First try at a review for a ssd - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ThunderSqueak
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 07, 2012, 09:38:53 am
content: HiHope this is okI decided to try my hand at a quick review for a drive that I couldn't find another "non propaganda" review on. I know it is pretty low resolution, but that is my old webcam, if I keep at it I will get something better. Anyway, I was scared as hell making it, and didn't use a script. Just looking for constructive comments. ThanksThunderSqueak

author: Ed.Kloonk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2012, 09:40:21 am
content: ?

author: ThunderSqueak
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 07, 2012, 09:43:07 am
content: browser crashed while I got the web link LOL fixed :>

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 07, 2012, 10:14:38 am
content: Nice!Definitely keep at it and spring for a better webcam or video camera, will be well worth it.Dave.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2012, 10:41:37 am
content: That's a massive SSD, both physically and capacity.Thanks for the review, i knew PCIe ssd cards existed but until now i'd not seen one.

author: samgab
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2012, 11:35:33 am
content: Cheers for that.Anand Shimpi always does a good review too, although his Z-Drive R4 review isn't in video format:http://www.anandtech.com/show/4879/ocz-zdrive-r4-cm88-16tb-pcie-ssd-reviewIt is informative with a lot of testing and comparisons.They are monsters, the Z-drives.I have the version of the setup you recommended running in my laptop: An Intel 520 series 120GB running @ SATA III for OS and programs, and a secondary 500GB HDD for media and data storage.It works pretty well.

author: JackOfVA
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 07, 2012, 01:04:09 pm
content: Please keep at it -

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2012, 01:33:30 pm
content: Quote from: Psi on August 07, 2012, 10:41:37 amI read about them when they came out, certainly SATA 3 is a bottleneck for high speed SSD'shttp://www.legitreviews.com/article/1744/1/http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1645/1/

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2012, 02:22:54 pm
content: I didn't see it mentioned in the review, but the review shouldn't focus mainly on speed but rather on the IOPS - the input/output latency and concurrent reads and writes and so on.Due to it being pci express and also due to being 1 TB, theoretically the device would be able to do more writes simultaneously compared to regular SATA2/3 ssd drives. In real world, the current controllers are probably better as they use compression and other things to keep up.Interesting fact about the individual modules having connection issues and making the whole card fail.... didn't hear about that.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2012, 02:46:44 pm
content: Nice video! I liked the review, the pace was very good, the voice was clear, the language "vices" (uhhs, aaahs, etc.) were minimal for a non-scripted version and the choice of topics was very interesting.From a pure viewing experience, I think you would get a great image quality improvement just by increasing the lighting in the room and for the board closeups. I experienced this when I used a simple three-lamp stand up light fixture when I shoot my short clips with my regular photo camera (640x480 pixels).

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2012, 02:57:47 pm
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on August 07, 2012, 02:46:44 pmWOW! 9640 x 480!

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2012, 03:42:59 pm
content: Be nice now...... Shift and nine is the opening parenthesis................. Many a time I press that, and it is not correct..........

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2012, 06:26:10 pm
content: Quote from: T4P on August 07, 2012, 02:57:47 pmHehehe... Didn't you hear about the super-duper-mega-blaster-HD standard, only achievable by coating the CMOS sensor with specially cut alpha-quartz crystals obtained only from the inner core of the Himalaya? I can picture Dave smelling the air and thinking: is that Videophoolery I smell?!?SeanB is right; the left shift on my keyboard has been really messing my life lately... Fixed!

author: ThunderSqueak
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 07, 2012, 07:03:09 pm
content: Quote from: mariush on August 07, 2012, 02:22:54 pmI thought about all that after the review, but I was doing it from memoryAlso, I figure that if they want just the raw numbers in more detail there are lots of benchmarking websites. The main thing I wanted to get across was the design issue with the clips on the individual NAND modules. Anyway thanks for the commentAs for other comments:The old webcam I have at the moment ghosts severely if I turn its resolution up at all. Been looking around for something better, preferably a small HD camcorder. Nothing has really jumped out at me screaming "BUY ME!" yet. Someone told me that if I wanted to get into video blogging, the important thing to do first was just do it.I will try to get some better lighting in that room, or maybe just change rooms for the recordingThanks for watching my first ever attempt! I wanted to share my experience, just the act of posting it up scared the heck out of me O.O

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2012, 07:27:30 pm
content: Use a still camerahat allows USB video capture if you have it, or try another cheap webcam. Not bad for a first try, and quite good presentation, no nervous stops and good presence.

author: mianchen
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2012, 10:10:10 pm
content: It'd be much better if you can look at the camera while talking to 'us'...

