Please Note If You are Planning to Purchase SSD
To all GPD WIN 2 Backers:
When you are planning to purchase additional 2242 form factors SSD for the purpose of storage upgrade on the GPD WIN 2.
Please note.
SSD consist of memory controller chip and NAND-based flash memory.
For memory controller found in SSD, there are lower end OEM manufacturer such as Phison or SMI, and also higher end controller such as those from Marvell and Samsung. However, some SSD manufacturer produces their own memory controller chip such Transcend.
There are even more NAND based flash storage found on the market, such as TLC, SLC, and MLC and other less known types of based flash storage chips, the endurance and the amount of heat produced by these SSD chips differ by the type of memory chip used. However, it can be differentiated by the types of memory controllers or the price of the SSD.
Majority of the lower end memory controller produced by Taiwan’s manufacturer has good capability with different types of NAND chips. As such, man lower end SSD found on the market will use memory controllers from Taiwan’s based manufacturer and low-end TLC based NAND chips. As the result, often this SSD will cause problems such as:
1. Drive suddenly disappear under Windows. Yet, appears again after reboot;
2. Sudden decrease in storage capacity;
3. Bad sectors;
4. Overheating;
5. Unable to write in data into the SSD; or
6. Loss of data.
As a guideline, if GPD users are looking to purchase these lower end SSD’s, If there are problems that occurred in GPD WIN 2, that is not the hardware of the Win 2 itself, GPD will not take any responsibility nor will do any repair for these problems caused by the SSD itself.
Currently, on the market, there are not many choices of 2242 form factor SSD. GPD recommends brands such as Transcend, Lenovo, and ADATA. While Lenovo and ADATA use Taiwan based memory controller, but they will not use NAND chips from unknown sources. Plextor is a Japanese brand, while they had been purchased by LiteON, their primary focus is on high-end markets. Thus, Plextor’s SSD is recommended. SSD from other larger manufacturers can be used as well.
However, GPD does not recommend 2242 form factor’s SSD from these manufacturers:
1. LiteOn;
2. KingSpec;
3. Teclast;
4. Other SSD from unknown brands.
For the brands listed above, warranty claim is almost impossible.
Find the device at Indiegogo here (http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/gpd-win-2-handheld-game-console-for-aaa-games-laptop#/updates/all).