SSD

Top 10 SSD’s in 2016

(For Personal Computer and Gaming Console)

     A solid-state drive (SSD, also known as a solid-state disk is a solid-state storage device that uses integrated circuit assemblies as memory to store data persistently. SSD technology primarily uses electronic interfaces compatible with traditional block input/output (I/O) hard disk drives (HDDs), which permit simple replacements in common applications. Additionally, new I/O interfaces, like SATA Express and M.2 have been designed to address specific requirements of the SSD technology.

Once prohibitively expensive and solely reserved for high-end laptops, internal solid-state drives have become properly mainstream products, giving users an easy way to speed up their laptop, desktop, or gaming console. From ultra-fast options made for power users, all the way to budget-friendly offerings for casual users, these are the best SSDs available right now.

Because they don't have moving parts like conventional hard drives, solid-state drives are lighter, considerably more power-efficient, and most importantly, much faster. Upgrading your computer from a hard drive to an SSD all but guarantees to give it a bigger speed boost than a new microprocessor can deliver.

Lesser variants are mostly suitable for desktop PCs with more than one storage drive. In this case, the SSD is used to store the computer's OS and commonly used programs, while larger multimedia files and backups are kept on a conventional hard drive. Let’s take a look on top 10 SSDs in year 2016 listed below:

1. SanDisk Extreme Pro

Price: $219.97 onwards (amazon.com)

The SanDisk Extreme Pro is an update to last year's well-received Extreme II SSD, the Extreme Pro bears a few similarities, employing the same Marvell controller but with optimisations to the firmware for additional performance.

The NAND has been upgraded to SanDisk's own faster second-generation 19nm MLC flash, with space reserved for not just the usual over-provisioning, but also nCache Pro tiered storage, with part of the drive treated as SLC flash.

Coupled with excellent endurance and a 10-year warranty, which matches that of Samsung's similarly priced 850 Pro SSD, the Extreme Pro is a consumer SSD that's aiming for the very top of the performance leaderboard.

In the case of the Extreme Pro SSD, that third party is Marvell, and the controller in question is a modified 88SS9187, the exact same eight-channel controller used in last year's Extreme II SSD. The firmware has seen some alterations though, which join a few other tweaks and changes that improve performance and longevity.

Three capacities are available, with SanDisk following other firms in ditching its 120GB model, instead offering tiers at 240GB, 480GB and 960GB.

2. PNY CS1311

Price: $49.99 onwards (amazon.com)

The PNY CS1311 is a 7mm 2.5″ form factor SATA 6 Gb/s SSD and is available in four capacities: 120GB, 240GB, 480GB, and 960GB. Read speeds are rated for up to 550MB/s and writes for up to 520MB/s. In terms of IOPS these SSDs can deliver up to 9oK IOPS read/write. Quite impressive numbers for sure. Paired with a 3-year warranty, it is smack dab in the middle of the race against the competition.

The CS1311 also boasts a 2 million hours MTBF rating and its ECC corrects up to 120 bits per 2K sector. Full End-to-End Data path protection is supported as well as the ability to secure erase and on top of that, these SSD are validated to run in both RAID 1 and RAID 0.  In addition, the CS1311 now includes the Acronis data migration software, which allows for a seamless experience when transferring data from an existing drive to a new PNY solid-state drive.

Compared to the CS2211, the packaging is roughly the same. SSD form factor, capacity, model number and warranty is listed on the front as well as a feature stating that Arconis True Image is included. The back lists more specific details as well. Inside we can see that it also comes with a 2.5mm spacer for mobile systems with standard sized 2.5″ 9.5mm HDD bays.

The drive itself is encased in a black, metal shell. PNY designed the topside of the SSD to give it a sporty, carbon fiber aesthetic, which we quite like.

3. Samsung 850 Pro

Price: $117.00 onwards (amazon.com)

Samsung has locked and loaded the 850 Pro with a big innovation that it’s calling 3D V-NAND. It marks the biggest change that’s hit the SSD NAND market in years, and it goes beyond the usual changes we see, where transistors are made smaller in order to fit more into a drive.

Instead of just cramming more into a horizontal formation, 3D V-NAND lines the transistors up in vertical layers, too.

It’s a big change that makes lots of sense. It means that Samsung can install a huge number of transistors without reducing the size of the manufacturing process – so 3D V-NAND doesn’t encounter the electricity leaks, performance inefficiencies and higher costs associated with squeezing smaller transistors into a traditional horizontal structure.

The transistors layered up in the 850 Pro’s 3D V-NAND are based on a 40nm manufacturing process, which is much larger than the 20nm or below found in competing drives. Ordinarily, that would sound poor – but the layered system means Samsung has the luxury of using these transistors while still being able to include a huge number inside its latest drive.

Elsewhere, Samsung hasn’t had to work so hard. The triple-core MEX controller is the same chip that powered last year’s 840 Pro drive, although it’s been given a modest 100MHz speed boost. There’s a 512MB cache made from low-power DDR2 – the same amount and type as was included on the old drive.

