G.Skill Falcon

JimX · 27th May 2009, 3:42 AM

Well, it seems that I have finally found the SSD I've been waiting for, at the right size and speed, and at a price that's within my budget. The trouble is, the best local price is around $586 whereas Guru3d seem to think that it should be worth US$309, which works out to around A$393.

The cheapest online vendor price I could find in the US with a quick search was from Newegg which was US$339 including delivery which is only A$431. I realise that they wouldn't be delivering it to Australia for that flat fee, but that's still a humungous $155 price difference. I've had a pair of brake rotors delivered from the US for less than that. And $586 is the cheapest .au price too, you can pay $605 or $662 from the 2 other listed shops.

Is there anyone selling or planning to sell these drives for under $450 or so anytime soon? I think that sounds like a reasonable price cutoff for me.

Omarko · 27th May 2009, 5:52 AM

yeah ... its hard ... lot of HW is so cheap in US atm with the US dollar dropping ...

NEWEGG do not post to Australia btw, you would have to use mail forwarding service.

downforce · 27th May 2009, 1:11 PM

Give it a week or two and you'll see more of them and maybe the price will come down.

One of the G.Skill disty's have them incoming

anthony256 · 27th May 2009, 1:32 PM

No one could predict if it's going to be sold for $450 or under anytime soon. Only the distributors and suppliers would know this, no retailer would. I'm guessing the price is high because they are ordered into the country with low stock, no mass orders like CPU's or video cards, so the price is hovering around the $600 mark.

Personally I'd rather buy here, just imagine if something goes wrong, yes you've saved cash buying overseas, but then having to wait months and months for it to be sent overseas/then sent away/back to them/back to you isn't worth it.

downforce · 27th May 2009, 2:22 PM

I'm basing my opinion on these are almost identical drives to the SuperTalent 128GB ST-FTM28GX25H which can be found for around $550 on SI and in the US the G.Skill is the cheapest Barefoot SSD available.

$30 off $580 is still 6% which ain't too shabby

Means $4.30 vs $4.50 per GB ^^.

But yes, it depends on what the disty sets the price at. I'm hoping something reasonable

anthony256 · 27th May 2009, 2:32 PM

But you say one of the GSkill disty's have them incoming... I got mine (GSkill Falcon) last week.....

koma_white · 8th June 2009, 1:52 PM

I placed an order with my disty for a Falcon 64gb with an ETA of early this week. I'll post a few benchies comparing it to my current RAID0 Barra10's when it gets here.

Very very good pricing on them as well! I said i'd contemplate getting one when they were sub-$300 and they're adequately below that now.

NewKleer · 9th June 2009, 10:45 AM

dont forget to try ebay, thats where i got my intel ssd for over $100 cheaper than it was available locally for. many ebay sellers ship overseas

SLATYE · 9th June 2009, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewKleer

dont forget to try ebay, thats where i got my intel ssd for over $100 cheaper than it was available locally for. many ebay sellers ship overseas

There seem to be quite a few of the Samsung 64GB SLC models on Ebay too. Not particularly good read/write speeds, but a very long lifespan and no stuttering issues.

koma_white · 10th June 2009, 7:20 PM

The Falcon 64gb arrived from my disty this afternoon by courier.
I've now got it installed in my main rig with Win7 RC on it and am just doing some initial benchmarks.
A quick bench before i installed any programs confirmed that the mostly unused drive was managing ~230mb/s except for the OS install area which was ~175-180mb/s.

Initial impressions is that this thing is fast; but given i haven't spent any time using a decent SSD before i was a little unsure of what to expect. Everything is that little bit snappier; basic OS functions like using the start bar, loading IE/Chrome and even web browsing are noticibly quicker and snappier. It's difference between going from a single 7200rpm drive to a twin disk RAID0 setup, but multiplied by x10.

HD Tune 2.55
RAID0 2x 250gb Seagate Barra 8's(?)
Minimum: 77.2 MB/s
Maximum: 149.3 MB/s
Average: 120.9 MB/s
Access Time: 13.4 ms
Burst Rate: 137 MB/s

G.Skill Falcon 64gb
Minimum: 155.5 MB/s
Maximum: 202.2 MB/s
Average: 192.6 MB/s
Access Time: 0.1 ms
Burst Rate: 176.6 MB/s

I'm not entirely sure why it's topping out at 200 MB/s since i've installed a few programs on it now. The first bench i did of it managed ~210-220 MB/s peak.
Ok, in an interesting development it turns out that switching off write caching has sped it back up a bit.

