I did a fresh install of Xubuntu 12.04.1, ext4 with discard option & swappiness set to 0, mounting temp directory in RAM, (8GB.)
I found performance was not stellar, in fact, marginally better than traditional spinning storage media. This drive has had good reviews, yet I have seen Windows users complaining of slow performance online. It was anything other than zippy, with application loads being plain dog slow & not instant like I expected. I RMAd it eventually (GSmartControl would never complete long test.)
Slow performance on Windows = slow performance on Linux? Would I fare better with another brand?
I now have a 840 & it is not legendary, but faster than HDD.
sudo hdparm -Tt /dev/sdX
. I have multiple 830's both on Win and Linux and they are as fast as they should be. Maybe you had a faulty one.