Samsung’s drive impresses with an endurance rating of 150TB. That’s superb: other high-end drives, such as Intel’s 730 Series and the SanDisk Extreme Pro aren’t rated only for beyond 100TB.

4. Crucial MX200

Price: $86.09 onwards (amazon.com)

The MX200’s modest price means there’s not room for wholesale innovation, unlike Samsung’s pricier 850-series products and their 3D V-NAND. In fact, two of the major components used to build the MX200 are retained from its predecessor.

The Marvell 88SS9189 controller is retained from the MX100, and the new drive also uses 16nm Micron-made NAND. It proved innovative in the MX100, as it was the first time the memory had appeared in a commercial SSD, but there’s no denying that the sheen has now worn off.

That doesn’t sound like a recipe for improved performance, but Crucial gives the older hardware a boost with its version of SLC caching – an innovation that siphons off a portion of the drive and mimics faster SLC memory. The SLC section is used to provide a write-cache that takes advantage of the higher write speeds and longevity of SLC before the data is then moved to MLC memory for longer term storage.

Samsung and SanDisk have already introduced SLC caching in some of their SSDs, but those products used fixed caches. Crucial’s Dynamic Write Acceleration system uses a flexible cache that changes in size depending on how much of the drive is occupied.

The endurance has been given a leg-up, too. The 80TB rating assigned to the 250GB version we’ve tested is mid-table, but it’s 8TB better than the MX100 – and larger versions of the MX200 have even higher longevity ratings. Elsewhere, we’re pleased to see security-friendly features, with TCG Opal 2.0 and eDrive encryption both included.

5. Kingston UV400

Price: $46.99 onwards (amazon.com)

Kingston’s SSDNow UV400 is powered by a four-channel Marvell controller for incredible speeds and higher performance compared to a mechanical hard drive. It dramatically improves the responsiveness of your existing system and is 10 times faster than a 7200RPM hard drive.

Rugged and more reliable and durable than a hard drive, UV400 is built using Flash memory so it’s shock and vibration-resistant and less likely to fail than a mechanical hard drive. Its ruggedness makes it ideal for notebooks and other mobile computing devices.

For easy installation, UV400 is available in a bundle kit that includes everything needed to install the SSD in your existing system, including a USB enclosure to transfer data, a 2"–3.5" adapter to mount in a desktop environment, a SATA data cable and a coupon for an Acronis data migration software download2.

UV400 is available in multiple capacities, from 120GB to 960GB3, giving you plenty of space for all your files, applications, videos, photos and other important documents. It’s the ideal hard drive replacement and can also replace a smaller SSD in your system to give you all the room you need.

6. SanDisk SSD PLUS

Price: $44.99 onwards (amazon.com)

Coming in the now-familiar 7mm chassis, the new SanDisk Ultra Plus looks very different from the SanDisk Ultra or the SanDisk Extreme, with a premium finish. It's the first from SanDisk that comes with a piece of framing that can add another 2.5mm to its thickness in case you want to use in places where standard 9.5mm internal drives are used.

The new drive does not, however, come with a drive-bay converter that would help it fit in places where 3.5-inch desktop drives are used. This is not a big deal, since you can safely use an SSD inside a desktop computer without securing it to the chassis. Since it has no moving parts, staying loose inside a computer doesn't really affect an SSD's performance or durability.

On the inside, the new SanDisk Ultra Plus is also very different from its predecessors. It's the first drive from SanDisk that uses the new Marvell SS889175 controller, which is designed for both SSD and regular SATA standards. The controller supports SATA 3 (6Gbps), and the Ultra Plus is also backward-compatible with SATA 2 (3Gbps) and SATA (1.5Gbps). You'll want to use the drive with a computer that supports SATA 3, however, to get the most out of it.

As for flash memory, the Ultra Plus uses SanDisk's own 19nm eX2 ABL MLC NAND. While this is multiple-layer cell memory, which is popular in consumer-grade SSDs, the Ultra Plus' type of memory is capable of having a small portion work in single-layer cell mode, which is similar to the memory used in enterprise-grade SSDs. This mode is called nCache, and the drive's firmware determines how much of its total capacity is used for this. According to SanDisk, the SLC nCache portion is allotted dynamically and remains less than 1GB.

In short, the unique feature of the Ultra Plus is that it's a consumer-grade SSD that can potentially offer the experience of a much more expensive enterprise-grade SSD.

7. Transcend SSD370

Price: $54.99 onwards (amazon.com)

The Transcend SSD370S is a standard 2.5-inch internal drive. Like most drives of its type, it comes in a 7mm thickness, slightly thinner than the 9.5mm of a true standard laptop hard drive. The slimmer profile means it can work in more situations, from desktops to standard laptops, and even some ultrabooks. The SSD370S is compatible with virtually all consumer applications where a standard SATA hard drive is used. It features the latest SATA 3 6Gbps standard, but will work with previous revision of the SATA standard.

