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Intel 520, Muskin Deluxe or Kingston

B

brianftpc

Junior Member
I am building a new computer for my dad. It will be used for the purpose of video editing more than anything and some gaming when I can take it off his hands when its not in use. I am down to 3 SSDs to choose from. i just want to know which is the better performer. Im sure id be happy with any of them and not even notice a difference in them.

Mushkin Enhanced Chronos Deluxe MKNSSDCR120GB-DX 2.5" 120GB SATA III

Intel 520 Series Cherryville SSDSC2CW180A3K5 2.5" 180GB SATA III

Kingston HyperX 3K SH103S3/120G 2.5" 120GB SATA III

if there is a better option out there performance wise Id appreciate the input and also why its faster

Computer's specs
CPU:3570k unless I can find a reason for the 3770k thats worth the money
MOBO: ASUS Z77 sabertooth unless something with more PCI express lanes comes out that isnt 300+ bucks
RAM: Gskill 4x4GB 1600mhz
PSU: SeaSonic X750 Gold 750W
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM
Cooling: CORSAIR H100
 
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Any reason you did not consider the Intel 330 180GB? It performs the same as the intel 520 but is cheaper. Only 3 year warranty instead of 5 though.

Sandisk Extreme is another option. Its currently one of the cheapest SSDs I can find in australia (Not sure about everywhere else). The 240GB version only 15 bucks or so more than the 330 180GB. It uses sandforce SF-2281 controller with sandisk toggle 24nm NAND. The 240GB one is one of the fastest at its capacity. The 120GB one is comparable with SSDs at same capacity using sync NAND.
 
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I judged the 330 based on its specs compared to the 520. I dont know how they translate into real world use.
4K Random Read
330= Up to 22,500 IOPS
520= Up to 50,000 IOPS

4KB Random Write
330= Up to 33,000 IOPS
520= Up to 60,000 IOPS

Max Sequential Read
330= Up to 500 MB/s
520= Up to 550 MB/s

Max Sequential Write
330= Up to 450 MB/s
520= Up to 520 MB/s

The warranty was just the icing on the cake in wanting the 520 over the 330

I havent looked into the Sandisk Extreme but I will now since you have mentioned it.
 
The Sandforce Extreme SSD looks quite similar in spec to the Muskin SSD that I like...however...what is up with its 4KB Random Read (Up to 33,000 IOPS)...I dont know how worried about that spec to even be bc I have no idea what it is even measuring honestly.
 
brianftpc said:
I judged the 330 based on its specs compared to the 520. I dont know how they translate into real world use.
4K Random Read
330= Up to 42,000 IOPS
520= Up to 50,000 IOPS

4KB Random Write
330= Up to 52,000 IOPS
520= Up to 60,000 IOPS

Max Sequential Read
330= Up to 500 MB/s
520= Up to 550 MB/s

Max Sequential Write
330= Up to 450 MB/s
520= Up to 520 MB/s

The warranty was just the icing on the cake in wanting the 520 over the 330

I havent looked into the Sandisk Extreme but I will now since you have mentioned it.
Click to expand...

^ Fixed the specs for the 180GB version

Those linear read/write numbers don't mean much though, as its for 100% compressable data. With real data both will be slower.
 
brianftpc said:
The Sandforce Extreme SSD looks quite similar in spec to the Muskin SSD that I like...however...what is up with its 4KB Random Read (Up to 33,000 IOPS)...I dont know how worried about that spec to even be bc I have no idea what it is even measuring honestly.
Click to expand...

Here is a review of it. http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/storage/36529-sandisk-extreme-ssd-120gb/

Its better to look at reviews to decide. Specs can be missleading as you don't know under which conditions they got those numbers.


brianftpc said:
Where did you get those updated numbers. They do not seem to be in line with what intel and newegg are reading as the spec for the drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820167122

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/solid-state-drives/solid-state-drives-330-series.html
Click to expand...

From Intel.
http://ark.intel.com/products/67288/Intel-SSD-330-Series-(180GB-SATA-6Gbs-25nm-MLC)

Or Anandtech
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5751/intel-ssd-330-officially-announced-affordable-sandforce
 
Been running the Intel 520 24/7 for a few weeks now and it's been a blast. Came from the X-25M. I can assume that Intel indeed fixed the sandforce issues.

It really doesn't matter what SSD you pick. You won't notice the difference. I buy only Intel SSDs, but doesn't mean others are any worse.
 
The 520 isn't a whole lot more expensive than the 330 though, right? If there's a big price difference like there was between the 320 and 510 that's one thing, but last time I checked the newer intels were very close in price.
 
As of now on newegg the 180 GB 520 is about $280, while the 330 series is $220. I'd definitely get the 330 series then with that price difference.
 
mgttr said:
How do you figure that? Intel lists identical performance specs for the 180GB and 240GB:

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/solid-state-drives/solid-state-drives-520-series.html
Click to expand...

Well first of all the 80k write iops are for a fresh out of the box drive. In use the drive will never be achieving those numbers. Typical spec is 60k with compressible data for 180GB and 240GB models.

Second and most inportant, incompressible performance is not the same, even in the Intel spec. 180GB drive is slower. (Look at Table 3 in the spec) http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/solid-state-drives/ssd-520-specification.html
 
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Keep an eye out for the Crucial M4 - it's been popping up for $199 these last few days for the 256GB drive.
The SanDisk Extreme 240GB is also an excellent drive - a few folks saying its snappier than the Samsung 830, Vertex 3 and M4.
 
mgttr said:
Good catch - I stand corrected. Interesting that some of the benchmarks for the 480GB drive are much worse than the 240GB - any idea why that is?
Click to expand...

256gb seems to be the sweet spot for most ssd's. The 512gb m4 is slower than the 256gb as well, and IIRC I've seen that pattern repeated with other manufacturers as well.

WhoBeDaPlaya said:
Keep an eye out for the Crucial M4 - it's been popping up for $199 these last few days for the 256GB drive.
The SanDisk Extreme 240GB is also an excellent drive - a few folks saying its snappier than the Samsung 830, Vertex 3 and M4.
Click to expand...

1. SanDisk is a smaller player in a crowded market
2. Their support is much weaker than even OCZ's
3. The SanDisk Extreme 240gb is a sandforce drive

Absolutely take the m4 or samsung over those other 2 listed, it's not even close from a reliability standpoint. Plus, when the current ssd war flames out in a year or two, you can be confident that crucial and Samsung will be stronger than ever. SanDisk? Who knows.
 
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Just installed an Intel 520 120g in rig2 below ( replaced a failing 80gssd0. Very fast and smooth. The 180/240g have even greater performance. The 5 yr warranty swayed me.
 
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