The Samsung SSD 830 Series boasts superior random read speeds and faster sequential read and write speeds (up to 520 MB/s & 400 MB/s respectively). It’s the ideal solution for your everyday computing needs, such as web browsing, document creation, viewing or editing multimedia files, playing PC games, etc. As the world’s #1 DRAM, NAND Flash, and SSD supplier, Samsung has unique, industry-leading engineering resources, technologies, and manufacturing processes as well as more stringent quality and testing standards. All Samsung SSDs are designed and built completely in-house. Optimized for exceptional, sustained performance, the 830 Series features unrivaled reliability through its specially-engineered wear-leveling and garbage collection algorithms. The Samsung SSD 830 Series features stunning design and precision engineering – inside and out. It measures only 7mm thick, so it can even accommodate the latest ultra-slim laptop PCs. Magician Software Samsung’s SSD Magician software eliminates the confusion and uncertainties of SSD management, making it simple for users to maximize the performance and lifetime of their Samsung SSD. The Samsung SSD 830 series is available with both desktop and laptop installation kits. The desktop kit comes with SATA data and power cables, screws, and a 2.5” to 3.5” adapter bracket. The laptop kit includes a SATA to USB adapter cable to facilitate easy data migration and a mounting spacer so that laptops with traditional 9.5mm drive bays can accommodate the Samsung SSD 830 Series’ new slim profile. All Samsung SSD 830 Series models include a full version of Norton Ghost 15.0, rather than the limited data migration utilities included with most SSDs today. In addition to its robust data migration features, Norton Ghost 15.0 offers users advanced data backup and recovery functionality to ensure data integrity throughout the useful lifetime of the drive.
There were two main concerns about this product. Snapped the drive up during the after thanksgiving sale. I did a fresh install of Windows 7 (99 updates from start, restarting and installing additional updates at least 3 times for 20 more updates including Silverlight), Corel Draw X5 (with most likely unnecessary clipart) (upgraded to third revision), and Adobe Lightroom 3 (~200 mb upgrade to 3.5), Piriform CCleaner, Google Chrome with Amazon Kindle App to read offline (no books downloaded yet), and Steam's client = 30.9 GB and only 28.6 free. Not thrilled with the capacity, but it should keep me from cluttering it up.
The top of the description talks about the benefits of improved battery life, but at the bottom there is a link to a laptop version and an explicit statement that this is only for a desktop "This SSD is intended for desktop computers only. Samsung also offers the 830 Series SSD for Notebook Computers." Didn't catch that line until after ordering, but evidently that only pertains to the mounting kit. The drive is thinner than a 2.5" platter hard drive but still has four mounting screw holes in the standard position to slide a sheath mount over it. I've seen laptop HDs with a screw down on top, but I cannot recall if that was into a mount or into the actual drive. This may be why an additional kit is needed. Otherwise, I hope it is not just designed for desktops because it is working just fine at the moment in my laptop.
So other thoughts, the Windows Experience index in a Core 2 Duo Sony Vaio VGN-NW240F (another Amazon purchase) for the "primary hard disk" subsection is 7.7 maximum being 7.9. Of course, the system as a whole earned a 3.4 because of a non-upgradeable video card, but it ran Civ 5 well enough.
I expected an improvement in performance, but one of the biggest upside of the whole upgrade is the improved battery life. I was running on battery power forty five minutes ago when I installed Silverlight. Didn't unplug and immediately do that, I had been on for at least ten minutes before that. Using the power saver feature, where it dims the screen completely and disables Aero, I've got an estimated 1 hour and 54 minutes remaining and my battery is at 70%. Booted at ~11:40, updated Silverlight at 11:52 pm, currently 12:50, power saver mode, only used 30% of battery.
I'm not going to torture test the durability, but I have to admit that entered the picture. Laptops on a bed or in a bag sometimes get knocked around and I feel safer knowing a little bump won't cause a drive failure. If anything changes I'll make my thoughts known, but for now it's been a great purchase.
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