Incredible performance, very good quality

I have upgraded the computer of a friend with an SSD recently and was amazed that an SSD can make as much. So, I decided to spendieren my computer also such a drive.
So I set out on a search and noticed after some time that Corsair also manufactures SSDs. Since I was very pleased with Corsair previously (my RAM and power supply are from Corsair) and also the manufacturer's support is very good, the choice fell on this drive, even if it is slightly more expensive than the competition.
For the past 2 weeks I use this drive.

Here first my equipment:
MSI Z77A-G43, Military Class III
Intel Core i5 3.1 GHz (not overclocked)
nVidia GeForce GTS 450
8GB Corsair Vengeance RAM
Windows 7 Professional 64-bit

Delivery & First impression:
I have the SSD not ordered from Amazon, but with another provider, as it was a bit cheaper there.
When the package was there, I have it opened right time to look at the SSD times. The SSD is processed very clean and looks really good (too bad that one of the PC case looks rather less ;-)) and is incredibly light. This of course is particularly interesting for laptops, because the weight makes there any noticeable.
The mitgelierferte 3.5 inch adapter is made of metal and also very good verabeitet. The one included is rather at the least SSDs the event that the well is still quality leaves a good impression.
Screws for mounting on the 3.5-inch adapter and the PC housing are also included.
The first impression was definitely very good - but how the SSD proposes in use?

Installation & Test preparations:
I had previously installed a commercially available Samsung hard drive with 250 GB (SATA III) as a system disk was installed on Windows only, no programs and no data. For programs and data served me a separate 500GB Segate plate.
The boot time was with me a good minute (1:07), to the desktop could be seen. But then the icons and background programs have been loaded yet. The Windows on this plate was freshly placed about 2 months ago, so it was not brand new. So you can look at the time as a guide only, as I have freshly installed on the SSD Windows.

The installation went in a few minutes and is to be managed for less experienced hobbyists - SSD screws on the adapter, PC housing, old HDD out, new SSD tighten, connect (making sure that the SSD to a SATA III Connection connects! Close) and the housing again.
My 500 GB drive I belies the computer on which to store my data (music, videos, photos, etc.), as the SSD is too small for. The programs I wanted to install the SSD in order to benefit from the performance gain.
I also installed the Corsair SSD Toolbox (available on the Corsair website) and turned on the TRIM command, and led him through again. The TRIM command can be adjusted so that it. Every day or every week is automatically executed for example. For me, the TRIM command is executed every day. In addition, you can update the firmware on the tool and get information on the SSD. Backups and secure erase of the SSD are also no problem with the tool. The operation of the tool is self-explanatory and very easy.
After installing Windows and all programs (the same programs as in the HDD), I made the first test, I drove down Windows (no reboot) and turned the computer back on. I stopped again, the time before the desktop appears.

The first test:
I turned on the computer and, of course, first appeared the boot logo of my motherboard. After about 3 seconds appeared "Starting Windows" logo. Almost immediately began the balls to, together fly, but remained in the half standing (ie they did not fly together). Then appeared directly the desktop - NO Welcome Screen.
I was really flabbergasted and completely forgot the time to stop. The second attempt was but just as quickly and this time I did not forget, the time to stop - it was 10 seconds from power on to desktop. The desktop icons you can see not load at all, the background programs are done in 1-2 seconds. So vs. an incredible performance gain. the HDD.

I'm really enthusiastic about the performance. My friend uses a Samsung 840 Pro with a much better system than mine and not even nearly achieved this performance at the start.
I was really excited.

Even the launch of programs is very fast - previously needed the launch of iTunes from HDD good 20-30 seconds, now iTunes is open in 2 seconds and only needs about 1 second, the cover and the songs of the Segate HDD load.
The browser (Mozilla Firefox) opens now within 1-2 seconds and I can start surfing right away - before he took about 5 seconds to start and he invited after the start nor the Quick View, which also took advantage of a few seconds.
Other programs start at your fingertips. It is a completely different work feeling everything is much faster.

Give me the memory?
This question I have put to me before buying, so I'm also on a.
I have the 120GB version, I twice had the 240GB version will have to pay and that was me then a little too much.
The question is not so easy to answer, of course, since each user has different needs. I have about 5-8 GB programs on the SSD and Windows, what with all the latest updates attracts about 40 GB with me, so I have still about 65 GB free. I clean my computer but also with CCleaner (approximately every week) and clean with the Windows Cleanup and thus will clean system restore points, software updates, log files, etc. I'll be so far along well with the amount of memory, but I use not the drive for so long ,

Tips for installation / use:
- Be sure to check whether after installation defragmentation is turned off for the drive - with me Windows has automatically completed, but please check anyway. Otherwise, the SSD is well defragmented regularly, but brings no performance gain and the SSD only burdened me write accesses. If you have installed a / several normal HDDs, you can defragment this course continues
- Before installing Windows check that the AHCI mode is set in the BIOS, not the IDE mode. Otherwise, the SSD is not running at full speed.
- I recommend to reinstall Windows and make no backup of the HDD and SSD einzuspielen on, because then you have a fresh, clean system running quickly and without error
- You activate the TRIM command
- For information and so a 2nd HDD with plenty of memory is very good, as the SSD is not too crowded and it's just cheaper
- Big games should also install on a separate HDD, since then the SSD is not too crowded and the SSD anyway really only shortens the loading time for games - more FPS or better graphics do not get by

Conclusion:
The SSD is speed technically absolute madness. The build quality is really great, and the tool that mitliefert the manufacturer, is easy to use and provides some practical functions.
Even if the SSD with 90/120 GB and 180/240 GB is a little more expensive than the competition, I can recommend them without hesitation. From my side there is nothing to complain about and there is full 5 stars for the SSD.