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OCZ Vertex 2 120GB $200 Canadian ($226 wTaxes) - Good buy?

C

CFoss

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Feb 26, 2011
271
1
So I just purchased a OCZ Vertex 2 from Canada Computers for $199.99. It's for the Mac Pro 2008 for booting. It's only SATA II, but so is the bays in the Mac Pro.

Also, I purchased a WD Cavier Blue 1TB 32MB Cache for $59.99 ($68 wTaxes). This will be mainly used for gaming. Again, was this a good purchase?

These were both daily deals that I took advantage of... but I CAN return the product if deemed necessary.
 
Personally, I would have opted for the Vertex 3 for around $40 more on Amazon (USD) even if you don't have SATA III. Better product and more future proof for your next computer.
 
Hello,

Bad buy for the vertex. 170$ shipped from memoryexpress...

Never buy, in Canada, before checking up on shopbot.ca. It doesn't have everything, but it's a damn good start.

Loa
 
Unless the OCZ Vertex 2 has huge problems, I'm going to stick with it. The Mac Pro won't be able to utilize the speed of the newer SSDs, and it will be a nice upgrade to my parent's computers later on.
 
Ok.... No one else has chimed in on this... So.. IF you value your data... My best advice is to stay away from a Sandforce product.. AKA... OCZ... OWC... Etc... These days its better to stay with a one-shop-solution.. Meaning.. A shop that designs the NAND and controller AND knows and understand what the heck is going on under the plastic casing of this SSD.

That about leaves Intel and Samsung.... A good "deal" is GREAT.. if you go with it. Let us know when you loose your data!
 
CFoss said:
Unless the OCZ Vertex 2 has huge problems, I'm going to stick with it. The Mac Pro won't be able to utilize the speed of the newer SSDs, and it will be a nice upgrade to my parent's computers later on.
Click to expand...

FWIW, I have an OCZ Vertex 2 120GB in my 2010 MP. It has worked flawlessly. VERY fast and no slowdown in nearly one year of use.

Edit: The Caviar line of HD's are excellent.

cheers
JohnG
 
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Loa said:
Hello,

Bad buy for the vertex. 170$ shipped from memoryexpress...

Never buy, in Canada, before checking up on shopbot.ca. It doesn't have everything, but it's a damn good start.

Loa
Click to expand...

http://www.pricebat.ca/ is good as well. To the OP how are you planning on mounting this in your machine? It will not fit in the tray so the only real solution is underneath the DVD drive running power with a molex to SATA adapter and putting SATA data cable down the back of the DVD enclosure to connect up with one of the extra ports on motherboard.
 
johnnymg said:
FWIW, I have an OCZ Vertex 2 120GB in my 2010 MP. It has worked flawlessly. VERY fast and no slowdown in nearly one year of use.

cheers
JohnG
Click to expand...

I think I'm gonna stick with it. Thanks. :D


Does anyone have any opinions on the HDD I purchased?
 
Yeah, I use it - but only to hold MS Flight Simulator X. :D I installed the OCZ Vertex 2 using some brackets into the second optical drive bay of my 2010 Mac Pro 5,1, because I didn't realise I didn't have the right brackets to fit it to the normal MacPro drive brackets.

It works well enough, I have it mapped to a folder, rather than a drive letter (some Windows 7 tricks to avoid re-installing 30+gb of Flight Sim and photo-scenery addons). Immediate speed increase when loading was the big thing I noticed, and also some of the scenery loading was quicker too.

I also have a backup of the data on the drive, so it's pretty low risk.
 
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avro707 said:
Yeah, I use it - but only to hold MS Flight Simulator X. :D I installed the OCZ Vertex 2 using some brackets into the second optical drive bay of my 2010 Mac Pro 5,1, because I didn't realise I didn't have the right brackets to fit it to the normal MacPro drive brackets.

It works well enough, I have it mapped to a folder, rather than a drive letter (some Windows 7 tricks to avoid re-installing 30+gb of Flight Sim and photo-scenery addons). Immediate speed increase when loading was the big thing I noticed, and also some of the scenery loading was quicker too.

I also have a backup of the data on the drive, so it's pretty low risk.
Click to expand...


Wait... the bracket didn't fit? Why not? I've still not opened it yet, but I don't want there to be any issues with installing it into the computer...
 
I prefer Intel personally cause they actually manufacture the drives and not rebrand bargain basement drives like OCZ, Corsair, Patriot etc.
 
CFoss said:
Wait... the bracket didn't fit? Why not? I've still not opened it yet, but I don't want there to be any issues with installing it into the computer...
Click to expand...

No the bracket does not work in Mac Pro drive sled that is if you get the same one I got with my 60gb Vertex 2 which I would think you would that is why I mention this.

Edit: Reason holes do not line up/right size/made for PC case.
 
MacUser2525 said:
No the bracket does not work in Mac Pro drive sled that is if you get the same one I got with my 60gb Vertex 2 which I would think you would that is why I mention this.