The new SSD370S is housed in an aluminum casing that's both light -- at just 1.86 ounces (58 grams) -- and sturdy. Note that Transcend also offers another version, model SSD370, which has plastic casing. The two versions are essentially the same, including the pricing.

The Transcend SSD includes a 3.5-inch bracket which will enable it to fit easily inside most desktop computers. You don't really need this bracket to make the drive work -- in most cases you can just leave the drive hanging loose since it doesn't have any moving parts -- but it's always good to have your drive mounted tightly inside the computer.

If you build your own rig, you can install the operating system in exactly the same way that you do you a regular hard dive. For those wanting to upgrade their computer's existing hard drive with an SSD, which is likely the majority of the use cases, there's a piece of software called Transcend SSD Scope included.

8. OWC Mercury Extreme Pro 6G

Price: $144.75 onwards (amazon.com)

The Mercury Extreme Pro 6G shares the same shape, dimensions, and port design as the OCZ Vertex 3, which is the same design as a standard 9.5mm, 2.5-inch internal hard drive. Unlike the Vertex 3, however, the Mercury Extreme Pro 6G doesn't come with a drive bay converter, meaning it will be a little tricky if you want to use it with a desktop computer. In our experience, however, as an SSD has no moving parts and is very light, you can probably get away with leaving it inside the computer's chassis without screwing it tightly to a drive bay.

According to OWC, the Mercury Extreme Pro 6G offers similar advanced SSD technologies to those found in the Vertex 3. Examples of these include a wear-leveling algorithm and SandForce RAISE. The former ensures that the entire drive's memory cells have the same level of wear, and the latter offers RAID 1-like redundancy for data integrity. Like the Vertex 3, the Extreme Pro 6G also supports RAID configurations.

Similar to the latest SSDs we've reviewed, the Mercury Extreme Pro 6G supports SATA 3 (6Gbps) and is backward-compatible with previous generations of the SATA standard. This means it'll work in any SATA applications. To take advantage of the drive's top speed, however, you'll want to use it with a SATA 3 controller, such as that of a computer powered by Intel's new Sandy Bridge chipset.

After trying the Mercury Extreme Pro 6G in a few different computers, running Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux, and it worked well with all of them, just like any regular SATA hard drive. As with the Vertex 3, the Mercury Extreme Pro 6G took a significantly long time to be formatted in our trials, about 7 minutes to be quick-formatted using Windows 7. Other drives, including the Seagate Barracuda XT, took just a few seconds to be quick-formatted.

9. PNY CS2211

Price: $89.99 onwards (amazon.com)

The PNY CS2211 is an affordable SSD aimed at those who want to replace their older generation SSDs or older hard drives without having to break the bank. The SSD uses a multi-level cell (MLC) architecture, which enables the SSD to compete with some of the very best SSDs in the market.

The CS2211 has a multi-level cell (MLC) architecture, meaning it handles two bits of data per cell, meaning read and write speeds are supposedly affected, due to the cells having to deal with twice the amount of data as usual. The technology sitsin-between triple level cell flash (TLC) and single-level cell (SLC): it's theoretically more reliable than MLC, but not as consistent in its performance as SLC. This, of course, is a generalisation about the technology types, so we'll look into the benchmark performance and see where it stands.

The CS2211 is connected through a SATA III 6 Gb/s interface and doesn't support any hardware encryption, unlike some of its competitors offer.

For those with laptops, the CS2211 consumes 3.3W when active and 0.2W when in an idle state. Both are quoted figures from PNY.

10. Kingston HyperX Savage

Price: $78.39 onwards (amazon.com)

Kingston Memory has been catering for the general user with its SSDNow SSD drives for several years, providing decent performance with entry-level pricing. But the company also know how to market to PC gamers and computer enthusiasts with its more racily named silicon memory components.

The HyperX Savage stands at the top of Kingston's range of performance SATA storage, although if you have a desktop PC you could also take advantage of the full-size PCIe card Predator drive, boasting up to 1400 MB/s read speeds. The Savage though takes the traditional SATA Revision 3.0 connection with its nominal 6 Gb/s speeds, in the usual slim 7-mm enclosure.

What is less usual, even unique in our testing experience, is the choice of controller in the Savage. This is an S10 controller from Taiwan flash-memory specialist Phison, now infamously known as the maker of USB controller ICs that can be compromised by the BadUSB exploit. The Phison controller here is based on a quad-core ARM processor with eight data channels, with 19 nm NAND flash supplied by Toshiba.

To maintain its SSDs Kingston makes its own Kingston SSD Toolbox software for Windows, although this only supports its older drives based on SandForce controllers. At time of testing there was no software available for this Phison-based SSD, nor any firmware updates released.

The HyperX Savage is available as just a bare drive, on as an installation kit with various accessories to help migrate from an existing drive. This includes a portable drive enclosure with USB 3.0 with support for UASP mode in Windows 8 and OS X, SATA cable and screws for desktop PCs, and a screwdriver with interchangeable Philips 00 and 1 cross-head tips.