Solid state drives are becoming more desirable purchase and almost mandatory attribute of any system. SSD market is rapidly developing, and the practical interest are not only the new devices. After the regular price cuts, sometimes already proven models offer so attractive price, volume and capacity, they are automatically placed on the list of possible purchases when choosing a particular model of SSD. Today we look at Transcend SSD370S 256GB review drive of 256 GB.
COMPARE PRICES
Line drives Transcend SSD370S 256GB review was introduced back in 2014. Then TLC chips only gaining momentum, because the models used for the midrange flash chip MLC with a large amount of resource being overwritten.
Series Transcend SSD370S 256GB review includes storage capacity from 32 GB to 1 TB, allowing you to select the device the necessary capacity for specific tasks. Yes, the SSD 64 GB and 32 GB on a particular can be considered as solutions for some specific conditions, however, the opportunity to get a high-speed drive for only $ 25 may well come in handy.
For desktops and laptops can now be considered as a minimum of 128 GB, and rational choice – 256 GB, because the latter offer a much more attractive cost of storing 1 GB of data.
For drives, Transcend SSD370S 256GB review used TS6500 controller. For mysterious markings hidden fairly well-known Silicon Motion SN2246EN chip. This 4-channel controller, installed in the middle-class SSD. The performance of the SoC is enough for SATA-drives, but SSD capabilities increasingly define defines the firmware.
Manufacturers are actively transferred SSD line of entry-level flash memory TLC, which makes it easier to reduce the cost of solid-state drives and compete with many competitors in the market. At the same time, these architecture chips have the considerably smaller number of overwrites resource than chips based on MLC. However, the device in the past is still available, even for relatively inexpensive SSD. In the case of Transcend SSD370S use MLC chips from Micron, manufactured according to the standards 20 nm. To speed up the transfer of data drives are also equipped with DDR3 cache buffer at 512 MB.
The drives support the TRIM command line to completely erase the data, as well as enabling lower power consumption DevSleep SSD technology.
We tested got Transcend SSD370S 256GB review. The device comes in a box of average size on the SSD which has a photo, include the name of the line, the large storage volume is selected, there is also the reference to the use of flash memory MLC.
For safety during transport, the contents of the box are further packed in a plastic blister. The set comes with SSD metal bracket, a set of eight mounting screws, quick installation guide and information leaflets with a list of products offered Transcend.
Additional adapters may be needed for SSD mount on the base for 3.5-inch drives. Age Corps desktops often do not have a special seat for fixing the 2.5-inch device, because exactly like bracket will not be superfluous.
DESIGN
Drive Transcend SSD370S 256GB review has an aluminum body with a native metal color. SSD weighs only 63 grams and has a reduced thickness – 6.8 mm. Picking up the device, it creates a lasting impression that this is a hollow shell, but it is misleading.
The surface of the practical, not her fingerprints, although the drive, you probably will watch once when installing the system, it is certainly not the main criterion.
On the top panel applied the name of the manufacturer and the largest company logo.
On the bottom, there is a dimensional label that lists the name of the series and the specific model, its scope, the connection interface and a serial number. Here are the requirements for power supply, and a reminder that the drive is made in Taiwan.
Chassis design folding. The panels are connected to screw terminals. In this case, the manufacturer does not recommend to look under the cap, prudently covering some screws protective stickers. If you do not want to void your warranty, it is best to keep them in the original form.
To connect Transcend SSD370S 256GB review used Interface SATA 6 Gb / s. Of course, the backward compatibility with previous generation standard, but in this case the performance is limited.
SPECIFICATIONS
With regard to high-speed performance, the model 256 GB claimed speed reading at 560 MB / c, recording – 320 MB / c. When working with 4K blocks are possible transfers at 300 MB / c, while the number of IOPS can reach 70,000 IOPS.
Model 256 GB also has an impressive stock of guaranteed data records – 280 TB (TBW). Against the background of 100 TB, which often indicate the scope of such models with TLC, this figure seems to be much more impressive.
