specifically looking for something comparing speed, reliability, and average lifespan.

Would prefer if it was a comparison done this year.


I'm considering the following SATA III drives:

Corsair Force Series 3 CSSD-F180GB3-BK 2.5" 180GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive ---- speedy, larger than 120,
OCZ Vertex 3 VTX3-25SAT3-120G 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive --- FAST but by most reports a bit of a PITA
Intel 510 Series (Elm Crest) SSDSC2MH120A2K5 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive --- slower, and paying extra for the Intel brand

Im leaning towards the Corsair to be honest but the one thing I'm not getting is a sense of the lifespan of these drives aside from the OCZ seeming to have a lot of reports of dying young. The techs been out a few years so I would think that it would be more reliable by now.

 

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The Corsair and the OCZ you listed are basically the same.

Intel are probably the best all around but you do pay a premium and until they get their own internal 3rd generation chip released, I don't see a big reason to pay such a premium right now. What I like about Intel though is that they have a lower failure rate than anybody else and good software.

OCZ are decent but they have a bit of a high crap out rate, which is probably due to them being the first to use that 3rd generation Sandforce controller. I also don't like their garbage cleanup software.

The Corsair I don't know much at all about but I trust Corsair's name.

Performance wise, the OCZ and Corsair are basically similar so I would go for either of those based on price/size of HDD and avoid the Intel.


For an FYI, I own a Intel X25 80GB, Vertex 2 96GB, Vertex 2 60GB and my brother has a Solid2 (the one that bricked when we flashed it).

I've been looking at buying a Vertex or Agility 3 120GB for about $160 when NCIX runs their next sale but I might get the Corsair if its cheaper.


I am sure Ravy will respond, he follows these a bit closer than I do but I doubt he will say much different.


Edit:
Something else to consider perhaps is warranty. OCZ fixed my brothers bricked drive quickly so I have no issue with OCZ tech support personally, but I have heard others say they had issues. So far, I have replaced 2 PSU's and a HD through OCZ. Hardly great numbers.... I no longer buy their PSU's though and will stick with Corsair PSU's in the future.

 

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I RMA'd a year old Vertex a while back, and they didn't give me any trouble. It was a 5 minute chat, a ticket, and off the drive goes.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-nand-reliability,3021-3.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/sf-2200-sandforce-ssd,2987.html

 

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Just stay away from the sandforce and you should be ok. I just bought an 256GB M4 and it's rock solid after two OCZ's, one of which died on me. I think I will stick with the M4's from now on.

 

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http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=59354&vpn=VTX3%2D25SAT3%2D120G&manufacture=OCZ%20Technology&promoid=1316

that one?

 

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In the end I took Karsus's advice and bought a 128 gig M4

 

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Crucial makes great SSDs. I have the 128 M4 myself.

 

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I purchased a OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD3-2VTX120G 3.5" 120GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) back in february. For the 3 months it worked is was absolutely fantastic. Then it crashed unrecoverable. I couldnt even load windows up on it after it crashed. Reformatting was impossible. Since then I have been RMA'ed 2 of them that each have crapped out after 2 months. Im extremely pissed and wish they would have just sent me a lower version of one of the ones that wasnt complete shit.

They're absolutely terrible. The company sucks and the customer service sucks. I'll never buy one of their products again.

^

Beware anecdotal evidence IMO. The one thing I try to explain to most people is that customer service most of the time is nearly random. People have 1 experience and then label a company as good or bad.

Even worse, some customers are so angry they refuse to be helped. I know that sounds counter-intuitive, but I'd literally get customers that wouldn't let me help them. They decided they knew what was best, then put themselves through hell - and it was like self fulfilling prophecy.

I guess at the end of the day I'm more apathetic because the way I see it, everyone is getting screwed everywhere. If you are not, or have not been, then you are just lucky. I've worked too many tech support jobs, and I've not EVER done support for a company that truly emphasizes quality.

Also, you didn't mention flashing the drive which is suspect as that fixes quite a few issues. Its called a destructive flash, and you have to get them to email you the .exe. I had to do it to one of my drives for whatever reason. Just sayin'