G.Skill Falcon 64gb (WRITE CACHING DISABLE)
Minimum: 156.4 MB/s
Maximum: 211.0 MB/s
Average: 199.6 MB/s
Access Time: 0.1 ms
Burst Rate: 165.9 MB/s

So aside from the burst rate dropping ~9 MB/s the overall drive speed is up.
I'll investigate further when i get a chance.

NewKleer · 10th June 2009, 7:30 PM

sequential speeds are pretty much similar with all SSDs, we're after random write speeds if ur able to try those (e.g. crystaldiskmark or iometer 4k 100% random write if you have installed OS on it as i think that rules out everest/hdtune random write tests)

The Mafia · 10th June 2009, 8:40 PM

I've got a 128gig Falcon on order. I'll be sure to run some tests. Random write tests.

NewKleer · 10th June 2009, 9:37 PM

cool, its good if u can use it in an existing system so u can do all the write tests

The Mafia · 11th June 2009, 7:53 AM

oh, and I picked mine up from IT estate for $450 plus postage.

$150 cheaper than the Vertex.

koma_white · 11th June 2009, 8:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewKleer

sequential speeds are pretty much similar with all SSDs, we're after random write speeds if ur able to try those (e.g. crystaldiskmark or iometer 4k 100% random write if you have installed OS on it as i think that rules out everest/hdtune random write tests)

I'll see if i can get a chance to run a few of those. I got carried away with myself and threw the Win7 install DVD in there without thinking.

Also thinking i'll try it out in my netbook just for shits & giggles.

27th May 2009, 3:42 AM	#1
JimX Goldmember Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Sydney, NSW Posts: 3,678	G.Skill Falcon Well, it seems that I have finally found the SSD I've been waiting for, at the right size and speed, and at a price that's within my budget. The trouble is, the best local price is around $586 whereas Guru3d seem to think that it should be worth US$309, which works out to around A$393. The cheapest online vendor price I could find in the US with a quick search was from Newegg which was US$339 including delivery which is only A$431. I realise that they wouldn't be delivering it to Australia for that flat fee, but that's still a humungous $155 price difference. I've had a pair of brake rotors delivered from the US for less than that. And $586 is the cheapest .au price too, you can pay $605 or $662 from the 2 other listed shops. Is there anyone selling or planning to sell these drives for under $450 or so anytime soon? I think that sounds like a reasonable price cutoff for me.

27th May 2009, 1:11 PM	#3
downforce Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Perth, 6107 Posts: 496	Give it a week or two and you'll see more of them and maybe the price will come down. One of the G.Skill disty's have them incoming __________________ My Systems WTB: Tamron 90mm f2.8 DI 1:1 Macro WTB: 20" LCD 1600x1200 Resolution OCAU SSD Owners Club Member #23

27th May 2009, 1:32 PM	#4
anthony256 OCAU Sponsor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Adelaide Posts: 6,255	No one could predict if it's going to be sold for $450 or under anytime soon. Only the distributors and suppliers would know this, no retailer would. I'm guessing the price is high because they are ordered into the country with low stock, no mass orders like CPU's or video cards, so the price is hovering around the $600 mark. Personally I'd rather buy here, just imagine if something goes wrong, yes you've saved cash buying overseas, but then having to wait months and months for it to be sent overseas/then sent away/back to them/back to you isn't worth it. __________________ Getright Computers \| Email \| (08) 8231 0622 \| Posts (view, thoughts and suggestions) made by me, may or may not have any association with Getright Computers

27th May 2009, 2:22 PM	#5
downforce Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Perth, 6107 Posts: 496	I'm basing my opinion on these are almost identical drives to the SuperTalent 128GB ST-FTM28GX25H which can be found for around $550 on SI and in the US the G.Skill is the cheapest Barefoot SSD available. $30 off $580 is still 6% which ain't too shabby Means $4.30 vs $4.50 per GB ^^. But yes, it depends on what the disty sets the price at. I'm hoping something reasonable __________________ My Systems WTB: Tamron 90mm f2.8 DI 1:1 Macro WTB: 20" LCD 1600x1200 Resolution OCAU SSD Owners Club Member #23

27th May 2009, 2:32 PM	#6
anthony256 OCAU Sponsor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Adelaide Posts: 6,255	But you say one of the GSkill disty's have them incoming... I got mine (GSkill Falcon) last week..... __________________ Getright Computers \| Email \| (08) 8231 0622 \| Posts (view, thoughts and suggestions) made by me, may or may not have any association with Getright Computers

27th May 2009, 5:52 AM	#2
Omarko Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sydney- Lower North Shore Posts: 3,009	yeah ... its hard ... lot of HW is so cheap in US atm with the US dollar dropping ... NEWEGG do not post to Australia btw, you would have to use mail forwarding service.

