The main X25-M drama was a firmware bug . This type of thing seems par for the course for new SSD launches. The G2 was and is priced lower than the G1 due to the 34nm NAND compared to 50 nm for its predecessor. The G3 will use 25nm NAND so in theory will be more affordable again, though demand will ...

If I recall correctly, the original idea behind Sandforce was to allow a cheaper grade of flash memory to be used, in light of Durawrite's more efficient writing system. In practise, I don't think this has translated to any new benchmarks for value. One could almost RAID 0 a pair of X25-Vs for the p...

Keep in mind that the G3 Intel drives in Q4 will be a new product and probably go through the usual new-launch bugs and dramas before things settle down. The G2 is at least a known quantity today.

Here's a couple of quotes from Recommended Hard Drives that sum up my thoughts. * we recommend using [SSDs] if you can afford them, but keep to the models that have the best reliability. Not surprisingly, given the company's resources, Intel SSDs seem tops in this regard. * Small differences in [har...

"In Crucial update, Drive TRIMS You!!" If I remember correctly from when I updated my Intel firmware, they threaten that the warranty is voided in the event that anything goes wrong with the update procedure. A shame, as SSDs are too light to make good paperweights. Not sure if this applies to Cruci...

I was afraid to ask.

I have an 80 GB Intel with Win 7, though it's only mainly used for documents, internet and such. There are no problems having both PATA and SATA, you'll just need to change the settings in your BIOS if you wish to boot off the SATA drive. You'll notice a major performance improvement in terms of boo...

I stand corrected, however my point still has some merit given how different a modern SSD is from previous generations. Who is going to accurately predict that a Sandforce or C300 drive will last 5 years?

I would agree the mb is likely to blame, perhaps a faulty voltage regulator. They can cause some costly damage to other components!

There's an Agility 2 now. No special mb is required as SSDs use the same SATA connectors. If your 'board does not support SATA your choices will be limited. I have all current data, aps and OS on the SSD, and use a second drive for backup and archive purposes. Performance boosts will depend on the a...

Have you tried felt feet? They will all transmit some vibration.

Given your requirements I'd consider the 320 GB WD Scorpio Blue. At a guess it could be single-platter these days, assuming the 640 GB is 2 platter and the physically larger 1 TB model is 3 platter. Either way it is hard to top for acoustics. I bought a 640 GB model recently and when it arrives I'll...

Yes, and I think my X25-V is also in IDE mode. The loss of functionality is absolutely minimal compared to the benefits. I cannot comment on an eSATA configuration. I'd suggest doing some general internet searches with keywords like 'SSD AHCI'. Here is one good discussion: http://www.overclockers.co...

I think switching to AHCI mode is more complex than changing BIOS settings. You may need to fully replace all data on the drive in the process. My motherboard doesn't even support AHCI, but my research indicated that there is only a slight performance penalty under some circumstances. Saying ACHI is...

I believe SSD data is retrievable, but have heard that the cost to retrieve it is higher than for platter drives. You may find this Intel file interesting, suggesting MTBF: 1,200,000 hours. http://download.intel.com/design/flash/nand/mainstream/322296.pdf Not content with their calculations, I will ...

Here is a copy of my X25-M's data, after 5 weeks. http://jacktravis.com.au/tmp/100410_X25-M.jpg Keep in mind, that 99% is likely to stay at the same number for months, making the anticipated life of the drive probably decades (in theory). Having written the equivalent of once to the entire drive, th...

I would question that they are less reliable than hard drives, but the difference is that SSD is a fast-moving area in which a lot of products are brand new and untested. I doubt there is sufficient data to address the original question when nobody would even have a 5 year old SSD. If you dropped th...

One of my local PC stores is pushing another couple of Sandforce products, the Corsair Force and A-RAM Ultra II.

Needless to say it should not be too long before this controller will have been given an opportunity to prove itself reliable, if not the last word in affordability.

Gee, I'm pretty hopeless for a Pico advocate.

I just referred to the original article, and mine is indeed a 120w Pico (the only option at the time) with the 80w EDAC brick. I tried the 120w EDAC but it belongs only at DeafeningPCReview.com.

Congrats Mike, hope you have a quiet one. :D It speaks a thousand words to say this is the only PC forum I've ever gotten into. PC noise drove me mad ever since I was a kid and wrapped the family's Pentium 100 in a huge blanket. :lol: I'm very happy with what I've achieved for myself and others arou...

I was one of the early adopters when the original SPCR article came out. I've bought 3 of them in total, all 80w with the 80w EDAC brick. All are still going strong after 3-4 years of use and abuse. Easily the best PC part I have ever bought, as it never needs upgrading. I have, however, made a poin...

i would rather buy one now for a low price... and would really want the drive. Should i even wait for Q4? Sounds like you've answered your own question. If you are also considering Windows 7, I would recommend purchasing the 2 at the same time. This is what I did when I installed an X25-V/Win7 in m...

A significant question is the expected ambient temperature of the room - if it gets hot, fanless is getting a bit risky. For PSU I recommend PicoPSU as it minimises heat within the case. SSDs or other flash media for storage are great due to not even getting warm. As for monitors, few are truly sile...

Not sure if the CH08LS10 BD would be much different. I haven't actually used mine to watch a movie as yet so can't comment. The main difference is that the newer drive is slightly faster, but lost HD-DVD support due to some sort of licencing issue.

Very similar to my logic, as I found the X-25M 80 GB to represent a certain all-round sweet spot. According to Anand the next shake-up will come in the 4th quarter when Intel's price/capacity ratio will improve further. I don't anticipate anything particularly amazing to happen before the next gener...

The Onyx appears to be a significantly slower drive. For example, sequential read is listed at 125 MB/s compared to 170 for the Intel. There is also a significant loss of capacity so it's not vastly better value. However, by sheer 'coincidence' OCZ is currently doing a killer deal on the OCZ Agility...

Many thanks guys!

G'day all, I'm wondering if there is a quality commercially available solution to run the PicoPSU power cable through a blank PCI slot bracket? I refer to the little round plug which connects the PSU itself to the cable leading to the adaptor. In the Pico systems I've built, I've always just let the...

Cheers guys! To add to the mystery, I gave the 3450 to my parents who have a 1.8 GHz AMD Sempron with 1 GB RAM, which is a quarter of my RAM total and a processor basically half as powerful as my 3.0 GHz dual core Intel E8400. The Aero works perfectly on theirs, whereas mine is still slightly compro...