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2012, 01:20:10 am
content: Quote from: ThunderSqueak on August 07, 2012, 07:03:09 pmHere's a very nice look at camera selection for video blogging:

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2012, 03:27:15 am
content: The D3200 is a fine low-end DSLR, doesn't cost much and you can take good videos with itPLUS great photos with that much of resolution, the noise performance is also fantastic (of course the more expensive ones are better... Duh)The best upgrade Nikon did with it was add in a mic connector (My D3100 didn't have one, but i will not sidetrack, this camera's very good for taking photos)Well i guess it's time to head down and take a look at the JVC Everio

author: ThunderSqueak
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 11, 2012, 06:39:19 am
content: After careful consideration, and a little perusing at cameras, I decided for now I wont go the new camera route. Instead, I did what I do best... fix thingsI was walking around doing my usual rounds around town looking for cool retro game and computing equipment to restore when I came across a used and very dirty proscan pro998lh hi-8 camcorder. The battery was dead, and it looked like it was burried in some tomb that Indiana Jones would be proud of. All the accessories were there, including extra battery packs, and the price was 5 dollars. I took a chance.When I got it home, after a pit stop for a couple tapes, I charged the battery and gave it a test. The lcd and everything seemed to work. I popped in a tape. It quickly ate it.I began to look over it all, the rollers were a bit dirty, so I cleaned those. Used a little teflon gun oil on them and continued to clean. After about an hour of battling dust bunnies and leftover metallic residue here are the resultsThis was filmed with the aquarium light off, as well as most the room lights, to test for the low light filming capabilities. I think it did quite well considering most of the room was very dark.I dont actually need a tape in it, it will output video directly to my capture equipmentStill, it no longer eats tapes and is 100% functional now. The macro capabilities are unexpected, I can set the camcorder on a surface and it can zoom in to extreme levels, at least for a 1998 camera. 16x optical zoom with a 240x digital. It films in standard 4:3 and 16:9 widescreen too, which was a bit of a surprise. Audio recording is in stereo. It fits into my passion for repairing old equipment to a usable state AND most importantly, so far, it is beating the heck out of my old webcamI hope to get more blogs up soon, thanks everyone for the commentsP.S. Those are some of my fishies ... and my froggie

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2012, 06:51:01 am
content: Good, nice to reuse the old rather than buy new tat.

author: M. András
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2012, 08:22:35 pm
content: hmm nice review. those z-drives are expensive. as i recall they cant be used as bootdrive but pretty good for computing task. you can get their revodrives wihch can used as os drive tooas for the cam if you insist on webcams i suggest you to get a c910/920 logitech webcam exellent image quality even at moonlight

author: KTP
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2012, 10:38:20 pm
content: Quote from: ThunderSqueak on August 11, 2012, 06:39:19 amI assume you have read "Ready Player One"?My wife got me onto that book and now I want to collect the old atari swordquest cartridges and try to solve the game contest without cheating.

author: ThunderSqueak
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 12, 2012, 03:08:41 am
content: Quote from: M. András on August 11, 2012, 08:22:35 pmActually, they can be used as a boot drive with no issues, in fact, that one was the boot drive.I have a logitech quickcam pro 9000, the image is great, unless you move then you get serious blurringTo get a non ghosting/blurring image you have to turn its resolution down a lot. The second hand camcorder I picked up is a TON better for doing video. The image is exceptional in normal lighting, the video I took earlier, the room was almost black with just a single light on in the kitchen. It adapted really well and made the kitchen look almost fully lit. I was quite surprised.

author: ThunderSqueak
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 12, 2012, 03:09:55 am
content: Quote from: KTP on August 11, 2012, 10:38:20 pmI already have all 3 including the comics that are required to play them. I have collected atari for decades now

author: Wartex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2012, 04:47:32 am
content: Quote from: ThunderSqueak on August 07, 2012, 09:38:53 amFirst, keep up the good work doing the reviews.2nd, some criticism: Laptops use same or similar connectors for RAM and do not BSOD if dropped on a table or shaken. The issue with these cards are that the flash modules mate poorly with the connectors, not the vibration.3rd: CF is much slower than HDD despite low seek time, it wears out very fast especially if your swap file is on it and you lose everything. Most of CF cards do not support wear leveling like true SSD so they will quickly have read-only blocks. Also some don't support DMA so they become a huge bottleneck and CPU hog. Despite being pin-compatible, CF are far inferior to a true IDE hard drive.Most new laptops come with SATA and you can get dual-SD-to-SATA adapters that put 2 cards in RAID 0 for much faster speed, and stick Panasonic gold SD cards that have built in wear leveling in them for better reliability.

author: ThunderSqueak
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 14, 2012, 07:46:59 am
content: Quote from: Wartex on August 14, 2012, 04:47:32 amThat is correct. They don't mate up very well, but in this case the vibration over time causes the issue, or at least heavily contributes to it. That is why they changed the design in later revisions. I got that information straight from ocz and is what I observed in the field. They were just that touchy.The CF card I recommended for old old machines such as the commodore Amiga. In those machines often you have a limit on drive size Sometimes in the 100mb or less area and they simply do not see larger drives. Most of those old machines do not use DMA, at least not without modification in one way or another. a 6502 or a 68k simply did not need it so they often didn't include it as an option. Same goes for my heathkit z-120, or many of my other machines in the collection.For a modern machine I recommended a modern ssd with a Sata connector. In fact the one I held up was a corsair F-60.http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233124if ya want to take a look. Sure, there are faster ones, but that is just what I had sitting around my desk at the time.Thanks for the feedbackedit reason: attempted to post using an ipad .. worthless XD

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2012, 08:49:17 am
content: The best and fastest sort of SSD would a one with a PCIe X4 slot ...But those aren't anywhere near cheap

author: M. András
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2012, 12:20:11 pm
content: Quote from: T4P on August 14, 2012, 08:49:17 amhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227763not as cheap as a sata 3 240gb ssd from any manufacturer but i bet on this