Passion: Technology http://www.raymonderi.no/blog Just another techblog Sun, 20 May 2012 09:16:02 +0000 en hourly 1 SSD reviews from around the web http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=123 http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=123#comments Sun, 20 May 2012 08:30:50 +0000 Raymond Bratli Eri http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=123 This post will be updated weekly with SSD reviews from around the web.

Don’t forget to read my post on why a SSD should be your next upgrade.

You may also be interested in my SSD checklist for Windows 7 and my experience with my first SSD.

Also be sure to check out AnandTech’s benchmark, with every SSD they’ve tested!

Get help with your buying decision:

Storage Review’s Leaderboard

Which SSD should I buy? (AnandTech Forums)

Tom’s Hardware Monthly Buying Guide

Other articles worth reading:

A SSD Primer by The SSD Review

Examining the SSD Industry by The SSD Review

A guide to SSD reviews and Real World vs. Synthetic tests by SSD Freaks

NEW: Kingston releases HyperX 3K (3K = 3000 P/E (write cycles) ).

NEW: OCZ releases Vertex 4 with the Indilinx Everst 2 controller.

UPDATE: I’ve trimmed the page of “old” SSDs, i.e drives from 2010 and/or no longer sold.

NAND: Reviewers rank NAND in the following order (good, better, best): Async, Sync, Toggle.

Hybrid

Update November 2011: In November 2011 Seagate released an upgraded version (2nd generation) of its Momentus XT hybrid drive. The upgraded version doubles the SSD portion of the drive to 8GB and the spinning platters can now store 750GB in total. The product number of this drive is ST750LX003.

Check out the review on AnandTech (thorough as always).

PC Perspective has done a hybrid storage roundup, and gave the Momentus XT a gold award.

The information below is for 1st generation drives.

Do you think SSDs are too expensive? Try Seagate’s Momentus XT, a hybrid drive combining the size of a HDD with the speed of a SSD. Comes in three flavours: 256GB, 320GB and 500GB in a 2.5-inch form factor spinning 7.200 RPM. The SSD part of the drive is 4GB. The drive will optimize over time, meaning it will place the most used files on the SSD part of the disk. This is done independent of file system and operating system.

Seagate Momentus XT

Don’t feel like reading through all those reviews? Check out Seagate’s own summary of reviews.

Defrag this disk manually once in a while and not as automatic background task, as it will reset everything that ‘Adaptive Memory’ has learned.

Multireviews

Marvell-based SSDs tested

- Tom’s Hardware
Tested: Corsair, Crucial, OCZ, Plextor (May 1 2012)

Marvell Super Heroes

- X-bit Labs
Tested: Corsair, Crucial, Plextor (March 14 2012)

Ten 60 GB SandForce-Based Boot Drives, Rounded-Up

- Tom’s Hardware
Tested: Corsair, Crucial, Kingston, Intel, OCZ, Patriot, Samsung (March 1 2012)

SATA 3 SSD Roundup

- Overclock 3D
Tested: Intel, Corsair, Kingston, Mushkin (February 27 2012)

60/64 GB SSD Shootout

- Tom’s Hardware
Tested: Crucial, Samsung (January 25 2012)

240GB Solid State Roundup

- Circuit Remix
Tested: Crucial, Kingston, OCZ, OWC (January 15 2012)

The SATA III Showdown

- Laptop Mag
Tested: Intel, OCZ, Patriot, Samsung (October 24 2011)

The SandForce Roundup

- AnandTech
Tested: Corsair, Kingston, MemoRight, OCZ, OWC, Patriot (August 11 2011)

Second-Gen SandForce: Seven 120 GB SSDs Rounded Up

- Tom’s Hardware
Tested: A-Data, Corsair, Mushkin, OCZ, Patriot (July 25 2011)

240 GB SATA-600 Solid State Drives

- Hardware Heaven
Tested: Crucial, Intel, Mushkin, OCZ, OWC (July 22 2011)

SATA-III-SSD-RoundUp

- Hot Hardware
Tested: Corsair, Crucial, OCZ, Patriot (July 12 2011)

Solid State Drives with SATA-600 Interface

- X-bit Labs
Tested: Crucial, Intel, OCZ (July 11 2011)

The 2011 Mid-Range SSD Roundup

- AnandTech
Tested: Corsair, Crucial, Intel, OCZ (June 7 2011)

