Gurus, I summon thee! OCZ Agility 3 vs Intel 330

CronoGraal · *Last edited by CronoGraal; 06-14-2012 at 15:57.*

So I've been looking into the 120GB SSD market and I feel it's about time I make the jump. I'm going to be reading that one particular massive thread about SSD and tweaking system settings accordingly but in the meantime I'm finding it difficult to decide which SSD I want.

I've narrowed it down (but open to more suggestions, of course) to the OCZ Agility 3 and Intel 330 Series (both 120gb) and their prices are about the same (OCZ very slightly lower priced). The Intel apparently doesn't rely on TRIM while OCZ does. My biggest concern is with the supposed lifespans:

Intel's specs reads: MTBF: 120,000 timme/timmar (hours)
While OCZ's specs reads: MTBF: 2,000,000 timmar (hours)

In the end, I'm going to be running the drive on SATAII (I know, I know

) and eventually upgrade my system in the future.

Any insight/suggestions?

ninja edit- i just realized 120k hours is like 10+ years so i supppose their claimed lifespans aren't really a big deal. >_>

MfA · **Memory**: 4GB DDR2 1000MHz 5-5-5-15

between these two, Intel 330..
but i'd strongly recommend; Corsair Performance Pro, Crucial M4, Plextor M3/M3P, or Samsung 830 if your budget allows..

Chillin · 06-14-2012, 16:12 | posts: 5,873 | Location: Chilling

I'm just going to leave this here:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Produ...74.305.306.307

CronoGraal · 06-14-2012, 18:52 | posts: 3,421 | Location: Sweden

Quote:

Originally Posted by MfA

between these two, Intel 330..
but i'd strongly recommend; Corsair Performance Pro, Crucial M4, Plextor M3/M3P, or Samsung 830 if your budget allows..

The "SAMSUNG 830 SERIES 128GB" is doable within my budget (actually listed as the same price as the Intel 330), same with the Crucial M4. I'll check out reviews. Thanks for the tips :0.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chillin

I'm just going to leave this here:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Produ...74.305.306.307

Cheers, I'll fiddle around with this but I suppose numbers aren't everything!

MfA · **Memory**: 4GB DDR2 1000MHz 5-5-5-15

Quote:

Originally Posted by CronoGraal

The "SAMSUNG 830 SERIES 128GB" is doable within my budget (actually listed as the same price as the Intel 330), same with the Crucial M4. I'll check out reviews. Thanks for the tips :0.

Cheers, I'll fiddle around with this but I suppose numbers aren't everything!

ok then it's easy to choose if you can get Samsung 830, go get it.. it's better than both 330 and M4

Chillin · 06-14-2012, 19:22 | posts: 5,873 | Location: Chilling

Samsung 830 would be my choice as well.

CronoGraal · 06-14-2012, 20:51 | posts: 3,421 | Location: Sweden

After scouting around various sites and including even more SSD's in a similar price range I'm feeling the Samsung 830. I was originally going to go with the Intel 330 because I thought they were the "safest" of the bunch but apparently the Samsung 830's have been very reliable and highly praised.

Pure speed isn't really an issue for me, esp since I'm going to bottleneck any SSD I buy with my SATAII motherboard. It will be much better than the 5400rpm WD GP 5400rpm HD I'm using atm either way.

Also, when I google samsung vs intel 330 I get this thread as my first result. Google trolling me ftw?

Chillin · 06-14-2012, 20:59 | posts: 5,873 | Location: Chilling

Bottom line is that they are both great drives and are extremely fast, period.

Just go with whichever is much cheaper, though if they are around the same price I would go with the Samsung 830.

CronoGraal · *Last edited by CronoGraal; 06-14-2012 at 21:23.*

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chillin

Bottom line is that they are both great drives and are extremely fast, period.

Just go with whichever is much cheaper, though if they are around the same price I would go with the Samsung 830.

Indeed, they are practically the same price. I'm going for the 830, thanks for the help guys. :]

edit- if they were the same price would you go for the samsung 830 bulk or the intel 330 proper (aka not bulk)?

Stop It RAWR · 06-15-2012, 13:35 | posts: 208 | Location: Biggleswade, UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by CronoGraal

The "SAMSUNG 830 SERIES 128GB" is doable within my budget (actually listed as the same price as the Intel 330), same with the Crucial M4. I'll check out reviews. Thanks for the tips :0.

Cheers, I'll fiddle around with this but I suppose numbers aren't everything!

If you can get a Samsung 830 or Crucial M4, they're both better than the Agility 3, so you should go for them if you can.

CronoGraal · 06-16-2012, 14:17 | posts: 3,421 | Location: Sweden

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stop It RAWR

If you can get a Samsung 830 or Crucial M4, they're both better than the Agility 3, so you should go for them if you can.

Ya I've made up my mind w/ the Samsung 830. Just debating with myself between the 120gb vs 256gb versions. The 120gb is about $143 USD and the 256gb is about $271 USD here in Sweden.

Stop It RAWR · 06-16-2012, 14:26 | posts: 208 | Location: Biggleswade, UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by CronoGraal

Ya I've made up my mind w/ the Samsung 830. Just debating with myself between the 120gb vs 256gb versions. The 120gb is about $143 USD and the 256gb is about $271 USD here in Sweden.

