SSD questions

[Creampuff]

Yes, there is plenty of information out there when googling. But just wondering what some real world experience is for the average gunnies out there.

Just installed a Corsair ForceGT 120gb SSD on my laptop. Pretty impressed with it. I have all my documents located on a second HDD. Little buyer's remorse here, after reading up on all the controller issues with Corsair.

Two questions:
1. Have you guys had any problems with Corsair? Not..I read on the internet, or my sister's boyfriend's, dogwalker's little brother had a SDD fail yesterday.
I ask because, I am going to install another SDD into my desktop, and I think I'll either go Crucial or Intel.

2. I have turned off defrag. I am locating all my documents, pictures etc. to my HDD, and relocated my temp internet files to the HDD just to limit my number of writes. Turned off hibernate as well.

Do you have any other tips to optimize the performance or life of your SDD?

Yes, I know I could post these questions on the tech forums, but sometimes I don't like chatting with the ubbertechies

[SouperMan]

1) Never had a issue with Corsair SSDs, I use them at work.

2) Did you do a clone of your drive, or did you rebuild from scratch onto the new SSD?
I installed the latest SATA drivers when it asks in the very beginning to format the drive; very important that (assuming you have Win7) that you have TRIM support turned on.

Here's how to check if TRIM is enabled:

http://forum.corsair.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86403

Have fun with the new SSD!

[PanchoVilla]

I just got a crucial M4 one. They had pretty good reviews online.

[Creampuff]

2) Did you do a clone of your drive, or did you rebuild from scratch onto the new SSD?

Have fun with the new SSD!

Even though it would be more labor intensive, I knew I wouldn't regret, doing a clean install. So I just started from scratch and did a clean install. Glad I did too, when I am limited to 120 gb for operating systems and key programs, I realized how much junk I have accumulated through the years, and that I probably use 20% of the programs on my computer, 90% of the time.

It was a good time to clean house.

[JDay]

I've been running a Corsair Force F120 in my laptop for a year with no issues (this is the same drive you have just a different firmware). Most of the issues people have had with their drives are due to compatibility issues between the Sandforce controller and the laptops BIOS. Most manufacturers have released updates long ago to address this.

2. I have turned off defrag. I am locating all my documents, pictures etc. to my HDD, and relocated my temp internet files to the HDD just to limit my number of writes. Turned off hibernate as well.

If you're running Windows 7 you didn't need to touch a thing. Once you run the Windows Experience Index the system will detect that you are running an SSD and optimize the OS automatically. You also do not need to worry about the number of writes too much, that drive uses a Sandforce controller and those controllers have almost no write amplification. Write amplification is what made writing to older SSDs too often a bad thing.

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/e7/archive/2009/05/05/support-and-q-a-for-solid-state-drives-and.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Write_amplification

ETA: Even with heavy use your SSD should easily outlast the warranty (5 year warranty, drive should last 8-10), and if it doesn't you'll get a new drive. As always keep regular backups of your important data.

[Lu(ky]

Yes, there is plenty of information out there when googling. But just wondering what some real world experience is for the average gunnies out there.

Just installed a Corsair ForceGT 120gb SSD on my laptop. Pretty impressed with it. I have all my documents located on a second HDD. Little buyer's remorse here, after reading up on all the controller issues with Corsair.

Two questions:
1. Have you guys had any problems with Corsair? Not..I read on the internet, or my sister's boyfriend's, dogwalker's little brother had a SDD fail yesterday.
I ask because, I am going to install another SDD into my desktop, and I think I'll either go Crucial or Intel. Crucial M4 or Intel 520 both are nice

2. I have turned off defrag. I am locating all my documents, pictures etc. to my HDD, and relocated my temp internet files to the HDD just to limit my number of writes. Turned off hibernate as well.
Here is a FORUM I belong too that walks you through each setup to get the best performance out of your ssd. -----> H E R E Regarding your DEFRAG question just run the WINDOWS EXPERIENCE INDEX it should turn it off when you do this.

Do you have any other tips to optimize the performance or life of your SDD?

Yes, I know I could post these questions on the tech forums, but sometimes I don't like chatting with the ubbertechies

If you plan on putting 2 x ssd together for a RAID 0 just don't max out the total storage of the drive they will wear out quicker.

Here are my 2 x Crucial M4 SSD's in a RAID 0

[Mute]

Haven't had issues with Corsair, Intel, Crucial or OCZ. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Just have a strong backup plan. I ghost an image of my OS drive every so often to minimize down time should a problem occur.

[JDay]

I forgot to mention that the Samsung 830 series SSDs are one of the fastest most reliable SSDs out right now. The new Intel 520 series use a Sandforce controller just like that Corsair you have, although Intel is using their own custom firmware with it.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4863/the-samsung-ssd-830-review

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-520-sandforce-review-benchmark,3124.html