Is there a consensus on a SATA3 SSD for a DAW system drive? I'm looking at a 128MB for a new system I want to build. Any reliable brands/models at the moment?

So far my new OCZ Vertex 4, 128GB SSD is working OK.  Its been up about a month now.

If you want to go for reliability Intel is the best choice. A friend of mine works at a company that sells computer hardware. He says that they hardly get any complaints on the Intel-drives from customers. It's like 1/400 but a lot from other companies like OCZ etc. I personally is very satisfied with my Intel SSD's. I have 3 of them and none has given me any headaches. The oldest one I have is 3 years old and the health-status of the drive is at 99.9%. I'd say that is very good. I've used that drive a LOT!


I recommend the Intel 520 drives. I've heard that there's a big pricecut coming this fall.

/M

"elsongs"
Is there a consensus on a SATA3 SSD for a DAW system drive?

No, it depends who you're talking too. It's relative. As per "metz", the Intel brand is reliable but a tad more expensive and behind the times performance-wise. Are you sure you need over 120GBs for an OS drive? After 1 year of use, I came to the conlusion that a 64GB OS drive was more than sufficient for my needs. FYI, I currently use an OCZ Vertex 3 (120GBs) for the OS, apps. and plugins. Never went beyond 20GBs so, I  moved Trillian to the OS drive as I was not satisfied with its performance on a 10K rpm Raptor HD. Hence my conclusion about my SSD storage needs for the OS.

I am comfortable in recommending an OCZ Vertex 4 SSD which is backed by a 5 year warranty and specs. that competitors are currently chasing. Reviews are also very good and the prices reasonable for the most current SSD technology. As always IMHO.

I have the Win 7 OS and my recording studio apps on the SSD.  68GB out of 128GB used.  Everything else (including Cakewalk Projects folder) is on a 7200RPM 1TB hard drive.

"fireberd"
68GB out of 128GB used.

Would that also include the "hibernation" file, which is as big as the total memory you installed? Or have you disabled it? What about the page/swap file? Do you use one, and does it reside on the OS drive?

Intel for speed and reliability. (every bit as fast as OCZ)
Crucial for affordable yet still great very fast reads but slower writes..

OCZ wouldnt touch with a 10' pole

"jcschild"
Intel for speed and reliability. (every bit as fast as OCZ)

Which model(s) are you referring to?

"jcschild"
OCZ wouldnt touch with a 10' pole

Everyone knows how you feel about OCZ Scott (and a whole bunch of other manufacturers also). Still feel the same way about their 4th generation SSDs? Why?

because its OCZ.... a company with a nefarious rep..
the intel 520 series (Cherryville)

Alegria


         "jcschild"

OCZ wouldnt touch with a 10' pole

Everyone knows how you feel about OCZ Scott (and a whole bunch of other manufacturers also). Still feel the same way about their 4th generation SSDs? Why?

TBH as an observer I see more posts from you having some kind of poke at Scotts' opinions than I do of Scott having a preference against particular manufacturers.

Someone in a position of having to test several manufacturers goods in order to give best performance for the buck to his customers, knowing how many returns he has to deal with and the response he gets from those companies is in a far better position than you or I to call it.

You have precisely one unit there are one or two others that have units the same as yours.  When you look at percentages of DOA components 5% would be a diabolical failure rate for a manufacturer yet we could have 95 users reporting a good experience of a particular product against the 5 users that had units go up in smoke.

I totally believe Scott has enough integrity to report honestly and openly on his first-hand dealings with manufacturers and products and it offers us a good insight to things that most normal users like you and I would never see such as return rates and customer service issues.

So aside from you having a bias toward a product that you've already purchased I can't see what the problem you have with his reporting on the stuff he finds in the course of what he does.  You seem to be the one that's on the crusade that you seem to infer that he is engaging in against particular manufacturers.

I'm really grateful for Scott's input here and it's guided my decisions against making several costly mistakes and don't get why anyone would want to 'smart alec' him in the way you appear to at times.