Samsung 64GB SATA-II SSD Review

by Les Tokar

Late last year, Samsung announced it would join the ranks of solid state drive (SSD) manufacturers such as Mtron and Memoright by introducing a SATA II solid state drive capable of read/write speeds in the area of 100MB/s. This was followed in February of this year by a Direct2Dell article entitled ‘Improved SSD Performance Coming Soon'. This article announced that the new Samsung drive would soon be introduced into Dell systems and would tackle three concerns expressed by bloggers, these being performance, size and price.

It was around this period that reader comments began pouring in to NotebookReview.com and Dell.com asking if the Samsung drive would be a viable SSD and stand up to the claims. Thanks to all the hard work of Dell Community Liaison Bill B (Dell -Bill B), I have just received and installed the Samsung 64GB SATA II SSD and I've put it through its paces much as this amusing Samsung SSD video does here.

Specifications

The test laptop is a Dell XPS M1330 with an Intel T7300 2GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB OCZ SDRAM, an NVidia 8400 graphics adapter and running on Vista Ultimate 64-Bit operating system.

The solid state drive is listed as a Samsung 2.5" 64GB SSD SATA-2 with a p/n of MCCDE64G5MPP-OVA and manufacturing date of 27 March 2008. It's firmware version is PS105014 and Rev. 0. A website dedicated to this ssd can be found here.

Compatability and Installation

Installation of this solid state drive into your laptop is a breeze. Simply backup and remove your old drive, replace it with this drive, boot to disk and restore your saved settings or install your operating system once again. I can confirm that the jump from SATA to SATA II on the drive creates no problems in compatibility whatsoever.

If you're a Dell owner, insert the new SSD and follow my Clean Install Guide here at NotebookReview.com!

Testing Software and Benchmarks

I elected to add to the line-up of benchmarking programs a bit on this review and went with PCMark05, ATTO, HDTune, HDTach, CrystalDiskMark 2.1 as well as a little known program called Datamarck. All results were very similar and the read speeds of the Samsung SATA II were consistently around the 100MB/s mark with write speeds at 80-90MB/s mark and a disk access time of .2ms. This is quite an accomplishment for a company that released one of the first consumer SSDs less than a year ago and can now boast of doubling it's performance results simply through advancement of their controller technology and flash alone.

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The surprise came with the result of the PCMark05 score which is the highest tested benchmark received from any SSD tested by myself yet and is also Futuremark's top score for systems of the same configuration. This result was head and shoulders above both of the industries top contenders mentioned above.

Availability and Pricing

In checking around the Dell website, one can see that this SSD (simply identified as the "Ultra Performance SSD&quot is presently available as a configuration option with the Dell Precision and Latitude models as well as the XPS M1730. Community Liaison Bill B. relates that this drive will be available on all models within a few weeks time. In searching the internet, it doesn't appear to be offered on its own which appears to be the norm with Samsung preferring to sell its drives to manufacturers for resale as a system option.

The pricing for this SSD appears to be $1,130 when purchasing it with a Precision M6300, $100 more than the Samsung SATA SSD with significantly lower performance results. Dell seems to be making a lot of changes on their site recently as I also noticed it priced at $850 a few days back. A keen eye would have made a decent savings on that setup.

Comparatively speaking, your Samsung SSD purchase is getting you the same performance as you would from both other contenders, only at twice the storage capacity since this is a 64GB drive vice their 32GB SSDs for the same price.

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Conclusion

Samsung and Dell sought to introduce us to a new SSD which would successfully tackle three barriers in the SSD industry; performance limitations, capacity and pricing. At the end of the day, although we would like to see prices drop significantly, they did bring us a high performance SSD, available in both 32GB and 64GB sizes and at a very small price difference from original offerings. I would suggest this small "bump" can most likely quite easily be negotiated in new system purchases.

The overall benefits of an SSD reach well beyond pricing to include complete silence, less heat, longer portable battery life, extreme shock resistance if the laptop is dropped and an incredible lifespan. Coupled with lightning fast access times and far superior read/write benchmarks, this SSD is a whole new ball game for consumers.

