Intel New 320/510 Series SSD at PC and NB Dual Platform Review

[windwithme]

[windwithme]

Re: Intel New 320/510 Series SSD at PC and NB Dual Platform Review

Z68 exclusive support Intel Smart Response Technology which provide hybrid mode of small capacity SSD and HDD acceleration feature.
GIGABYTE even provides more convenient EZ Smart Response for users enable SRT as HDD is under AHCI or IDE mode.
User doesn’t need to set BIOS as RAID mode and reinstall OS. It save lots of time.


Test Configuration
CPU: Intel Core i5-2400
MB: GIGABYTE Z68MX-UD2H
DRAM: CORSAIR VENGEANCE CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9 PK1
VGA: Intel HD Graphics 2000
HD: Intel 320 SERIES 160GB / 510 SERIES 120GB
POWER: CORSAIR Builder Series CX430
Cooler: Intel Original Cooler
OS: Windows7 Ultimate 64bit


Intel 320 SERIES 160GB installs at blue SATA2.
Non OS system drive without data, model is SSDSA2CW160G3, test performance at PC platform.
HD Tune Pro 4.60 Benchmark
Read - Average 205.3 MB/s Access Time 0.121ms
Write - Average 158.0MB/s Access Time 0.080ms


Random Access


Extra tests
Sequential middle
Read - 207.169 MB/s
Write - 157.031 MB/s
Random seek 4KB 11339 IOPS


File Benchmark over 512k test is above 250 MB/s.
ATTO DISK Benchmark over 32k test get max reading 282.4 Mb/s and writing 175.8 MB/s.


320 SERIES is not high-end performance SSD. However, most HD Tune Pro test has quite good performance.
Especially the writing performance, it’s over 60% improvement comparing previous X25-M G2 which is only 70~100 MB/s.
ATTO DISK Benchmark max read/write performance is 280/175 MB/s. This is over official spec.

ADIA64 Read Test Suite - Linear Read(Middle) 266.7 MB/s
FDEBENCH is reading 267.3 Mb/s and writing 168.1 MB/s
CrystalDiskMark is reading 274.6 Mb/s and writing 174.2 MB/s


ADIA64 Linear Read Average 265.1 MB/s
AS SSD Benchmark
Seq Read - 264.09 MB/s Write - 170.07 MB/s
4K-64Thrd Read - 139.28 MB/s Write - 60.99 MB/s


ADIA64 Random Read 214.9MB/s
AS SSD Benchmark
4K-64Thrd Read - 35655 iops Write - 15614 iops


CrystalMark Sequential Read 259.73 MB/s Sequential Write 166.15 MB/s
SiSoftware Sandra 265 MB/s


AS SSD Benchmark 4K-64Thrd test result is big gap with official spec.
I have been test over 10 times but same result. I think it should be software and drive has compatibility issue.
320 SERIES has stable performance with most benchmark software.
270/165 MB/s spec and 4K performance is still Intel SSD strength. It’s middle range above performance in current SSD market.
You can treat 320 SERIES as X25-M G2 enhance version. The reading performance is similar, but writing and manufacturing are enhanced.

[windwithme]

[windwithme]

Re: Intel New 320/510 Series SSD at PC and NB Dual Platform Review

WD 320GB is the OS drive and add 510 120GB SSD.
39~40W, it’s around half-half.


320 160GB SSD is the OS drive add 320GB HDD, it’s still at 39W.


For power consumption, no matter if there is SSD, it only increase 1~2W.
Comparing to platform with both HDD and SSD, HDD power consumption is little bit higher than SSD but not big gap.

NoteBook platform use TOSHIBA 2nd generation Core i7.
The chipset is Intel HM65.


You can figure out this TOSHIBA NB quality just need to use for a while.
Speaker quality is very good in my experience.
The Keyboard touch feeling and plastic copy hair line surface texture is very good as well.
These 3 designs compare to my “Dual A” new NB are even better.


320 SERIES 160GB
ADIA64 Linear Read Average 252.6 MB/s


AS SSD Benchmark
Seq Read - 253.81 MB/s Write - 166.77 MB/s
4K-64Thrd Read - 135.70 MB/s Write - 59.43 MB/s
FDEBENCH test reading is 252.2 Mb/s and writing is 172.3 MB/s


ATTO DISK Benchmark over 32k test is achieving max reading 280.7 Mb/s and writing 174.8MB/s
CrystalDiskMark test reading is 256.4 Mb/s and writing is 170.5 MB/s



510 SERIES 120GB
ADIA64 Linear Read Average 370.5 MB/s


AS SSD Benchmark
Seq Read - 440.53 MB/s Write - 204.73 MB/s
4K-64Thrd Read - 81.84 MB/s Write - 63.49 MB/s
FDEBENCH test reading is 374.4 Mb/s and writing is 204.8 MB/s


ATTO DISK Benchmark over 32k test is achieving max reading 479.3 Mb/s and writing 228.9MB/s
CrystalDiskMark test reading is 433.3 Mb/s and writing is 212.9 MB/s


The performance at NoteBook is still good. Some benchmark is same as PC, but the gap is not big.
Personally, I think SSD has more advantage in NB than PC, because 2.5” HDD is slower than 3.5” HDD, also 2.5” HDD is more expensive.
Even though SSD has no advantage at capacity, the difference with 2.5” HDD is smaller.

It doesn’t mean SSD is not fit PC. Just consider about C/P value, it’s lower than NoteBook platform.
Small capacity SSD use for Z68 SRT hybrid acceleration technology with 2~3TB HDD is more suitable for PC platform.
If in the future, the TRIM technology can use under RAID mode, the SSD advantage at PC platform will be more clear.



Intel SSD is easy to find in the market. This time, these 2 series SSD price is higher than the other brands.
Due to Intel brand awareness and good after service, the SSD acceptance is still high.
I hope 320/510 price can be lower in the future. It can enhance the completion force and market share.

Currently, many read/write performance around 200 MB/s 128GB SSD price is 200USD.
In same price position, SSD capacity increase to 128GB from 64GB in the past. It’s really helpful for execution.
Of course, the unit price of SSD is still much higher than HDD. We do can look forward the lower unit price in the future.

For most users, before buying 3C products, you need to study some basic information to avoid get unsatisfied products.
Such as outlook, spec, after service, performance and executive features are all important.
This review includes 2 Intel new series SSD performance data for readers who has SSD demand. :)

This article is also in my blog.
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