Micron Storage Executive, Conclusion, and Final Thoughts
Micron Storage Executive:
Micron has recently introduced their Storage Executive software:
This is essentially Micron's take on 'SSD Toolbox' software. It provides all of the necessary basics as far as secure erasure, reading SMART data, firmware updates, and usage monitoring (flash life remaining). You may see in the slide above that the interface runs in a browser, which may be cumbersome for users accustomed to the self contained apps supplied by other SSD vendors. I tested it out for myself and found it sufficient at getting the job done. The software installs a service that runs in the background, communicating with the SSDs and serving as a web host (defaulting on port 8080) for interacting with the HTTP-based GUI.
Conclusion:
PROS:
- Great overall performance
- Increased write performance at smaller capacities (over previous generation)
- Introductory cost/GB is *very* competitive
CONS:
- Write performance at lower capacities still not as high as some competing SSDs
Pricing and Availability:
- 120GB – $68 ($0.57/GB) Amazon – BHPhoto.com
- 250GB – $95 ($0.38/GB) Amazon – BHPhoto.com
- 500GB – $180 ($0.36/GB) Amazon – BHPhoto.com
- 1TB – $380 ($0.38/GB) Amazon – BHPhoto.com
Those prices are impressively low, especially at the commonly purchased 250GB and 500GB capacity points. The 500GB model seems perfectly for use in a $360 RAID-0 pair, effectively doubling the performance and saving $20 over the single 1TB SSD (just remember to back up!).
Warranty:
The Crucial BX100 line carries a 3 year warranty, rated at a total of 72 TB written (regardless of capacity).
Final Thoughts:
The Crucial BX100 is absolutely a worthy lower cost successor to the MX100. The use of a Silicon Motion controller helps bring the unit price down further while remaining performance competitive with the Marvell solution used in prior models. Tweaks to Micron's flash performance netted a ~20% increase in write speeds at the lower capacities when compared to the MX100 or even other Silicon Motion controlled SSDs. The BX100 is a great performing no frills SSD that comes in at a cost sure to keep the other SSD makers scrambling to compete. I would never be opposed to an SSD price war, and this one is sure to start one!
It’s a sad day when $0.36/GB
It’s a sad day when $0.36/GB (on a budget drive, even) is considered “impressively low”. Six years ago, those prices were already completely unacceptable. HDD manufacturers really need to step it up, because SSD manufacturers certainly aren’t doing it.
Fact the C300 launch price
Fact the C300 launch price was $800 for 256 gig ssd 5 years ago that’s more than $3.7 per gig it quickly fell to $650 around this time 5 years ago via sales though the price drop is more than 10 times lower per gig for the bx100, and just like the conclusion states this will likely cause a ssd price war. But I believe we will start seeing even more dense ssd for them to make up for the revenue loss.
It’s a sad day when $0.36/GB
$0.36/GB _is_ impressively low for an SSD. NAND flash is just a more expensive technology than magnetic spinning disks right now. If you don’t like it, too bad.
They’re trying their best, and doing a good job I might add. I don’t see you helping. Anyone can be a critic…
Allyn, I am always curious
Allyn, I am always curious to know if tools like the Crucial Storage Executive function the same when multiple SSDs are members of a RAID array wired to a third-party controller.
Popular websites like http://www.pcper.com could help end users by urging third-party RAID controller vendors to support TRIM at a minimum. Intel’s RST has supported TRIM for some time now.
Perhaps the industry in general should confront what needs to happen to standardize SSD maintenance tasks, so as to inter-operate across platforms, motherboards, chipsets and add-on controllers.
Plug-and-Play for SSDs!
Thanks again for another good review.
MRFS (not just dreamin’ this time 🙂
TRIM through a RAID is still
TRIM through a RAID is still a tricky thing. It took Intel some time even despite my repeated urging to do so. It's also does not work on parity arrays (RAID-5/6).
Accessing SMART and other management through third party RAID is tricky. Areca actually does it, but you must use their API to request SMART data from their cards.
Wake me up when a “512GB of
Wake me up when a “512GB of quality SSD-space for ~92$” would become a mainstream thing. That’s how much I’ve paid for my 512GB MX100 when it just came out, so…
Isn’t the MX100 a better SSD?
Isn’t the MX100 a better SSD? Reason I ask because there is only a $10 to $20 difference depending on where you purchase.
BX100 gets faster write
BX100 gets faster write speeds at smaller capcities when compared to the MX100. Once you hit 500+GB everything evens out. The SM controller in the BX100 is also a bit faster than the MX100 in the seqential reads.
Long story short, it's a newer generation controller driving faster flash than the MX100, so the BX100 is better, which is why Micron is replacing the MX100 with the BX100 and introducing an MX200 (which works differently).