Intel X25-M G2 Solid State Drives

kablooey · 6 Oct 2009 at 20:16

argh, I've been waiting for a price drop on the 160GB and it's looks like it's gone up! :/

Spazzfish · 9 Oct 2009 at 13:31

I'm going to get one of these drives, but probably a few weeks after windows 7 is released. I'm curious to how the firmware updating works. If I have my operating system already on this drive and I want to update the firmware on it will it bork the operating system meaning a re-install.
Is it general practise to update the firmware on the drive then install OS? Thanks

Mr_T · 10 Oct 2009 at 00:03

hegemon said:
Taken from intel document: http://download.intel.com/design/flash/nand/mainstream/mainstream-sata-ssd-datasheet.pdf

Essentially the last two characters are irrelevent to us as consumers.

Hmmm, I just got delivery of my 160GB drive from OCuK and it doesn't have the H in the serial number...

It's SSDSA2M160G2C1

Does this mean I haven't got a true High performance drive?!?

Nate Silvers · 10 Oct 2009 at 21:52

Mr_T said:
Hmmm, I just got delivery of my 160GB drive from OCuK and it doesn't have the H in the serial number...

It's SSDSA2M160G2C1

Does this mean I haven't got a true High performance drive?!?

Same hmmmm.

http://communities.intel.com/messag...AF1C33427EF047D6B2D6CD90505AC.node5COMS#69763

This thread explains all.

Understand the confusion.

The H was dropped off the 34nm SSD label. We were required to move to 14 characters on the product and the H did not differientate our drive.

We only have one product. The 80GB that you highlight could be labeled: SSDSA2M080G2GN or SSDSA2M080G2GC.

One product.

Alan

Intel NAND Solutions Group

Mr_T · 11 Oct 2009 at 09:47

Ahhh that makes sense, I thought it might be something like this but couldn't find official confirmation - Cheers!

Robert · 12 Oct 2009 at 20:40

I'm really struggling between this and the Corsair X128

Larok · 12 Oct 2009 at 20:56

Crucial M225 looks good too, but for pre order and what's going on with trim or whatever.

Rezident · 13 Oct 2009 at 00:21

Are the Intels still around about the best (without paying silly money) for OS and games?

Getting confused between the corsairs and the crucials and the OCZs etc.

randal · 13 Oct 2009 at 00:23

O/T but how have you managed to get away with that sig Hegemon - for a week!

Humate · 14 Oct 2009 at 19:17

well, i ordered the 80GB x25-m on pre-order... wonder how long its going to be before i see it :confused:

i hope its not too long. i might chicken out and cancel otherwise... £190 on a hard drive... argggg. im expecting miracles when it arrives

gizmo1990 · 14 Oct 2009 at 22:06

I've heard (different supplier mind) there could be some in the country next week sometime. Fingers crossed!

fizzle-187 · 14 Oct 2009 at 22:41

Are these the fastest SSD's out?

cracker · 15 Oct 2009 at 18:02

Just got an 80GB retail boxed version from a competitor. Hinting at a competitors pricing is against the rules. Make sure you read the FAQ - No promotion of OcUK's competitors.

Just wondering if I should install Windows 7 RC on it or wait for the retail version.

Noli · 5 Nov 2009 at 11:00

Product codes... (+firmware)

Hi all,

First post here but wondering if someone could help? I too have been looking at these drives. Mainly the Intel X25-M 80Gb drives. First of all, after their recent disastrous firmware for implementing the TRIM command, where several people's drives got bricked:

http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/27/intel-pulls-ssd-toolbox-for-killing-drives-under-windows-7/

Has there been any news of Intel rectifying the problem? I haven't heard anything yet...

Secondly, back to those good old product codes... I note on the intel website here:
http://www.intel.com/cd/channel/reseller/asmo-na/eng/products/nand/feature/index.htm

that one can infer that the *differences* between them are:
SSDSA2MH080G201 = 7.0mm thick
SSDSA2MH080G2C1 = 9.5mm thick
SSDSA2MH080G2R5 = 9.5mm thick retail box with installation kit

My question is - is there any difference between 7.0mm and 9.5mm thick drives? Apart from the thickness

Why is the G201 only 7mm thick? Smaller (better) components? They are all generation 2 (and so 34nm) so I can't see why that would be the case. Do they all perform the same? Which one should I go for?

Any insight much appreciated, cheers, Noli

brad_whitwell · 5 Nov 2009 at 11:56

As far as I've been able to tell, the difference in thicknees comes from a rubber case that they enclose the SSD in.

Its exactly the same electrical part.

Noli · 6 Nov 2009 at 18:29

thanks brad!

mdovey · 7 Nov 2009 at 10:37

Noli said:
that one can infer that the *differences* between them are:
SSDSA2MH080G201 = 7.0mm thick
SSDSA2MH080G2C1 = 9.5mm thick
SSDSA2MH080G2R5 = 9.5mm thick retail box with installation kit

OK,

the R5 comes in a blue printed intel box (with pictures on the box, and the disk specs). As well as the drive you also get in the R5 packaging:

a thick installation guide in multiple languages
a small cd containing installation and warranty information
a "my SSD rocks" sticker
a mounting bracket for mounting the 2.5 inch SSD in a 3.5 enclosure
4 small screws for mounting the SSD
4 larger screws for mounting the bracket

The C1 comes in a plain cardboard box. As well as the drive you get

a printed A4 sheet covering installation and warranty (single lanuage)
a "my SSD rocks" sticker
(i.e. no bracket, no mounting screws)

You can see pictures of the R5 and C1 packaging here (scroll down about 3/4 down)

http://www.legrandforum.com/avis/Ac...-Groupees/recensement-sondage-sujet_308_1.htm

In the pictures above you can see a black plastic rim on the top of the disk. This is screwed to the disk, and hence is removable, and is what adds the extra 2.5mm to the height of the drive. The 01 comes without this plastic rim attached. I believe the 01 may also come without the sticker and installation inctructions.

Matthew

Noli · 7 Nov 2009 at 12:08

Thanks mdovey - that really helps, especially the link to the pics. From that and what you wrote, I can see that I can safely get a 01 and 3.5" mounting bracket and be done with it. Though if the R5 comes with a bracket anyway and is within a couple of £s then that's the way forward. Presumably that black plastic rim is to make it a snug fit for notebooks so I guess it would be handy if one day (after upgrading) I decide to move the SSD down to a notebook I or family might have...

Cheers again for clearing that up for me!

Burned_Alive · 7 Nov 2009 at 13:16

Have been looking at the 80gb X-25M, but is there any reason not to just get the X-18M and a 2.5" bay adaptor? They appear to be identical performance wise, but the X-18 is ~£60 cheaper

randal · 7 Nov 2009 at 13:26

Is there any further word on the larger capacity versions of these drives rumoured earlier this year? 300gb etc..