Internals, Testing Methodology and System Setup
Internals:
First up is the Kingston HyperX Predator:
We ran into a stumbling block as the Predator uses T6 Security screws. Neither the IFixIt 54 bit set nor their Pro Tech Screwdriver Set include that size. Regardless, we got creative and opened 'er up anyway:
Inside we find the Phison S10 controller, 256MB of RAM, and 256GB (240GB provisioned) of Kingston packaged Toshiba A19 MLC flash.
Flash packages appear at the front and rear of the PCB.
Next up is the Patriot Ignite:
No problems getting the screwless, snap-fit housing open. The PCB is smaller than the Kingston unit, but the component layout is similar. This is the 480GB model, so there is 512MB of DRAM equipped here.
Patriot chose to be different with their choice of flash memory, opting to go with Micron 16nm Asynchronous MLC flash. These are 128Gbit dies, which allows the Ignite to have half the number of flash memory packages as compared to the Savage despite being twice the capacity.
Testing Methodology
Our tests are a mix of synthetic and real-world benchmarks. IOMeter, HDTach, HDTune, Yapt and our custom File Copy test round out the selection to cover just about all bases. If you have any questions about our tests just drop into the Storage Forum and we'll help you out!
Test System Setup
We have several storage testbeds. A newer ASUS P8Z77-V Pro/Thunderbolt and an ASUS Z87-PRO. Variance between both boards has been deemed negligible when testing SATA devices. Future PCIe and SATA device testing, including this review, take place on a new ASUS Sabertooth X99, which comes equipped with USB 3.1, M.2, and can also handle SFF-8639 devices with the proper adapter.
PC Perspective would like to thank Intel, ASUS, Corsair, Kingston, and EVGA for supplying some of the components of our test rigs.
| Hard Drive Test System Setup | |
| CPU | Intel Core i7 5820K @ 4.125 GHz |
| Motherboard | ASUS Sabertooth X99 |
| Memory | 16GB Micron DDR4 @ 3333 |
| Hard Drive | G.Skill 32GB SLC SSD |
| Sound Card | N/A |
| Video Card | EVGA GeForce GTX 750 |
| Video Drivers | GeForce Game Ready Driver 347.88 |
| Power Supply | Corsair CMPSU-650TX |
| DirectX Version | N/A |
| Operating System | Windows 8.1 Pro X64 (update) |
- PCPer File Copy Test
- HDTach
- HDTune
- IOMeter
- YAPT
“They differ in flash memory
“They differ in flash memory types used…”
Which reminds me why Kingston is still off of my consideration list.
Same here, nearly 90%
Same here, nearly 90% kingstons drive I have sold to this date have failed within 1hr of installation into clients machines. Its better to Avoid Kingston SSDs like a plague.
I have been using a pair of
I have been using a pair of Kingston HyperX 3K ssds in raid 0 as my primary drive and i havnt had a single issue with them.
Hey Allyn, i have a comment
Hey Allyn, i have a comment on your graphs. When using the graphs with a higher number of data sets, can you change up the shapes of the data points for similarly colored lines to better distinguish them? For example, the red line from the slightly-different-red line (Patriot vs Crucial), and the green line from the slightly-different-green line (Corsair vs Sandisk), etc.
Understood. I’ll try and see
Understood. I'll try and see if I can find a more contrasting / differing color for those two. What is now the white line used to be a *third* red/pink line :).
Allyn,
This isn’t so much a
Allyn,
This isn’t so much a complaint but a suggestion, as I’m certainly a fan of the critical work you do for PCper… and your dead-pan (sometimes pleasantly cheesy) sense of humor is *always* appreciated on the podcast.
Anyway, you should get Ken to brain storm idea for a new charting/color system as the current “Rainbow Edition” is a bit hard to follow sometimes, especially when the data are heavy populated. Thanks Allyn!
SATA SSDs don’t interest me
SATA SSDs don’t interest me as much since NVMe drives have become available.
It’s like the new hot neighbor that moves in next door. She has the looks AND the smarts. Now if only the price was right…
Sorry… eh… uh… thanks, Allyn! Nice article!
I wish I had a new, hot,
I wish I had a new, hot, neighbor, but I’ve always lived in the woods 🙁
It is unfortunately quite
It is unfortunately quite expensive, but there are sets of security bits that go down to T6.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/EAZYPOWER-86155-Security-Screwdriver-Bit-Set-30-Pc/40923636
Alternatively, it might be easier to just drill out a cheap T6 bit or use a screw extractor if you have the tools.
Allyn I see the Sandisk Ultra
Allyn I see the Sandisk Ultra 2 in your charts.
Have you reviewed that drive?
@chaitanya
90% failure means
@chaitanya
90% failure means to me something isn’t installed correctly.
Ever heard of “Devsleep”?
Bottom-line, if your power-supply has a fifth wire (usually orange)
going to the drive, it’ll go into a coma and never wake up.
I even found this hard to swallow, I mean, powering down the computer and restarting it would help, right?
Intel and Sandisk, inventors of the flawed technology,
quietly released a firmware update to deal with it (I’ve read).
Everyone else should use an adapter most motherboards include, that eliminates 3.3v.
Intel, al-la Queen-Biggie, said “let them eat signal instead of 3.3v”.
Don’t know if that’s your 90% in an hour, but it’s looking like a suspect.
You put corsair on title but
You put corsair on title but dont put corsair images on same text? thumbs down!