Corsair

Force GT

Controller: SandForce SF-2281
NAND: 25nm Synchronous

Force Series 3

Controller: SandForce SF-2281
NAND: 25nm Asynchronous

Performance Pro Series

Controller: Marvell 9174-BKK2 (2ndgen)
NAND: 32nm Toggle Mode

Crucial

M4

Controller: Marvell 9174-BLD2 (3rdgen)

Intel

320 Series

330 Series

520 Series

Controller: SandForce SF-2281
NAND: Intel 25nm Synchronous

Kingston

HyperX 3K

Controller: SandForce SF-2281
NAND: 25nm Synchronous (3K P/E)

HyperX

Controller: SandForce SF-2281
NAND: 25nm Synchronous (5K P/E)

V+200 Series

Controller: SandForce SF-2281
NAND: Intel 25nm Asynchronous

OCZ

Vertex 4

Controller: Indilinx Everest 2
NAND: 25nm Synchronous

Octane

Controller: Indilinx Everest
NAND: 25nm Synchronous

Vertex 3 Max IOPS

Controller: SandForce SF-2281
NAND: 32nm Toggle Mode

Vertex 3

Controller: SandForce SF-2281
NAND: 25nm Synchronous

Agility 3

Controller: SandForce SF-2281
NAND: 25nm Asynchronous

Patriot

Wildfire

Controller: SandForce SF-2281
NAND: 32nm Toggle Mode

Pyro SE

Controller: SandForce SF-2281
NAND: 25nm Synchronous

Pyro

Controller: SandForce SF-2281
NAND: 25nm Asynchronous

Plextor

M3 Pro

Controller: Marvell 9174-BLD2 (3rdgen)
NAND: 24nm Toggle Mode

M3

Controller: Marvell 9174-BLD2 (3rdgen)
NAND: 24nm Toggle Mode

Samsung

830 Series

]]> http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?feed=rss2&p=123 0 Technews for week 18 http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=1069 http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=1069#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 08:30:29 +0000 Raymond Bratli Eri http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=1069 Here in Norway weeks starts on Monday and we use week numbers. Below is the most interesting technews for week 18.

Samsung announced the much hyped Galaxy SIII in London this week. Personally I got so disappointed that I bought a HTC One X. In white of course. Peter Bright over at Ars Technica didn’t get caught by the reality distortion field either.

Spotify finally released an app for iPad. Some weeks ago they also released a preview of the new app for Android they’ve been working on for the last six months. Since the existing app in Google Play isn’t particularly useful on Ice Cream Sandwich, the app is completely rewritten and revamped.

Dropbox will hold a new Dropquest on Sunday May 12th. If you want some extra storage and like a good brain teaser, have a go. Dropbox promises av even harder quest this year.

]]> http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?feed=rss2&p=1069 0 Technews for week 17 http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=1059 http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=1059#comments Sun, 29 Apr 2012 08:30:17 +0000 Raymond Bratli Eri http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=1059 Here in Norway weeks starts on Monday and we use week numbers. Below is the most interesting technews for week 17.

Google rebranded Docs to Drive to compete with Dropbox. By installing the app in Windows, Mac, Android or iOS (coming soon they say), your files will be synced across devices and always be up to date. You get 5GB for free and at the same time Google bumped the Gmail storage to 10GB (and counting).

Microsoft also wants to compete with Dropbox, so they scaled back SkyDrive from 25GB to 7GB and have also released apps for Windows, Mac, iOS and Windows Phone. If you’re fast, you can keep those 25GB. As with the others, Microsoft too offers paid upgrades.

Paul Thurrott’s SuperSite for Windows has a nice comparison of the different online storage/collaboration/sync services.

Microsoft also released version 4.0(.1526.0) of their antimalware program (includes protection against virus, spyware and other malicous software) for Windows XP, Vista and 7. Microsoft Security Essentials is free for personal use (and small businesses for up to 10 PCs).

Mozilla released Firefox 12 this week and follows Google Chrome with their new auto update service. For Firefox to be updated in the background without any user consent, installing a service is a must. You can opt out of if you prefer to be notified (like previous versions).

I’m not a big gamer, but I’ve really enjoyed the Uncharted series from Naughty Dog (The second installment being my favorite of the three.) Now you can relive Nathan Drake’s adventures as a fan has made the three games into separate ”movies” on YouTube.

]]> http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?feed=rss2&p=1059 0 Sony Xperia S – I no longer want one http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=1017 http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=1017#comments Sun, 25 Mar 2012 15:34:09 +0000 Raymond Bratli Eri http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=1017

The Sony Xperia P is all aluminium and is built by only four parts.