After formatting under NTFS, the actual amount of available storage is 238 GB.
APPENDIX TRANSCEND SSD SCOPE
To service the SSD manufacturer suggests using the firmware application SSD Scope.
The utility is informative, not overloaded with additional options. You can view basic information about the drive, the current settings S.M.A.R.T., as well as to evaluate the degree of wear of flash memory cells.
Also available rapid test performance and have the opportunity to perform a drive scan. We see the start of 500 MB / c to read and almost 400 MB / c for the linear recording. When random access speed operations close to 300 MB / c.
The app allows you to clone the partition, making it easier to upgrade the platform during the transition from the hard drive to the SSD.
In the last tab, you can check and update the firmware with a new version.
PERFORMANCE
For primary storage capacity assessment, we used a customary set of test applications. Peak linear transfers to determine the ATTO Disk Benchmark.
As the results of measurement, the peak linear read speed of Transcend SSD370S 256GB review may be close to about 550 MB / c. It is very close to these statements. At the same time sequential write speed of greater than 380 MB / c. It was, perhaps, a pleasant surprise as we were expecting to see the order of 320 MB / c, referred to in the specification.
CrystalDiskMark 5.2.0 also records similar figures for the linear read / write speed. The performance with 4K blocks slightly lower than that of the most high-speed models, particularly for read operations. Given the amount of storage, we can talk about average for its class.
AS SSD Benchmark is even more strict in their assessments. Linear speed – 501/375 MB / c. At the same time while working with 4K blocks with queue depth equal to 64 drive even slightly exceeded the declared values, showing 72-75 000 IOPS.
To make sure that the drive has no problems with continuous recording, we used the appropriate subtest in the AIDA64. Finally got almost exactly the graph at 380 MB / c. Recall that virtually all the available SSD model on the basis of TLC chips are logical SLC-buffer a certain amount that can support at the level of the recording speed, close to the maximum. However, if the flow exceeds the amount of the cache, the performance is significantly reduced. The data recorded at speeds of 80-150 MB / c. Not that this was a problem, because in a typical system usage often arise pause, during which the cache is updated, and the speed of recovery, but in the case of MLC even theoretically, there is no such nuances.
In order not to rely on the synthetic results, in practice, we have seen the reality of the data. While copying video files, totaling 19 GB of storage on the other Transcend SSD370S 256GB review, the data writing speed was approximately 380-390 MB / c.
In operation, the drive has no problems with heating. SSD enclosure remains barely warm after prolonged load. Transcend SSD370S has a built-in temperature sensor, but the diagnostic utilities are not able to correctly interpret the figures. Even in the latest versions of CrystalDiskInfo and AIDA64 values fluctuated within uninformative «7-11 ° C”.
PRICE
The cost of SSDs gradually reduced. The price is still one of the most important criteria for selecting a specific SSD model. A 256-gigabyte version of Transcend SSD370S in retail sales worth about $ 85 (~ 2200 USD.). It’s definitely not the cheapest model of the corresponding volume. Devices based on TLC already storming the mark of $ 65 for the same amount. However, in a cohort of drives based on MLC is one of the available options. We draw attention to the fact that the sale is also available drives Transcend SSD370, which are based on an identical hardware platform but have a plastic shell thickness of 7 mm.
Pros: Good performance for its class; thin aluminum body; proprietary software; chip flash memory cells MLC; the actual linear velocity of recording the above stated by the manufacturer; 3-year warranty; price
Cons: Average speed performance when working with 4K blocks; Features temperature display
Cons: Average speed performance when working with 4K blocks; Features temperature display
CONCLUSION
Transcend SSD370S 256GB review – SSD balanced midrange. The model leaves the impression of a good SSD with predictable performance and high-speed flash chips such as MLC, which provide a good resource overwritten. This drive has a slim aluminum body, functional corporate software, three-year warranty, and is offered at a reasonable price. It is very suitable very hackneyed, but the pertinent definition of “workhorse.” Not the fastest drive, but with stable performance and no obvious weaknesses.
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