Pros

• Speed matches that of upper tier SSDs
• 64GB capacity an improvement over past releases
• No great price increase over former Samsung release
• Two million hours mean time between failures (this will probably outlast ownership)

Cons

• Lack of availability to purchase SSD on its own
• General price of SSD still out of reach for consumers
• Consumers still seek greater capacity in storage

 

Nice review Les, and very nice results on the unit. I am just drooling at the day when I can afford one of these. The way it looks, it might not happen while the m1330 is still my primary notebook.

 

Are there any rumors of desktop versions of SSDs? I assume that these would be priced slightly better.

 

You can buy the rebadged version of this drive on newegg. It's being sold as a OCZ SATA II drive. I bought the OCZ from newegg two weeks ago and I'm impressed with it.

 

Great article, Les.

I'm really itching to get an SSD in my next notebook (waiting for Montevina).

The numbers look fantastic. Seeing as how my current HDD is 60 GB and I have 10-15 GB free, as well as an 80 GB external HDD, a 64 GB SSD would be awesome. I really like that the price didn't increase with the performance.

 

SSD is THE future. But first, the prices need to go down

 

Samsung is the biggest, and one of the most innovated electronics technology company, and it doesn't disappoint us here. Great Review

 

Nice review and some excellent performance measurements. Shame about the price. I think that a smaller SSD (possibly as integrated flash memory) plus a normal HDD for capacity might be the best compromised for the next year or two.

John

 

Actually, I have been watching and one can get this ssd at a decent price. Right now this ssd can be had on the M1330 for $650 which is the BEST I have seen for any ssd of this size or performance yet.

It's almost like they are rotating which system will have the best price on the ssds daily. I assisted another in buying his M1530 with the Ultra SSD less than a week ago but this morning they are not listed for sale with that ssd again.

And thank you for the positive comments all.

 

I am so sold on SSDs, due in no small part to Les's articles.

I predict the prices will go down by at least 50% each year. That means by Summer 2009, hopefully I can get a 64GB drive just like this one for around $500.

Yay for new tech!

 

SSD's really are the future. We are counting on you, rich current buyers, to provide the companies the funds necessary in developing higher capacity SSD's and to hasten the process of 'normalizing' prices

 

Should hope so....that's around 220 years lol

 

I'm sold too. but you're expecting $500 for a 64GB? I'm personally, and I bet most people out there are not THAT power/performance hungry to drop $500 on a smallish hard drive. I'll save that money and buy a significantly better laptop 1 or 2 years down the road.

Until these things can compete in price with normal HDDs, I can't see myself buying one. My laptop sits on the desk most of the time, and I'll just be careful not to drop it.

 

LOL,

No disrespect but when I read this part of your post I did chuckle a bit. I know it's not quite the same but when I read your words it rings like...

Until CD-Roms can compete in price with floppy disks, I can't see myself buying one.

-Or-

Until DVD-Roms can compete in price with CD's, I can't see myself buying one.

Well my friend, I suspect if you're that patient you'll see SSD's are going to be in the running of today's Blu-Ray.

Today, they're very expensive, but tomorrow who will still be using old DVDs? But I don't think that the two products will be competitively priced with each other... It's hard to imagine a company selling you a better product at the same competitive price as its out-classed replacement. Incase my wording is off, let me put it to you this way.

I'd rather buy a Corvette than a Mustang but not until it can compete in price with the mustang. See a flaw in this reasoning?

 

i can their different models they are not successors to one another so its a very silly piece of reasoning

ssd's are supposed to replace mechanical drives in due time not compete with them , there is no turf war here eventually mechanical drives will be obsolete except for maybe certain niche's

floppy drives and cd drives are very differnt things alltogether its not like one was going to use the old ones form factor or connections , not even close!

and the transition wont happen very quickly im sure you will still notice cd's given their age are still very much in use and i still use them on occasion its not like dvd's came along and cd's were forgotten each of the products u mention all had and some still do function inline with what they were supposed to replace

 

Double the storage and halve the cost and I'm in. I predict December 2008.

 

Samsung plans on getting 256 GB SSDs out by December 2008 effectively quadrupling the capacity in just a year.

Thanks for the review Les. I've been waiting for these drives to come out since I saw the article on Dells blog.