Edit: Reason holes do not line up/right size/made for PC case.
Click to expand...

Damn it, I wish I saw this post BEFORE I opened the box. Yeah, I'm in the same position.

Debating whether to return it with the 5% penalty, or purchase a new dock. Any ideas for Canadian customers? And please don't recommend tape.
 
CFoss said:
Damn it, I wish I saw this post BEFORE I opened the box. Yeah, I'm in the same position.

Debating whether to return it with the 5% penalty, or purchase a new dock. Any ideas for Canadian customers? And please don't recommend tape.
Click to expand...

Already mentioned in first post only would add put it on anti-static bag in the space underneath the optical drive, the ports on the motherboard you end up connecting it too are boot able so it works perfectly this way.
 
handheldgames said:
Ok.... No one else has chimed in on this... So.. IF you value your data... My best advice is to stay away from a Sandforce product.. AKA... OCZ... OWC... Etc... These days its better to stay with a one-shop-solution.. Meaning.. A shop that designs the NAND and controller AND knows and understand what the heck is going on under the plastic casing of this SSD.

That about leaves Intel and Samsung.... A good "deal" is GREAT.. if you go with it. Let us know when you loose your data!
Click to expand...

HDDs fail too. Intels fail too. Everyone should have a backup solution in place, period.
 
Vertex 2

I recently bought an OCZ Vertex 2 for my new iMac after having nothing but GREAT experiences with my OCZ Agility 2 in my old iMac.

Runs great. Super quick. Combined with the new iMac, Aperture 3 opens with libraries on the internal HDD caviar black in under 1 second, no joke. I click it, look away, and look right back and its open.

As far as the "reliability" thing, I do not buy into the doom and gloom. I figure all SSDs are going to be more prone to failure than a spinning disc, so why bother. Just get a warranty and make sure you are backing up.

Also- I bought my Vertex 2 from Microcenter with a GREAT warranty. The salesman actually talked me into it after describing to me how he buys the 3 year warranty on every SSD, and the warranty allows for you to bring in the SSD to the store and they will replace it, even if it is something as small as "It seems like its slowing down".

3 year warranty was $35 IIRC.... WELL worth it!
 
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MattSepeta said:
Also- I bought my Vertex 2 from Microcenter with a GREAT warranty. The salesman actually talked me into it after describing to me how he buys the 3 year warranty on every SSD, and the warranty allows for you to bring in the SSD to the store and they will replace it, even if it is something as small as "It seems like its slowing down".

3 year warranty was $35 IIRC.... WELL worth it!
Click to expand...

Of course he did I have a friend that sells cars and they laugh all the way to the bank when someone buys that extended warranty his cut is %50, in short an extended warranty is a rip off they don't lose money on them ever so you paid extra you did not have to for something you will likely never use and if you ever do have the need you better have read the fine print.
 
MacUser2525 said:
Of course he did I have a friend that sells cars and they laugh all the way to the bank when someone buys that extended warranty his cut is %50, in short an extended warranty is a rip off they don't lose money on them ever so you paid extra you did not have to for something you will likely never use and if you ever do have the need you better have read the fine print.
Click to expand...

How is it a "rip-off"?

How about I let you know how I feel about it when my SSD fails in 2 and a half years, and instead of dropping $200+ again, I can simply drive to my Micro Center 10 minutes away and get a new one for free?

Also, comparing used cars to a SSD. I know 5+ people personally that are able to perform maintenance on cars.
I know 0 people that are able to open up a SSD drive and perform maintenance. Not an applicable example/

Also, by your same logic, I hope you do not insure your home, your cehicle, your property, etc.. Because the broker gets a big cut and you are likely never to use it. What a rip off! Only an idiot would buy that scam product!
 
MattSepeta said:
How is it a "rip-off"?

How about I let you know how I feel about it when my SSD fails in 2 and a half years, and instead of dropping $200+ again, I can simply drive to my Micro Center 10 minutes away and get a new one for free?
Click to expand...

Yeah you give that try if it ever happens then you will get to know the clauses of that "warranty" you bought real fast if you sacrificed the requisite goat at the full moon on Tuesday at midnight in a leap year then maybe you will get it better have proof you did it as well..

Also, by your same logic, I hope you do not insure your home, your cehicle, your property, etc.. Because the broker gets a big cut and you are likely never to use it. What a rip off! Only an idiot would buy that scam product!
Click to expand...

Well you can get defensive all you want because you allowed yourself to be ripped off, those are high value items that have high probability of actually being used. I know personally in the last few years I have had to use the car insurance I am obligated by LAW to buy when idiots have run into me has been used and the house insurance again obligated to buy or no mortgage to get house was used when someone scumbag broke into it, most times unless paying full cash purchase price you have no choice but to buy that insurance in the case of the car if I had $1,000,000 bond to put up then I would not have to buy it.

Edit: Oh and BTW you would not have gotten the new drive for free you paid extra money already..
 
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