Blog – Dan Joannis

Cheap Solid State Drives Are, In Fact, Cheap

As of the last year or two, SSDs stopped being expensive, enthusiast-level components. The prices fell dramatically, and new players joined the game. Companies like ADATA, Patriot, and Sillicon Power undercut the prices of all major brands like Corsair, Samsung, and Intel.

How is it possible for those budget-friendly brands to sell a $70 drive that matches the speed, IOPS, and capacity of a $150 big-brand drive?

I’ve spent money on both kinds, and it seems the answer lies in changes under the hood that the average user won’t notice.

Let’s take a look at the ADATA SX900, compared with the Patriot Blast and a cameo by the ADATA SP550.

› Continue reading

Tags: failure, hard drive, mlc, ssd, tlc