After parsing through reviews, forums and comments, I no longer want the Sony Xperia S. The plastic feeling, the backplate, the flimsy flaps covering the ports  and the hard-to-hit touch buttons is a turn-off. I wish the Xperia S was made the same way as it’s little brother Xperia P; Only four parts of aluminium with a SIM drawer and without covering up the ports. For the money, it’s a great phone with great specs and I’m sure it will make many an Android and/or Sony fan happy. Some reviews:

]]> http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?feed=rss2&p=1017 0 Technews for week 10 http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=963 http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=963#comments Sun, 11 Mar 2012 08:30:34 +0000 Raymond Bratli Eri http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=963 Here in Norway weeks starts on Monday and we use week numbers. Below is the most interesting technews for week 10.

Google consolidated its Android App Store, Book Store, Music and Video Store into Google Play. Unfortunately, only apps are available in Norway.

Apple’s App Store (for iOS) reached 25 billion downloads (that’s 25 milliarder here in Norway).

Apple released the new iPad with Retina display, faster processor and graphics, 4G/LTE, better camera.

At the same event Apple also released an updated Apple TV and released iOS 5.1, a minor software update.

Maxis announced that it reboots its SimCity franchise with a new release next year.

]]> http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?feed=rss2&p=963 0 Technews for week 9 http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=966 http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=966#comments Sun, 04 Mar 2012 08:30:03 +0000 Raymond Bratli Eri http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=966 Here in Norway weeks starts on Monday and we use week numbers. Below is the most interesting technews for week 9.

This week saw the Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona and a lot of new phones got shown (but not yet available for sale).

Sony Ericsson released the little brother and sister to the Xperia S: Xperia P and Xperia U. The Xperia S was shown at the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas back in January and went on sale this week in Barcelona.

HTC showed its new One Series: The One X, One S and One V.

LG, ZTE, Huawei also showed new phones (amongst others).

Microsoft made Windows 8 Consumer Preview available for download.

Spotify got updated and can now do crossfade and finally gapless playback.

Square Enix finally released Final Fantasy Tactics for the iPad. I’ve spent many hours of my life playing the original on the PlayStation, and will now spend even more on my iPad 2.

]]> http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?feed=rss2&p=966 0 Sony Xperia S – I want one http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=926 http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=926#comments Sat, 03 Mar 2012 20:10:59 +0000 Raymond Bratli Eri http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=926

Sony’s first smartphone after buying out Ericsson is to be launched worldwide in March 2012. And since its debut at CES 2012, I’ve kept my eye on the Sony Xperia S. Here you’ll find some information, links and videos.

UPDATE: Reviews have started to appear online!

UPDATE: As of February 26 2012, the phone is now available!

Specifications

(click pic to enlarge)

Pictures

(click pic to enlarge)

Links

Official Sony Ericsson product page

Whitepaper

Sony Xperia S @ Android Central

Official videos

Unboxing video (Malaysia)

]]> http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?feed=rss2&p=926 0 Technews for week 8 http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=989 http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=989#comments Sun, 26 Feb 2012 08:30:58 +0000 Raymond Bratli Eri http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=989 Here in Norway weeks starts on Monday and we use week numbers. Below is the most interesting technews for week 8.

Microsoft extends support for Windows 7 with five years, support ends 2020.

Nokia becomes the biggest Windows Phone manufacturer in just one quarter.

]]> http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?feed=rss2&p=989 0 Technews for week 7 http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=972 http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=972#comments Sun, 19 Feb 2012 08:30:40 +0000 Raymond Bratli Eri http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=972 Here in Norway weeks starts on Monday and we use week numbers. Below is the most interesting technews for week 7.

Apple unveiled the next version of Mac OS X: Mountain Lion is the name for version 10.8. A Developer Preview was made available for download for paying developers.

HTC announced on their Facebook page that my Desire HD actually will get Android 4.0.x a.k.a. Ice Cream Sandwich later this year.

]]> http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?feed=rss2&p=972 0 Kakewalk 4.1.1 makes it a breeze installing Lion 10.7.2 on my hackintosh http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=863 http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=863#comments Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:22:07 +0000 Raymond Bratli Eri http://www.raymonderi.no/blog/?p=863

Definitions

A hackintosh is a PC (a non-Mac) which runs Mac OS X as its operating system. A hackintosh has usually been difficult to set up and get fully working without doing heavy research and tweaking post-install. With Kakewalk it’s (almost) as easy as installing Windows 7. Kakewalk is a little utility which makes a bootable USB thumb drive with Lion. There are of course some prerequisites:

You already have a Mac or hackintosh, or a friend with a Mac or hackintosh.