8th June 2009, 1:52 PM	#7
koma_white Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Abtsfrd.Melb Posts: 1,805	I placed an order with my disty for a Falcon 64gb with an ETA of early this week. I'll post a few benchies comparing it to my current RAID0 Barra10's when it gets here. Very very good pricing on them as well! I said i'd contemplate getting one when they were sub-$300 and they're adequately below that now. __________________ At the end of it all there will be three letters etched in stone. 'meh' Time for a clean up! FOR SALE: Nikon 70-300 G, Suzuki GSXR1000,

9th June 2009, 10:45 AM	#8
NewKleer Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Blacktown, NSW Posts: 1,393	dont forget to try ebay, thats where i got my intel ssd for over $100 cheaper than it was available locally for. many ebay sellers ship overseas __________________ E6850 (3.6ghz, 1.45v), GA-P35-DS3, 2x1GB DDR800, 2x500GB Samsung RAID0, Leadtek 9600GT, Antec 500W Neo HE

10th June 2009, 7:20 PM	#10
koma_white Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Abtsfrd.Melb Posts: 1,805	The Falcon 64gb arrived from my disty this afternoon by courier. I've now got it installed in my main rig with Win7 RC on it and am just doing some initial benchmarks. A quick bench before i installed any programs confirmed that the mostly unused drive was managing ~230mb/s except for the OS install area which was ~175-180mb/s. Initial impressions is that this thing is fast; but given i haven't spent any time using a decent SSD before i was a little unsure of what to expect. Everything is that little bit snappier; basic OS functions like using the start bar, loading IE/Chrome and even web browsing are noticibly quicker and snappier. It's difference between going from a single 7200rpm drive to a twin disk RAID0 setup, but multiplied by x10. HD Tune 2.55 RAID0 2x 250gb Seagate Barra 8's(?) Minimum: 77.2 MB/s Maximum: 149.3 MB/s Average: 120.9 MB/s Access Time: 13.4 ms Burst Rate: 137 MB/s G.Skill Falcon 64gb Minimum: 155.5 MB/s Maximum: 202.2 MB/s Average: 192.6 MB/s Access Time: 0.1 ms Burst Rate: 176.6 MB/s I'm not entirely sure why it's topping out at 200 MB/s since i've installed a few programs on it now. The first bench i did of it managed ~210-220 MB/s peak. Ok, in an interesting development it turns out that switching off write caching has sped it back up a bit. G.Skill Falcon 64gb (WRITE CACHING DISABLE) Minimum: 156.4 MB/s Maximum: 211.0 MB/s Average: 199.6 MB/s Access Time: 0.1 ms Burst Rate: 165.9 MB/s So aside from the burst rate dropping ~9 MB/s the overall drive speed is up. I'll investigate further when i get a chance. __________________ At the end of it all there will be three letters etched in stone. 'meh' Time for a clean up! FOR SALE: Nikon 70-300 G, Suzuki GSXR1000,

10th June 2009, 7:30 PM	#11
NewKleer Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Blacktown, NSW Posts: 1,393	sequential speeds are pretty much similar with all SSDs, we're after random write speeds if ur able to try those (e.g. crystaldiskmark or iometer 4k 100% random write if you have installed OS on it as i think that rules out everest/hdtune random write tests) __________________ E6850 (3.6ghz, 1.45v), GA-P35-DS3, 2x1GB DDR800, 2x500GB Samsung RAID0, Leadtek 9600GT, Antec 500W Neo HE

10th June 2009, 9:37 PM	#13
NewKleer Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Blacktown, NSW Posts: 1,393	cool, its good if u can use it in an existing system so u can do all the write tests __________________ E6850 (3.6ghz, 1.45v), GA-P35-DS3, 2x1GB DDR800, 2x500GB Samsung RAID0, Leadtek 9600GT, Antec 500W Neo HE