 

Dell/Samsung are having a 128GB preproduction sent to me for review in the next month or two, not to mention the larger capacity mlc Mtron 1000 series which are again delayed and I am guaranteed the exclusive on and their new 1.8" 128Gb ssd which will break the 120MB/s barrier blowing away all other 1.8" ssds.

I'de like to do a review on these but the site has identified to me a change in direction with respect to SSD reviews. It is being suggested that I look elsewhere to post my reviews. I don't really understand it but, if allowed, would of course post links to wherever the review is posted.

I will remain here in the forums to help out anybody needing assistance of course.

 

WOW. That'll be amazing!!!!

Although this 64 gig is still very expensive, it's cheaper than some of the leading brands out there and is just as fast too. Hope prices keep dropping faster!!!! but for now, i'll stick with good ol' mechanical drives.

 

This sounds like a shame on the face of it. Our own in house expert. This technology will really take off when costs come down. And I think someday we may almost forget notebooks where once not all solid state. I don't know how soon but I started in I think 2000 with a top of the line notebook 450 PIII 8MB GPU and 11.2GB HDD. So a lot has changed.

 

I'm waiting for the prices to drop and the problems to be discovered/fixed.

 

Can't wait for more SSD capacity my 32G SSD forces me to haul around an external.

 

BEGIN DISCLAIMER
The characters, events and websites described in this post are fictitious. Any similarity to actual events, websites as well as persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
END DISCLAIMER

BEGIN HYPOTHETICAL REASONING
If I was conspiracy oriented (which I occasionally am) I would tell you that the NBR staff is attempting to do a hostile takeover of your position as main SSD-reviewer on NBR. By telling you to not post your reviews on NBR, they are effectively positioning themselves to contact the SSD-manufacturers themselves and tell them that Les is no longer doing the SSD-reviews for us, you have to deal with us directly if you want reviews of your products published.

At least that is the only explanation I can think of, especially considering how they often let home-made notebook and bag/case reviews of questionable quality be published on their front page.

NBR is their site and they of course may do as they choose. However, if I were in your shoes, I would be a wee bit mad, as I would view NBR’s actions as if they were trying to forcibly take over and capitalize on the prime SSD-review position built, by simply kicking you to the curb.

The bad part (for you) is that NBR has a good possibility of taking over your position as well as marginalizing you since they control/own the NBR visitors/readers.

If NBR has really made up their mind, I see only one avenue of action that would preserve your position with the SSD manufacturers, while having the added bonus of throwing a wrench in NBR’s takeover plans.

If you find the above reasoning plausible and want to hear my idea, let me know.
END HYPOTHETICAL REASONING

The above post is of course purely fictional. NBR would of course never do something unethical as hypothesized above ;-).

 

Thank you for the support. Treading lightly, lets stay on topic here with respect to this review. I am sure this can be shut down all the while maintaining the article up front.

I understand that every move they make is for the best of the site, through their scope of view in any case.

I am more than happy to help anybody out by pm or here with respect to anything I can assist with.

Thanks again.

Did I mention this can be had with a new Dell for $650? That is a great price for new purchasers.

 

Les, I'm sorry that, for whatever reason, the powers that be here have decided to treat you like this, given what you have contributed to this community.

ObOn-topic:

*cackle*

I'm seriously chomping at the bit to receive my new M1330.

Overall, I was quite pleased with the Latitude D430 from the Dell Outlet that I evaluated which had a 64GB 1st Generation PATA SSD, but then I realized that for $600 more I could have a brand new unit with glossy screen, more RAM, faster CPU, 4 years of complete warranty and accident coverage, and the newest SATA II SSD to boot.

I had a bit of an "OH SH*T!" moment last night as I realized that, at $2K, this is the most expensive computer I've ever purchased... desktop, laptop, or otherwise.

Egads.

 

Trust me...you are going to LOVE this system! If your gonna go, go big right?

 

So I guess the SSD in my XPS (from a couple of months ago) is the first gen SSD, eh? Darn, coulda had this baby instead if I had waited!

Edit: I don't know what's going on with the discounting at Dell but I just added the 'Ultra' 64GB SSD to my XPS1330 config for a mere $400. Itching to pull the trigger!

 

And it is a $450 option on the M1530 today. They seem to clearing out inventory or something!

Or maybe we really ARE in a recession....

 

Link?

