[SOLVED] What is the best SSD for longevity?

[Justin Vega]

Hello everybody! I am looking to replace an old 5400 RPM mechanical drive (in an old laptop) with an SSD. As long as the speed of the SSD isn't unbearable, I'll be happy.

What matters the most to me though is the longevity of the SSD. I generally need it to last for five years. I've looked everywhere, but I can't seem to find any information about the best SSD out there in terms of longevity. Please offer your advice! Thank you.

 

[extreme_noob]

Okay, perfect! Should I buy it now before the seller changes?

Seller really doesn't matter on either site. At least not enough to worry this much about it. The site would probably matter more. Newegg and Amazon are both good sites. Buy now or whenever it's convenient.

 

[Justin Vega]

Seller really doesn't matter on either site. At least not enough to worry this much about it. The site would probably matter more. Newegg and Amazon are both good sites. Buy now or whenever it's convenient.

Okay, thank you!

 

[geofelt]

Okay, perfect! Should I buy it now before the seller changes?

The product is the same, regardless of the seller.

 

[Justin Vega]

The product is the same, regardless of the seller.

So I shouldn't be worried if the seller is shady or not?

 

[geofelt]

How do you know if a seller is shady??
Of course, if you do not trust the seller, you should avoid them.
But, amazon and newegg are trustworthy.

 

[Justin Vega]

How do you know if a seller is shady??
Of course, if you do not trust the seller, you should avoid them.
But, amazon and newegg are trustworthy.

How often should I backup the SSD?

 

[geofelt]

That is a question that rightfully deserves a post of it's own.
Do the same thing you wold have done if it was a HDD.

Back up what you hold dear to an EXTERNAL device.
Do so on a frequency such that you are not harmed if a loss should happen between backups.

 

[USAFRet]

How often should I backup the SSD?

How often?
My systems run a backup every single night.

What is your backup situation at home?

What is your backup situation at home? And if you don't do that, why not? Every single day, I read multiple threads here of "How do I get my stuff back?" or "That drive had 5 years of photos of my kids!!" Be it a dead drive, dropped phone, virus, accidental deletion, formatting the wrong...

forums.tomshardware.com

 

[Justin Vega]

That is a question that rightfully deserves a post of it's own.
Do the same thing you wold have done if it was a HDD.

Back up what you hold dear to an EXTERNAL device.
Do so on a frequency such that you are not harmed if a loss should happen between backups.

How often?
My systems run a backup every single night.

What is your backup situation at home?

What is your backup situation at home? And if you don't do that, why not? Every single day, I read multiple threads here of "How do I get my stuff back?" or "That drive had 5 years of photos of my kids!!" Be it a dead drive, dropped phone, virus, accidental deletion, formatting the wrong...

forums.tomshardware.com

Again, I'm primarily using Google Drive, Google Docs, etc.

Generally, if everything important (like Google Docs) is automatically being saved to Google Drive, what warrants a backup? If backups are warranted, when should I do them?

 

[USAFRet]

Google Docs is a (hopefully) second copy of your data.
If that is the only copy, what would you do in the event of no outside connection?

A full drive backup lets easily you recover in case of a dead drive or nasty virus.

 

[Justin Vega]

Google Docs is a (hopefully) second copy of your data.
If that is the only copy, what would you do in the event of no outside connection?

A full drive backup lets easily you recover in case of a dead drive or nasty virus.

Due to the fact that nearly everything I do will be saved to the cloud (Google Drive), there won't really be anything on the SSD (except for Windows and maybe a few unimportant things).

There won't really be a time where the laptop isn't connected to the internet for a long period of time.

 

[USAFRet]

Due to the fact that nearly everything I do will be saved to the cloud (Google Drive), there won't really be anything on the SSD (except for Windows and maybe a few unimportant things).

There won't really be a time where the laptop isn't connected to the internet for a long period of time.

OK.
Different operating procedures.

I prefer my data local, you prefer the cloud.
No prob...

 

[Justin Vega]

OK.
Different operating procedures.

I prefer my data local, you prefer the cloud.
No prob...

My workplace requires me to use the cloud. I'm questioning if backups would be necessary.

 

[extreme_noob]

My workplace requires me to use the cloud. I'm questioning if backups would be necessary.

If you're using the cloud, it's a good idea to keep some offline copy just in case the network goes down. But I don't think the 3-2-1 rule applies...

 

[USAFRet]

My workplace requires me to use the cloud. I'm questioning if backups would be necessary.

Any data that exists in only one place may be said to not exist at all.

 

[Justin Vega]

If you're using the cloud, it's a good idea to keep some offline copy just in case the network goes down. But I don't think the 3-2-1 rule applies...

Any data that exists in only one place may be said to not exist at all.

Take a look at these links.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-docs-offline/ghbmnnjooekpmoecnnnilnnbdlolhkhi

Use Google Drive files offline - Computer - Google Drive Help

https://support.google.com/docs/answer/6388102

 

[USAFRet]

Sure.
Either they exist only online, as is the typical google docs config.
Or, they are both offline (local) and also mirrored online.

We're just recommending to not have only a single copy of this data, no mater where it lives.

 

[Justin Vega]

Sure.
Either they exist only online, as is the typical google docs config.
Or, they are both offline (local) and also mirrored online.

We're just recommending to not have only a single copy of this data, no mater where it lives.

Oh, is there a possibility of my data magically disappearing in Google Drive?

 

[USAFRet]

Oh, is there a possibility of my data magically disappearing in Google Drive?

Your data is held by some other company, that you have no control over.

It has happened before. Not specifically google, but other cloud hosting companies have either closed shop or changed their rules and pricing significantly.
Sometimes with little or no notice.

 

[USAFRet]

Or specifically with a google service, Picasa:

Moving on from Picasa

Learn more about where you can find your photos.

picasa.google.com

 

[Justin Vega]

Your data is held by some other company, that you have no control over.

It has happened before. Not specifically google, but other cloud hosting companies have either closed shop or changed their rules and pricing significantly.
Sometimes with little or no notice.

Or specifically with a google service, Picasa:

Moving on from Picasa

Learn more about where you can find your photos.

picasa.google.com

Google Drive seems to be doing well. I can't imagine Google discontinuing it in less than five years from now.

I'd like to assume that Picasa had become irrelevant and didn't fit in as storing photos in the cloud became popular.

Google Drive is well known and still fits in.

 

[USAFRet]

Your data, your choice.

 

[Justin Vega]

Your data, your choice.

Okay, I just bought a 250GB Samsung 860 Evo at Best Buy. Thank you all!