TOP 7 best SSD drives: features, reviews

Solid state drives have replaced the classic hard drives. And soon they will completely replace them. After all, SSDs are hundreds of times faster, completely silent and less susceptible to mechanical damage. So far, HDDs keep afloat solely due to their low cost. But prices for solid state drives are plummeting. So their dominance is just a matter of time. There is one more feature that does not allow SSD drives to become leaders yet - the maximum volume. Now it rarely exceeds 2 terabytes. And such models are prohibitively expensive.

However, the situation is slowly changing. Mechanical hard drives are already being replaced by more advanced devices. At least they are used for operating systems and games. And from now on the HDD is prepared for the role of file storages. So it's time to upgrade your computer and make it run faster. To do this, you need to purchase an SSD. But for beginners, this task is difficult. After all, the devices are unusual, with a set of their own characteristics. Therefore, we decided to talk about how to choose the right SSD drive. Our recommendations will allow you to make the right choice and get a product that meets the requirements of users.

Rating TOP 10 best SSD drives

However, the story about the features of solid-state drives will have to be postponed. First, it is worth considering the best models that various manufacturers offer us. Perhaps you will find something interesting and the need for further searches will disappear. We have selected the seven best options and are ready to tell you about them in detail. And only then we will give appropriate recommendations on the choice of such devices.

Samsung MZ-76E250BW

High-quality storage based on Samsung branded chips. It uses TLC 3D NAND memory. It is distinguished by its endurance and high speed. The control is carried out using the proprietary Samsung MJX controller. To connect to a computer, the SATA 6Gb / s interface is used with a theoretical speed of 600 MB / s. The real read speed is 550 MB / s. And data is written at a speed of 520 MB / s.

The total number of bytes written is 150 TB. In fact, this is the degree of disk endurance. This figure indicates that you are more likely to change a computer than a drive. However, there is such a thing as MTBF. For this model, it is equal to 1,500,000 hours. This is a kind of warranty period. The specific model has a capacity of 250 GB. There is a 512 MB high-speed buffer. The drive can withstand impacts of 1500 G. It is housed in a sturdy 2.5 ”enclosure.

The speeds of this drive are really in line with the declared ones. On the Intel platform, there are no problems with it at all: everything works like a clock. But with AMD chipsets that do not support the Ryzen platform, the disk refuses to work at all. It is worth considering this when buying. In general, the drive is good: it does not heat up significantly even under intense loads.

Kingston SA400S37 / 120G

120 GB solid-state drive for installing the operating system and all necessary programs. Based on TLC memory chips.This type of memory is characterized by high speed, but its endurance is slightly worse than that of 3D NAND. Connection to a PC or laptop is carried out using the SATA 6Gb / s interface. The drive reads data from the surface at a speed of 500 MB / s. And the recording takes place at 320 megabits.

The TBW (Total Bytes Written) is 40 TB. Endurance is not at the highest level. At the same time, MTBF is at the level of 1,000,000 hours. There is support for NCQ and TRIM technologies. The disk works with 4 KB sectors. The manufacturer guarantees the operation of his device for 1095 days. The 2.5-inch form factor allows you to successfully use the drive in both PCs and laptops.

A drive designed to install the OS and the necessary software. He completely copes with this task. It works relatively quickly, it heats up minimally. Compatible with many motherboards and processors. I just plugged it in and forgot. Only a small resource is alarming. But for a couple of years it should definitely be enough.

Western Digital WD BLUE 3D NAND SATA SSD 500 GB (WDS500G2B0A)

Product with TLC 3D NAND memory from a reputable manufacturer. Its volume is 500 gigabytes. This is enough not only for the operating system and software, but also for games. The drive is controlled by the Marvell 88SS1074 controller. The connection is carried out via the SATA III interface. Reads data from a disk at a speed of 560 MB / s, writes at 530 megabits. This is an excellent result for a device of this kind.

TBW is at 200 TB. This means that the disc will live at least 5 years before becoming unusable. MTBF - 1,750,000 hours. There is full support for options such as TRIM and NCQ. During operation and at idle, the drive can withstand impacts of 1500 G. The manufacturer has established a warranty period for the product in the amount of 1800 days. This means that the company is confident in its products.

Excellent quality universal type disc. It can be successfully used in gaming systems. Real speeds are fully consistent with those stated. But note that the drive won't work with some MacBooks. Some PCs will have to update the BIOS. But it's worth it. The speed gain is significant.

Western Digital WD GREEN PC SSD 240 GB (WDS240G2G0A)

Solid state drive based on TLC 3D NAND memory. It has a capacity of 240 GB. This is enough for the operating system and all the necessary applications. In this model, a Silicon Motion controller is installed, which allows you to correctly control the operation of the device. The used SATA III interface allows the drive to read data at 545 megabits. The write speed is not much different from the read speed.

