSERVATIVE estimates. Crucial M4 uses ONFi 2 that is rated for 3k erase cycles same goes for Corsair Force GT. Intel 520 uses ONFi 2 which is rated for 5K erase cycles (can you see a trend developing?)

Sammy uses Toggle Mode NAND. It is probably the best out there IMHO. It is fast, and long lived at 5K erase cycles. Some others which use Toggle Mode NAND are OCZ VERTEX 3 MAXIOPS (SF2281) and Muskin Chronos Deluxe (SF2281) and the Corsair Performance PRO (marvel based).

All things being equal...the only two I would look at are Intel 520 and the Crucial M4....with a dark horse recomendation of the Corsair Performance Pro.

TLDR version:
Of the list you have....get the Intel 520. Good NAND, GOOD trim and non-trim performance...great company with killer good Customer Service.
IF you are open to other suggestions the Corsair Performance Pro is not as fast as the Intel 520 but is also a great first time SSD.

[andyhan95]

wow
thanks AkG, that was a load of new information that i've never heard before.
i have done some more external research and i've decided to go with the intel. thanks a lot though, your post supported my decision and this is it: intel 520


the last thing i worry about are things about firmware updates.
but i guess i could figure my way around it once i get my ssd

thanks for the info all of you!