Crucial M4 256GB 2.5" SSD USD $202.25 Delivered BH Photo Video
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/768803-REG/Crucial_Tec…
Offer ends AUG 27 '12
In terms of pure speed / performance on SATA3, Sandisk 240GB is quicker generally. Windows 7 boot up time (plain vanilla install) [Crucial - 7.5 seconds; Sandisk - 5.5 seconds; counted right afer BIOS boot]. However, Sandforce chipset isn't good at handling heavily compressed data (Sandisk Extreme SSD uses Sandforce chipset). Test was conducted on Intel H77 platform.
In terms of better performance on SATA2, Crucial comes out ahead no question (BUT, honestly, if you intend to get a 240GB/256GB SSD, you should use SATA3). Similarly, for USB 3.0 (as a lot of the cables / converters don't really take full advantage of SATA3, you may find Crucial 256GB provide better performance.
Crucial m4 has a longer track record (a lot of people like it because of that, plus some people don't like Sandforce chipset based SSDs). You cannot go wrong with either drive.
Do you know what the XP boot up time is?
XP boot up time should be even faster. However, I don't think XP supports TRIM (not by default). You should use Windows 7 / Windows 8 with these mainstream SSDs.
Any melbourne people that are keen to be in on a group buy, If i buy 4 of them it will cost $180 each. Im happy to take the front up cost and can meet in CBD during work hours or in western suburbs. Message me if you interested, i wont ask for any upfront money , ill just have to trust your word. Cheers
Brave!
with the constant interest in these drives on ozbargain, i'm sure there would be no trouble offloading an extra drive or two if someone pulls out.
even though i don't need another one, if worst came to worst, i would even potentially take one just to help a fellow ozbargainer out…(ssd for the gf's netbook…? why not, aha!)
I would like to take one but too bad I am in sydney. :(
man I'm so confused about these SSD deals. So many choices so many sales.
if you think this is a good deal i'll go in for one with ya.
let me know if you go through with this and i'll pass on my details.
cheers
See netsurfer's post above. Your best bet is either this (crucial m4) or SanDisk.
Main benefit of SanDisk is it's faster on sata3, but suffers a bit on sata2.
M4 is no slouch on either (not as fast on sata3, but definitely faster on sata2), but the main benefit is proven track record of reliability (has been out for a lot longer, and very low fault rates, as posted in a previous deal).
SanDisk may prove to be reliable too, but hasn't yet, and also is sandforce controller which has had problems and some people don't like.
Either one will probably serve you well, depending on whether you place more importance on absolute speeds or proven reliability. (for me personally, m4 wins…but then, I'm not too focused on pure performance)
Thanks for the info… How do these 2 compare to the Samsung 830 256GB??
Could you please explain more about reliability of Crucial M4. Like it less likely to crash ?
Crucial m4 has been around for quite some time now (2+ years I think - that's long for SSD). A lot of Sandforce based SSDs had issues (firmware issue) which did make Crucial m4 looks to be a more stable SSD.
Also, Crucial is basically Micron (largest US memory maker). It is a drive designed by an US company.
intel 520, Samsung 830, Sandisk Extreme - all use toggled NAND so technically, the performance should be roughly on par with each other (however, Sandisk Extreme is too new so we don't know how reliable it is yet). Crucial m4 is also quite quick (not as quick as the other 3). It has the longest track record amongst current mainstream SSDs.
None of those 4 drives wins every benchmark test. Each of those drives is optimised differently. All 4 are good (Sandisk Extreme is probably the cheapest of those 4).
Thank you for the infor.
What he said!
Also, see the return rates posted in the comments of this deal (not sure where they're from and how accurate they are) :
http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/77755
note: no SanDisk on that list, though.
Aww, if only you did that for the 830's last week!
Can't complain though, it was about $200 with shipping.
Very nice of you to do this though!
just remember to get separate receipts for each one
reliancex, did you manage to get the 4? I'm in the western suburbs. :)
Hey webbie, yea i put in a order of 4, i have message back the people who wanted them. you were the 5th person to ask, 2 of them havent got back to me as of yet, so i can defiantly put u down as backup if the others dont get back to me. Private message me your mobile and i will give you mine and i can SMS you to let you know once they have arrived. If the other dont get back to me. Thanks
i am interested if you are getting some…
Same as above to you too happening, i can put you down as a backup if the other dont reply back or pull out, private message me ya mobile and ill do the same. Cheers
Message sent. Please let me know if you did not get it. Tks
Crucial = Marvel controller -> FTW
Can anyone clarify if whether the newer SSD coming are cheaper but slower??
http://www.tonymacx86.com/94-crucial-launches-cheaper-but-sl…
So will they continue to make the M4? or it will move to all newer but slower models?
I just can't decide to whether to buy one now in a group buy as mentioned above or wait til early Jan to look for it cheaper (risking the unknown of whether they will still make the faster M4 version)….
I already have one crucial m4 256gb but its like 80% full. but i sorta can wait since i can delete a few games i dont play often.
Does not look like it's worth getting. The speeds are limited to 3GBPS and according to comments its a pretty slow SSD.
grabbed the one from the last sale, how do i connect this to my laptop?? theres no usb ports on the thing?
These are internal hard drives. You'll need to flip your laptop over, take the back panels off, slide your old HD out and slide this new one in. Any data can be retrieved with an external HD reader like the Welland Dock or similar.
NOTE: Taking these panels off MAY void your warranty. I take NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS!
I grabbed one from this site last time they were on special, it got here damn quick!
if i were to recommend ssd drives it would be
samsung 830 series
crucial m4 series
intel 520 series
the rest are "good" but if price allows it i would only ever by one of the 3 above.
B&H now listing M4 256Gb SSD standard price as $169.99. The $30 limited time discount has been removed.
says $199 for me now, lucky I put my order in a few hours ago
How does the Crucial 256gb compare with say the Sandisk 240gb? (which is $20 cheaper delivered), (aside from the 16gb size difference)