The MTBF of the device is 1,000,000 hours. Sectors of 4 KB are supported, and the drive can withstand mechanical stress up to 1500 G. Normal operation of the device is possible at temperatures up to 70 degrees Celsius. The disc weighs only 32 grams. The universal 2.5 ”form factor allows you to use the device with equal success in classic PCs and laptops.The warranty period is 1080 days.

The drive is excellent for its price. Its volume allows you to use the disk for the operating system and programs. Well defined on any machine, does not require any additional configuration. With intensive work, it heats up weakly. And its resource is about 5 years. A very high quality product for replacing the classic HDD.

Silicon Power SP120GBSS3S55S25

Model with TLC memory. Suitable only for the needs of the operating system and some programs, since the volume is 120 GB. The device is controlled by the Phison PS3108 controller. It is he who is responsible for speed. This model reads data at 560 MB / s and writes at 530 megabits. Not too bad considering the memory type. The 2.5 standard form factor allows the drive to be used in laptops. And the SATA interface is used for connection.

There is full support for TRIM, NCQ and other necessary technologies. The product is compatible with motherboards of various generations. Its MTBF is equal to 1500000 hours. But the endurance isn't nearly as impressive. The disc can withstand impacts of 1,500 G, even when in use. There is full support for 4K sectors. The device weighs only 74 grams. The manufacturer gives a warranty for the product for 1095 days.

I bought a replacement for the deceased drive from OCZ. It turned out that this one is no worse. And the speed is even better than the dear dead man. It copes well with any load and does not get too hot. The dimensions allow it to be installed in an old laptop without any problems (which I did). Confused by a small resource. But, it seems that the laptop will die faster than he.

SanDisk SDSSDA-240G-G26

Option for laptop and desktop computer with TLC memory. Able to connect only using the SATA III interface. The built-in controller provides a read speed of 530 MB / s. Writing to the drive occurs at a speed of 440 MB / s. At the same time, there is full support for 4 KB sectors. Naturally, the drive works with all required technologies (including TRIM and NCQ).

The disk capacity is 240 gigabytes. This is enough for the operating system, software, and even games. At rest, as well as in operation, the device can withstand a mechanical load of 1500 G without any consequences. The drive can safely operate at temperatures up to 70 degrees Celsius. The product has a sturdy plastic case with a compact size. This is why it fits into almost any laptop. Even the thinnest.

Surprisingly, the disc fully complies with the declared characteristics. It can significantly increase the performance of even an old computer. There is even compatibility with old motherboards. The sturdy case reliably protects the insides from damage. Truly the best drive I've ever had.

Samsung MZ-V6E250BW

The only drive for the M2 slot in our review. For its work, it uses the PCI-E 3.0 x4 interface. The disk can read data at a speed of 3200 MB / s. And the recording is carried out at a speed of 1500 MB / s. The type of memory used is TLC 3D NAND. Another feature: data encryption is fully supported, which increases the security when using the drive. There is support for NCQ and TRIM technologies.

NVMe technology is also supported. It allows you to achieve even better performance on matching motherboards. MTBF is 1,500,000 hours. The disc easily takes impacts with a force of 1500 G. But it is devoid of a housing. Therefore, a certain effort can break it. Installation requires an M2 port with a specific key. The storage capacity is 250 GB. This is enough for all tasks.

Incredibly fast storage. With it, the system actually starts up in three seconds. The speeds are no different from those stated. It is easy and simple to install. But he doesn't want to be friends with old motherboards in any way. Best used for newer hardware. It gets a little warm during intensive work. But it normal.

How to choose the right solid state drive

The choice of disk should be carried out depending on the requirements of a particular user. But at the same time, you also need to take into account the characteristics of each model. However, you should not pay attention to all the parameters. It is enough just to consider the key features. Now we will tell you what is worth looking at first.

• Memory type. It depends on it how efficient the drives will be and how long it will live. At the moment, devices with TLC 3D NAND memory are considered the best option. They have the largest resource. If there are none in the desired category, then you can look at the options with TCL. They're pretty good too. And devices with MLC memory are best avoided altogether. Yes, they are almost gone on the market. So there shouldn't be any problems.
• Connection interface. Important because your motherboard may not have an M2 slot. If you buy such a drive, you simply won't be able to use it. There are several interfaces: SATA (classic), M2, PCI Express. You need to choose the right one depending on the characteristics of your computer or laptop.
• Form Factor For laptops and computers, the 2.5 ”standard is suitable. it's almost like a classic hard drive, only much thinner. Such a drive will fit into any device. The M2 format (it comes in different sizes) is used in cases where you need to save as much space as possible. But first you need to make sure that the correct connector is in the computer.
• Controller. Determines the speed of the disk, as well as the functions that it will support. It's good to know that the best controllers come from Samsung. But they are used exclusively in drives from the same manufacturer. And the prices for them are higher than for similar products from other brands. Nevertheless, if you need reliability, then you should not save on this.