I'm only seeing $650-800 additional, depending on the config you start with...

 

Same here; where are you getting these cheap prices from? The SSD still costs $800 when I look at it...

 

Oh, I followed th 3-day/40% off link in bargins: http://www.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/three_day_sale_nb?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

and then hit "Customize".

 

Wow!!! That is the best price imagined I am sure. You won't see that too often!

 

Yeah, but they boost the starting price of the system (or other components) to compensate. I just configured an identitical M1330 to the one I configured the other day, and the end price including tax was within $20 of the one I configured where I had to add $650 for the 64GB SSD.

 

And that included 4Gb RAM, Nvidia 8400, and Wifi N with 2 years NBD at home warranty?

 

Actually Integrated X3100 graphics, but 4-year NBD/On Site/CompleteCare.

 

Well, I configured a M1530 with the T9300. SSD AND the BD drive with four year complete care/lojack warranty for $2400 shipped (NY taxes). That laptop was close to $4000 without discounts. I think that's a great deal although I think I will ride it out.

 

Les,

Great review! With those read and write speeds, the drive looks awesome! I just wanted to ask if you had screen shots of the HD Tune/HD Tach benchmarks that you performed. The ones you posted are a little small to read for my eyes..

As always, I thank you for your contributions to this site!

 

Les, do you think the 128gb system your going to get in a few months could make its way into the E4300 that's (scheduled) coming out in september this year? I am very patiently waiting for that unit but I need more than just the 64ssd they are offering. I would really like to see the 250gb ssd option someone mentioned but I'm afraid that wouldn't make its way out until mid '09. I really appreciate your feedback on this topic, good discussion.

 

I have heard the 128Gb option in Dell will be very price dependent. You will most likely see them released in the business line as cost is not such a factor then but who knows right? I am still surprised the 64Gb SATA II was an upgradeable option at only $420 yesterday.

Booji,

I will post those on the New SSD thread when I update that in the next few days or so if thats ok.

 

Thanks Les! Appreciate it as always!

 

Hi Guys,

I got my hands on one of these Samsung SATA II SSDs and I wanted to include a comparison between the Samsung SATA I 64gb SSD and a SATA II 64 GB SSD. I have attached them to this post. Both drives were connected via an eSATA connection when tested. Both drives were not in use. The SATA II drive was completely empty (i.e. formatted). The SATA I drive was about 50% filled.

Hope this helps a few who are trying to appreciate the performance gain...

SATA I:



SATA II:

 

Darn...I have the SATA one and I wanna upgrade it to the SATA II...

 

I picked up a new XPS M1330 for work and it arrived yesterday, I've blown away everything and re-installed and Vista is running well with it. The problem I have is that when I run performance benchmarks against the 64GB SSD drive I get half the performance shown in this review. Boot times seem about on par as my Dell D820 with it's 7200RPM HD. I checked the BIOS and the drivers and I am running AHCI, at these speeds the $600 upgrade is not worth it. Anyone know where I can start to look for a misconfiguration somewhere?

 

Are you sure you got one of the new SATA II SSDs? You might have gotten one of the old ones...

 

Robr,

My guess is that you have the original SATA 1. Easy to check...With the system off, just unscrew the 4 HD screws and pull out the ssd. Look to see if it is a SATA or SATA II.

 

Well, looks like that is exactly my problem. So I pay $600 for an upgrade to a 64GB SSD drive and I get an old version of it? I thought the SATA-II version was readily available at Dell. Dell doesn't show specific info when configuring the notebook, how is a consumer to know what they are getting.

 

Actually, depending on what day you ordered, it would have been listed as "Ultraperformance".

Thought for you... Contact Dell and tell them that you ordered and thought you were getting the SATA II if it you just received the system. I say this because there were a few days when the SATA II was priced as a 650 upgrade.

 

RobR, definetly call up Dell to see whats up. As Les mentioned, there were two options for SSDs during the transition stage - the "reliability" option which was the older SATA I ssd, and the "ultra performance" option which is the newer SATA II ssd.

 

Well, I talked to Dell and they say that they don't have the SATA-II drive available as an option yet, has anyone here actually ordered an M1330 that came with this drive?

 

They certainly did have them available. They changed their site around again. They must have only been available for a short time as a special option.