Why is this SSD SO CHEAP? Whats wrong with it?

[mcdonsco]

So rather than replacing my 3 year old thinkpad t43, I figure a couple hundred bucks, get an SSD drive for it. That would take care of the hard drive never stopping issues (yes even after a reload - just old basically - for me anyway).

I found this one TS64GSSD25-M on newegg.com for $275 and under $300 everywhere else.

Transcend 64GB 2.5" IDE SSD

Why is this so cheap? Whats wrong with it? All the other 64GB solid states I see are like $700+

What gives?

Thanks!

 

[cjl]

It's probably MLC, with no wear leveling or any other features. As a result, its read performance will be all right (but not stellar), and its write performance will be horrendous. Get a 7200RPM drive - it'll probably be faster.

Or, if you can afford it, the Samsung SSD is an amazing performer.

 

[makotech222]

i hear OCZ has some quality budget SSds coming, or they are already out i dunno. check em out.

 

[cjl]

Any "budget" SSD will have MLC, which is inherently both slower and more prone to wearing out. I wouldn't bother with them. The good SSDs are a different story, other than that they are too expensive for most people.

 

[mcdonsco]

I removed myself from the tech-geek world a few years back, haven't been keeping up (hence my question)...

What's an "MLC"...?

 

[cjl]

Multi level cell. It means that the flash stores 2 bits in each individual location, instead of one. SLC, or single level cell, is the faster, more reliable type of flash.

 

[deathbydoubleG]

lol, back in 2008, those SSDs were so expensive for such little data.
i hope that in 2012 or 2013, we will look back and say "ohhh.. he payed $500 for a 256GB SSD, lol, i payed $350 and got a 1TB one"

these may only be hopes