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/256gb...write-400mb-s-

I think Scan still accept international orders, although you may need to arrange a courier to pick it up from them. £146 is around $229 so as long as you can get a courier from UK to Sweden for less than $40, you'll save a few pennies.

deluxe · *Last edited by deluxe; 06-16-2012 at 15:21.*

Why would anyone ever consider OCZ SSD's is beyond me.

I thought everyone knew how awful Vertex 1, 2 and 3 were, time will tell how awful number 4 will be but I guess it will be bad too.
Basically, OCZ has a reputation of failing drives, not one you want to have.

Chillin · 06-16-2012, 16:56 | posts: 5,873 | Location: Chilling

Quote:

Originally Posted by deluxe

Why would anyone ever consider OCZ SSD's is beyond me.

I thought everyone knew how awful Vertex 1, 2 and 3 were, time will tell how awful number 4 will be but I guess it will be bad too.
Basically, OCZ has a reputation of failing drives, not one you want to have.

That's not being fair.

Sure OCZ had some bad drives early on in the firmware series, but now those problems are fixed and their failure rates are around that of everyone else.

Stop It RAWR · 06-16-2012, 18:01 | posts: 208 | Location: Biggleswade, UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chillin

That's not being fair.

Sure OCZ had some bad drives early on in the firmware series, but now those problems are fixed and their failure rates are around that of everyone else.

Indeed. I think OCZ should be applauded for trying to break the initial monopoly that Intel looked to gain when SSDs were just starting to break into the consumer territory too. As for reliability, I think that's more due to the choise of using Sandforce for the Vertex/Agility 3 really. I would love to see figures but I can't see OCZ's failure rate being higher than other Sandforce vendors, but the likes of Crucial, Intel and Samsung are probably a class above in that regard. The thing is OCZ drives are popular, so more of their drives will have failed.

If the Vertex/Agility 4 prove reliable, I think that'll absolve OCZ for the 3 series issues, considering the fact they use new Indilinx controllers, but we shall see.

Still, when I was looking at buying an SSD I must admit I did avoid the Agility 3 in particular because of the issues that have been reported with them, however if OCZ reduce the Agility 4 prices to compete with the M4 and Samsung 830, they do deserve to sell well.

CronoGraal · *Last edited by CronoGraal; 06-17-2012 at 18:36.*

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stop It RAWR

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/256gb...write-400mb-s-

I think Scan still accept international orders, although you may need to arrange a courier to pick it up from them. £146 is around $229 so as long as you can get a courier from UK to Sweden for less than $40, you'll save a few pennies.

Cheers, I'll check it out. If only America was right next to Sweden.

cheap PC products ftw

edit: wow, just realized the site a lot of us nords use (prisjakt.se) has a section for international shipments! i could get the 256gb version from amazon uk!

edit2: is there a reason why theres such a difference in price? im getting ready to order the "laptop" one (even though it's for PC, but I'm sure it doesn't matter...only effects the components it comes with like cables and adapters right?).

edit3: dumb question, im going for it >(! thanks for all the suggestions guys, from the SSD to choose to introducing me to amazon.co.uk for buying parts. the kicker: free shipping to sweden. i save 60 USD, putting this 256gb in the same bracket as the 128gb's over here. lmao

http://i.imgur.com/TIAei.png

anticupidon · 06-17-2012, 18:16 | posts: 1,662 | Location: far,far from home

get the Samsung.
be happy

Stop It RAWR · 06-17-2012, 19:33 | posts: 208 | Location: Biggleswade, UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by CronoGraal

Cheers, I'll check it out. If only America was right next to Sweden.

cheap PC products ftw

edit: wow, just realized the site a lot of us nords use (prisjakt.se) has a section for international shipments! i could get the 256gb version from amazon uk!

edit2: is there a reason why theres such a difference in price? im getting ready to order the "laptop" one (even though it's for PC, but I'm sure it doesn't matter...only effects the components it comes with like cables and adapters right?).

edit3: dumb question, im going for it >(! thanks for all the suggestions guys, from the SSD to choose to introducing me to amazon.co.uk for buying parts. the kicker: free shipping to sweden. i save 60 USD, putting this 256gb in the same bracket as the 128gb's over here. lmao

http://i.imgur.com/TIAei.png

To answer edit 2: The only difference is the lack of a 3.5" bracket, something I'm sure you'll be able to get by, the drives are otherwise identical, and very tiny indeed.

Anyway, I'm glad you're going to get a great drive at a great price, international shipping is awesome isn't it?

CronoGraal · 07-18-2012, 10:56 | posts: 3,421 | Location: Sweden

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stop It RAWR

Anyway, I'm glad you're going to get a great drive at a great price, international shipping is awesome isn't it?

Indeed it is! This thing has been working flawlessly from the start. Did all the minor initial tweaks that forums suggested (apart from pagefile, it's like...i still have 143GB free out of 256GB lol) and 0 issues. Like, literally, none.

Thanks for the suggestion gurus. Limited to "only" SATAII speeds but still blistering fast. :]