SSD advice

B

BomBas

n00b
Joined
Oct 2, 2012
Messages
5
Hi all. New here :)

I have a MBP 13" Intel Core 2 Duo (mid 2009). I am looking for some SSD advice. Here are my options:

1. Complete OWC Option - OWC DDMBSSD120 DIY Kit: Data Doubler + 120GB... in stock at OWC

+ SuperSlim enclosure

- 232$ including everything. (shipping & taxes)

2. Samsung 830 / Intel 520 / Intel 320 + Ebay HDD Caddy + MaxUpgrades USB External Enclosure - 205$.

3. Samsung 830 / Intel 520 / Intel 320 + Amazon HDD Caddy + MaxUpgrades USB External Enclosure - 240$.

4. Intel 330 / Crucial M4 + Ebay HDD Caddy + MaxUpgrades USB External Enclosure - 175$.

5. Intel 330 / Crucial M4 + Amazon HDD Caddy + MaxUpgrades USB External Enclosure - 210$.

6. Samsung 830 + Ebay HDD Caddy + MaxUpgrades USB External Enclosure - 170$

7. Get a Crucial M4 256GB for 250$ and replace it with the HDD. No need for the HDD bay and the USB external enclosure for the SuperDrive.

The amazon HDD Caddy looks more reliable than the ebay one, although it costs 35$ more. (shipping costs 40$...)


BTW - I am going to put the SSD in the optical bay, and I understood that a 6G will run as 3G on my system (SATA II motherboards). Is that correct?

Thanks!
 
As an eBay Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
OWC drives are solid, i've also used the intel 320 series in my Apple devices too.
I like the support from OWC though, simple swap out if needed and they are always quick to answer questions. I'm one of those that don't mind paying a little more for the service.
 
Option 7 for sure. The 256GB M4 regularly goes on sale for <$200 if that's the drive you want.
 
CEpeep said:
Option 7 for sure. The 256GB M4 regularly goes on sale for <$200 if that's the drive you want.
Click to expand...

I'd second this. Remember that the mid-2009 MacBook Pro doesn't support SATA III, so you can get away with a slightly slower SSD. I have a Crucial M4 in my mid-2010 MBP, but I'm picking up the Samsung 840 Pro for my PC when it's out in a week.
 
It depends on your solution needs whether or not you want a caddy or not. I personally would want it so that I could have a 1TB drive to carry around other files/media. If you don't need that, then I suppose you can skip it, but I never use my optical drive anyway.... soooo.

As far as HD's are concerned, the 830 and M4 are both great reliable drives. I have an M4 personally, but I would be just as comfortable with an 830.

If you can wait, Samsung is going to release an 840 and 840 Pro. If you have extra cash and time, those will be the drives to have. Anandtech has a preview up on the site, and they are nothing less then impressive. On several of the preview benchmarks, it's capable of saturating the SATA III bus. It's becoming a clear reason (finally!) to upgrade the SATA III interface. No word on how long that will take though.
 
Well that won't help me given that my controller is SATA II. Anyway, now it's a question of SSD (128GB) + HDD (160GB) (cheaper & more space) vs. bigger SSD (256GB) (less hassle+no enclosures needed+easier to install?)

If I can get a 256GB M4 for cheap with international shipping I'll definitely go for it, but given the above details - what would you choose?
 
Not sure where you need shipping to. To me, ideally I'd go with a 256GB HD with a 1TB HD in the optical bay. Barring that, I would still go for the 256GB with some smaller capacity secondary drive.

Dropping down to 128GB with a secondary drive, or only having a 256GB drive is too much of a compromise (for me). If I had to choose, I'd probably just do the single 256GB SSD without a secondary, but like I say, that's not a compromise I would like making.
 
You would go for 256GB even though it's more expensive and contains less space than 160GB HD + 128GB SSD?
 
Option 7, no question.

Booting and running everything from the SSD is an entire new dimension of fast. Get a USB drive or NAS if you need space.
 
BomBas said:
You would go for 256GB even though it's more expensive and contains less space than 160GB HD + 128GB SSD?
Click to expand...

Yes, unquestionably. 128GB is pushing the limit in my opinion for a primary HD. The only time in which that isn't the case, is when you have no programs and you're just browsing, reading RSS feeds, and playing a few light weight games here and there. But if that is the case, I would argue that you shouldn't buy an SSD in the first place. SSDs are for making your programs load and cache fast, if you have no programs, then it's not an upgrade worth purchasing (i.e.: I wouldn't bother buying an SSD for either of my parents as they would not benefit from it).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top