Guide for Buying SSD

The SSD is now a central component of every self-respecting computer. The difference in starting the operating system and the reactivity with respect to a common hard disk can be astounding.

SSDs are a product into circulation now for about 7 years, but only in the past two years prices have reached levels that recommend their adoption without hesitation, as long as we do not use them as solutions for data storage.

SSDs, right now, are created to accommodate the operating system and productivity applications you use most frequently. The proof is that it is still advisable to purchase solutions from 128/250 GB, in combination with a 3-terabyte hard drive for use for archiving tasks.

Today SSD and hard disk are often complementary, rather than direct competitors: capacity and prices are too different. So the basic advice for those who have not invested money in this component is to do it, and soon. Which SSD to choose? Good question: first you need to decide how much capacity you need for your host operating system and software you use most often, then take a look at the prices.

And the performance? They are important, no doubt, but today most of the consumer SSD has a SATA 6 Gbps, which limits the performance to a certain level. The majority of SSD performances approaching the theoretical maximum, so in a gaming system ” one or the other. ”

To be clear, you will see major differences going from the HDD to the SSD performance that between two different SSD: the real difference, often, we see only the specific tests performed on reviews. It may be important for some certain specific characteristics, such as the presence of a system of capacitors for the protection of data by virtue of a sudden lack of energy, and so on, but most of the times are capacity and price to define the purchase options .

Buying SSD Guidelines

There are several criteria for evaluating SSDs. We try to weigh performance and capacity at each price level, in order to recommend the best product based on our experience, and the experience gained by reading other news sites. Some people might be concerned only with performance, but it ignores the problem of capacity, which is still present. Even on the desktop, you must also consider other variables. The price and availability of SSD changes every day.

Best SSDs betaween 64 GB and 180 GB.

1. SanDisk Ultra Plus 64GB SSD – Minimum capacity and low cost.

The SanDisk Ultra Plus 64GB is made up of a controller from Marvell 88SS9175 and SanDisk EX2 Toggle to 19 nm MLC type. The DRAM cache is 64 MB and the SATA interface is 64 Gbps. The active idle power consumption is 0.49 watts. Among the interesting, features are the nCache system, which takes the MLC memory to emulate a caching system SLC. The read speed and sequential write is respectively equal to 530 MB / s and 155 MB / s, while the random performance are 76,000 and 29,000 IOPS.

2. Crucial M500 120 GB – Safety and performance.

The Crucial M500 is a solid product that among other things, the protection from sudden loss of energy, in addition to encoding TCG Opal 2.0. If you are using Windows 8 Pro or another version of the tip, the M500 allows the technology Microsoft BitLocker to encrypt the disk in hardware rather than burn CPU cycles. This is the best way to encode a product storage. Technically speaking over 120 GB of NAND Flash memory products to 20 nanometers, we have a Marvell controller 88SS9187. The cache DRAM is 128 MB, while the interface remains the usual SATA 6 Gbps. Speaking in performance this solution achieves sequential performance of 500MB / s and 130MB / s read and write, while the random performance ranging between 62,000 read IOPS and 53,000 write IOPS.

3. Samsung 840 EVO 120 GB – 120 GB of memory TLC with the Turbo.

If you were to choose between the Crucial M500 120 GB or Samsung 840 EVO 120 GB, maybe you’ll end up making heads or tails. Do you support the eDrive and TCG Opal with both 2.0 and overall performance are similar. Crucial offers redundancy and protection from loss of energy, while Samsung has better write performance and a better software package. With technology RAPID active, the 840 EVO can rival the fastest SSD on the market.

4. Samsung 840 Pro 128 GB – High performance.

The Samsung 840 Pro is a new product but certainly not fast. It is based on the SSD 128GB MLC faster and outperforms several products from 240/256 GB. The MDX owner controller, the NAND flash memory 24 nm Toggle 2.0 firmware and create a really powerful combination. The performance in sequential read and write are equal to 530 MB / s, while random are 390 MB / s. To complete the picture characteristics such as TCG OPAL 2 / eDrive, 256-bit AES encryption and RAPID.

 

Best 256 GB SSDs.

1. Samsung 840 EVO 250 GB – The alternative.

The Samsung 840 EVO adopts not only memory 128 Gb produced in 19 nanometers, but also boasts Turbo Write, a technology which, like the one adopted by SanDisk emulates the SLC memory. In addition, in performance speaking, there is nothing less than its competitors.

 

2. Samsung 840 Pro 256 GB – Top performance, high capacity.

The Samsung 840 Pro 256GB is fast, very fast. It emerges clearly from the plethora of SSD with SATA 6 Gbps. Among other things, Samsung has updated its program incorporating Magician RAPID, which is a caching algorithm DRAM useful to get more performance improvements.

 

3. Adata Premier Pro SP920 256 GB – An SSD is all substance.

Adata has partnered with Micron SSD to achieve this, which is very similar to Crucial M550. Compared to the solutions of Micron have slightly lower performance and lack of features such as support eDrive and TCG Opal 2.0, but there are other ” plus ” to be considered as an adapter from 2.5 ” to 3.5 “, an application for diagnostics and an update of Acronis True Image HD for backup bundle. Speaking in performance, this solution has a top speed in sequential read and write respectively of 560 MB / s and 360 MB / s, with 4K random operations will reach 96,000 read IOPS and 80,000 write IOPS.

4. Samsung 840 EVO 250 GB mSATA – Economically, efficiently and with great performance.

Samsung has ” limited ” range 840 EVO SSD, proposing also mSATA format. The company has also added support DevSlp, which further reduces fuel consumption – which is particularly useful in a handset. Also in this case it lacks support, eDrive / TCG Opal 2.0.La EVO range is characterized by the use of memory TLC – three bits per cell – driven by technology Samsung Turbo Write, which allows you to bring the write performance close to those in reading.

 

BEST SSDS BETAWEEN 480 GB AND 1 TB.

1. Crucial M550 512 GB – Half a terabyte, Excellent performance.

With the range of Crucial M550 SSD has raised the bar with respect to the M500 still good. At the heart of these products is the Micron NAND Flash MLC type, produced in 20 nanometers as in the case of the M500 series, while the controller is a Marvell 88SS9189, a revision of the Marvell 88SS9187 widespread, used in the previous range. For the model to be adopted 512GB Crucial memory chip with a density of 128 Gb using all channels of the Marvell controller, so as to achieve the highest performance. As in the previous series Crucial offers a range of additional features, but no less important. We redundancy guaranteed by the technology RAIN (redundant array of independent NAND), which enables you to better manage the SSD in the case of damaged cells. In addition, there is a sudden loss of power protection and 256-bit AES encryption in hardware. As for performance, you can reach 550 MB / s sequential read and 500 MB / s sequentially write. The random performance instead reached a maximum of 95,000 IOPS.

 

2. Samsung 840 EVO 1TB – Memory TLC and a lot of ability.

Do you need a 1 TB SSD to store many programs as possible? Here is the 840 EVO, a very interesting product, but you do pay several hundred Euros. Inside the controller Samsung MEX, NAND Samsung Toggle 2.0 3-bpc (TLC) to 19 nm and 1 GB DRAM cache. It consumes very little in idle assets, about 0.34 watts, so it lends itself well to the portable. In addition to the TCG OPAL security technologies 2 eDrive, 256-bit AES encryption and RAPID – the product offers performance of 540/520 MB / s in sequential read and write, and read / write random data stop at 98,000 / 90.000. All topped off with a three-year warranty.