Recommend an SSD

Ok so this month I should be getting my bonus, I am not expecting much and most of it will need to go to the renovations. However I am hoping to keep like R1000 aside for an SSD (well R1000 to contribute to an SSD and I can throw in another R500).

I have been loosely keeping an eye on SSD pricess to see if they drop so I can jump in quickly but they have either remained stable of gone up. I think it is time for me to bite the bullet and get an SSD but I know nothing about them.

Firstly I have an ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR III FORMULA Mobo which is a relatively old Mobo and so the Sata "protocol" only allows 3GB/s and not the 6gb/s I think the newer mobo's allow. I don't plan on upgrading for at least another 1.5 years (more than likely 2 years)

So those are my constraints

* R1500
* 3GB/s Transfer rate

I plan on using the SSD to host my operating system and my games, I only ever have 1 or 2 games loaded at any one time.


So what is the point of this? I need recommendations e.g.
size: 128GB? 256GB?
Make : OCZ? Corsair?
Source: Frontoza?


So all suggestions are welcome if you know what you are talking about

Hi Paul,

I have a corsair force GT 120gig SSD which drags helped me organise through frontosa. It seems to meet the requirements you have and I run it on a similar setup tp yours (same mobo etc).

I am extremely happy with it and it made a HUGE diff to my ingame performance.

http://www.corsair.com/ssd/force-ser...rd-drive.html/

As far as I know this is one of the brands that frontosa stocks...

Sure drags or someone else will and come and tell you about the trim support and all the other relevant factors :)

Firstly, the fact that your mobo only supports SATA 3Gb doesn't stop you getting a faster SSD, it just means that the SSD won't work to it's full potential until you upgrade your mobo down the line.

As to the different makes, TBH most SSDs are very comparible nowadays. Most of them use SandForce controllers, meaning that top speeds will be pretty similar between drives (and in fact identical on your system because your interface will slow them all down).

If you only ever have a couple of games installed, then a 120GB drive will be fine, although if you can stretch it's always nice to have a bit of extra capacity, so a 180GB drive might be better, although it would break your budget.

I can get you Corsair SSDs from Frontosa, they don't stock OCZ. I have a Corsair ForceGT in one of my PC's, and it runs like a dream. I know that QB has the same one, and we installed one into Phatso's PC last night. It's a good performer, as much as you'll need.

One thing that you may want to consider (in before Denis), is to get 2x60GB SSD's and hook them up in RAID 0. That would get you a lot faster transfer speeds, because you'd double up your SATA 3Gb connection. Personally I'm not fond of RAIDing SSD's as I like the TRIM function (garbage collection that doesn't work under RAID), but it would give you extra speed.

Let me know if you want prices from Frontosa.

Thanks Jarrod, if you could please get me prices from Frontoza for a 120GB SSD that would be great.

I am also not a fan of RAID but mainly because I am too lazy to figure out how it all works. So I think from the sounds of things a Corsair ForceGT 120GB looks like the best option so far

Any speed SSD will make a huge diff. The access speed is what you see first, transfer speeds are a bonus.
For that price you are looking at a 120 / 128GB SSD.

Thanks Jarrod... stealing all my thunder.... ;-)

Paul, if you want to know how RAID works, go and read my article here: http://blog.skoups.com/?p=236

However, unless you really after speed and like to have something simple, get yourself any 120GB drive but try to get yourself ones that does at least 500MB/s. It is simple, and it works. You will appreciate the speed difference.

If you are however after raw, unadulterated speed, then get as many 60GB drives (not OCZ Vertex 4 though as they are limited to only 280MB/s) as you can afford, get yourself a Rocket Raid 2720SGL card (~R2,000), and enjoy some seriously fast speeds, as in mind blowing, freaken fast speeds I am talking off.

Or, be boring, and just get yourself that single drive and be happy with plain and simple...

Syphilis. Oh wait, nvm.

I think I will got with the Corsair ForceGT 128GB but it will only be mid March so I will be requesting a price list then

Got my bonus and I will be able to get the SSD for +-R1500. Jarrod can you please get the price so that I can order it

Can some body please get me the price for a Corsair ForceGT 128GB from Frontosa, otherwise I will have to get it at a retail store and it will cost R1800