You need to buy Lion form the Mac App Store. If you don’t have access to the Mac App Store, visit a friend and log in with your Apple ID. Make one if you don’t have one. Keep the downloaded installer in a safe place.

You need the right hardware. This is the most important step, as the wrong hardware will make it difficult or even impossible to install Lion. The holy grail in a hackintosh is its motherboard. And the preferred manufacturer due to compatibility is Gigabyte. It shouldn’t be necessary to say that Mac is Intel only, so as of writing the best choices are the Sandy Bridge Core series (i3, i5, i7 on socket 1155). As graphic cards go, you can’t choose whichever you want. The safest choice is to use the same type as in the official Macs. See Kakewalk’s compatibility page and TonyMac’s CustoMacs to get an idea. The rest of the hardware can usually be based on personal preference.

My hardware

MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-Z68MX-UD2H-B3 Z68 S-1155 M-ATX (BIOS: F11)
CPU: INTEL CORE I5 2500K 3.30GHZ 6MB S-1155
RAM: KINGSTON DDR3 HYPERX 8GB 1600MHZ CL9 (2X4GB) (Only 4GB during setup)
GFX: XFX RADEON HD6870 1GB GDDR5 PCI-E DVI/HDMI/DP (HD-687A-ZHFC)
CASE: FRACTAL DESIGN DEFINE MINI MINITOWER M-ATX BLACK
PSU: CORSAIR TX 650W V2
HDD: One I had lying around (60GB from a PS3), I use a Kingston HyperX SSD 120GB as my main boot drive for Windows 7 and another 500GB HDD for storage + NAS.

Background story

I bought this hardware earlier this autumn, with a plan to install Lion sometime before Christmas. I also have a four year old white MacBook, and as soon as 10.7.2 came out, I bought it on the Mac App Store. I used Lion Disk Maker to make a bootable USB thumb drive (8GB) and used it to do a clean install. Then I waited for Kakewalk to get updated for 10.7.2!

Install

I used the same USB thumb drive to make a bootable Lion installer with Kakewalk 4.1.1. And it really was a kakewalk! Installing Lion on my hackintosh was just a little more challenging than on my MacBook. After some 30 minutes Lion was up and running. But I had no ethernet or sound. Since my mobo is practically the same as GA-Z68MX-UD3H-B3, I used the tips in this thread over at the Kakewalk forum to get them working.

Haven’t had time to test sleep yet, but the system is responsive and fast.

Will post updates if I get any issues.

Update November 2011: Just a couple of days after I installed Lion with the help of Kakewalk, TonyMac released UniBeast. UniBeast also makes you an USB thumb drive for installing Lion.

Update December 2011: I finally got sleep to work without issues! I first deleted the Extra folder from root. Then I downloaded MultiBeast 4.2.1 and my mobo’sDSDT.aml file (be sure to rename it to exactly that!) to my desktop. Running MultiBeast, I chose “UserDSDT Install” and “System Utilities”. You can chose extra kexts (drivers) if you want to. I then restarted, put the system to sleep, woke it up with the keyboard (the power button also work), and restarted again and entered BIOS. It was not reset! Upon waking up, my system uses 5-10 seconds before USB and ethernet becomes active.

Here’s the description from MultiBeast on what it does:
UserDSDT is a solution for those who have a pre-edited DSDT on the desktop with an .aml extension. Installs your DSDT as DSDT.aml, 64-Bit org.chameleon.Boot.plist with GraphicsEnabler=Yes, Apple Boot Screen, UseKernelCache=Yes, GenerateCStates=Yes, GeneratePStates=Yes and npci=0×2000 and darkwake=0 kernel flags, MacPro3,1 smbios.plist and tonymacx86 Remixed theme in /Extra. Installs FakeSMC.kext in /System/Library/Extensions. Installs Chimera v1.7.0 r1394 so the system will be bootable from the hard drive and ready for sleep with all hardware recognized in System Profiler. Backs up /System/Library/Extensions/AppleRTC.kext to ~/Desktop/AppleRTC-Backup and then patches the original to prevent CMOS. Does not include any Network or Sound drivers or Graphics support beyond GraphicsEnabler.

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