If you don't have a solid state drive in your computer, you are crazy. Prices have decreased dramatically, making it affordable for most consumers. Money is tight? Cut out the Starbucks for a few weeks and drop a Benjamin on the upgrade -- it is worth it.
There are many brands to choose from, with comparable speeds, so you want to target reliability. Two of my favorite brands are Samsung and Kingston, but there are solid lesser-known brands too. ADATA is such a brand that targets value, but has a history of dependability too. That company is launching a new SSD, called the XPG SX930, which is aimed at gamers and offers a 5 year warranty. Is a gaming-grade SSD just marketing speak, or should gamers take notice?
"Featuring Enterprise-grade MLC plus NAND flash, the XPG SX930 outperforms other SSDs with excellent durability. It is not only suitable for gaming systems, but also ideal for workstations, which require long-term and stable operation. By applying JMicron controllers, the sequential read/write speed of SX930 is up to 560/460MB/s, and it’s available in 120GB, 240GB and 480GB. In addition, the SX930 is equipped with the innovative and exclusive 'pSLC Cache Technology' by ADATA, which can effectively enhance the data transfer speed for the ultimate performance to meet professional gamers' demands", says ADATA.
The company further shares "For the optimum efficiency, the SX930 is equipped with a DDR3 DRAM Cache Buffer, improving the random read/write performance up to 2 times when compared to SSDs without a DRAM cache. The SX930 also supports hardware BCH ECC (Error Correction Code) up to 72bits per 1KB, providing high reliability and data protection. And thanks to the support of NCQ, S.M.A.R.T., and Windows TRIM Command, the SX930 can effectively improve the efficiency of data transfer and maintain great stability".
| Capacity | 120GB / 240GB / 480GB |
| Form Factor | 2.5 inch |
| NAND Flash | Synchronous MLC Plus |
| Controller | JMicron JMF670H |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 100.45 x 69.85 x 7mm |
| Weight | 68g / 2.4oz |
| Interface | SATA 6Gb/s |
| Performance(Max) | 120GB ($80) Performance (ATTO) Read: Up to 560MB/s Write: Up to 460MB/s 240GB ($110) Performance (ATTO) Read: Up to 560MB/s Write: Up to 460MB/s 480GB ($200) Performance (ATTO) Read: Up to 540MB/s Write: Up to 420MB/s |
| Operating temperature | 0~70°C |
| Storage temperature | -40~85°C |
| Shock resistance | 1500G/0.5ms |
| MTBF | 1,500,000 hours |
While this drive has solid specs and an attractive appearance -- which does matter to PC builders -- calling it a gaming SSD is a bit misleading. Don't get me wrong, it absolutely is a good choice for gamers, but no more than most other drives. In other words, I do not think this drive will give you faster load times over say, the Samsung 850 EVO.
What do you think -- is this a gaming SSD or just marketing hype? Sound off in the comments.