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ANVIL STORAGE UTILITIES PROFESSIONAL (RC1)
It had been in the test phase for some time but Anvil Storage utilities is now available without an expiring date stamp on it. Not only does it have a preset SSD benchmark, but also, it has included such things as endurance testing and threaded I/O read, write and mixed tests, all of which are very simple to understand and use in our benchmark testing.
The high sequential write speeds are getting just a bit low for our liking but, considering this SSD is constructed to be a caching SSD and only has two modules of NAND flash memory that would limit its performance, we still like what we see.
The SSD Review uses benchmark software called PCMark Vantage x64 HDD Suite to create testing scenarios that might be used in the typical user experience. There are eight tests in all and the tests performed record the speed of data movement in MB/s to which they are then given a numerical score after all of the tests are complete. The simulations are as follows:
- Windows Defender In Use
- Streaming Data from storage in games such as Alan Wake which allows for massive worlds and riveting non-stop action
- Importing digital photos into Windows Photo Gallery
- Starting the Vista Operating System
- Home Video editing with Movie Maker which can be very time consuming
- Media Center which can handle video recording, time shifting and streaming from Windows media center to an extender such as XBox
- Cataloging a music library
- Starting applications
MYDIGITALSSD SC2 128GB M.2 SATA 6G SSD VANTAGE SCORE
The Total Score obtained by the SC2 was 45644 and this is a bit low, however, we wanted to highlight the data transfer speed of 345MB/s while testing in media center. This is a definite credit to the SC2.
REPORT ANALYSIS AND FINAL THOUGHTS
If I know Matt Dawson (CEO of MyDigitalSSD) as well as I think I do, he is probably pulling his hair out right now fresh off the second round of colorful expletives that can’t be written here. After all, he provided two of the his newest Super Cache 2 M.2 SSDs , at different capacities, fully expecting they be reviewed in an appropriate laptop, such as the Lenovo Y510 that we have on hand for instance. Been there,done that… When we thought of the pure SSD/cached HDD configuration that would be entirely possible with this SSD, testing the SC2 as the native SSD it is just made sense. In short, I wondered whether the SC2 could survive as a dual-boot/cache drive in the same instance. That’s why came it to our main test bench.
To look at performance, we need to understand that the low write performance isn’t the effect of the Phison controller whatsoever, it is the aftermath of only having two modules of NAND flash memory routing into the controller. This limits performance and it is an inevitable reality when we are considering the fact that this SSD is only 42mm long. It still has great read performance, great access times and, by all indicators, there isn’t a person in the world that could differentiate between this SSD and any other in a typical user scenario system performance test. To compare this SSD to the hard drive if it were to be the boot drive would be like racing a Ford Focus against a Ferrari, the Ferrari of course being the SC2.
Without exception we have to look at value. Matt made an interesting decision in the SSD configuration as, on one hand we see premium NAND flash memory yet, the controller is mid-level. Checking out Amazon, this 128GB SSD sells for $89.99 and that includes HybriDisk. That’s a killer low price and really, no more needs to be said, considering this comes with a 3 year warranty as well.
Considering MyDigitalSSD were amongst the first to jump on the M.2 SSD train, added a solution that simply makes alot of sense when we look at a SSD/HDD combination, and then priced it even below most of the typical SSDs we see today, once again the SC2 M.2 SSD gets Editor’s Choice.
Check Out MyDigitalSSD Super Cache 2 SSD Pricing at Amazon
I think the choice of 42mm size is a smart one as it matches the small confines of many current laptops, specifically the latest Lenovo Thinkpads such as the T440x.
It’s $99.99, not $89.99
It’s $89.99…just clicked the link.
And now it’s $80. The mSATA has held steady at $89.99.
However, the M.2 SATA mentioned in this article was $99.99 when I first posted and very recently dropped to $80.
I hope this isn’t asking too much but would be the process or sequence to use this a dual boot/cache ssd? I’m building a system soon, when I’m installing windows would I create say a 60gb partition for windows then install the hybridisk software and just select the other half of the ssd to be the cache? Is it that easy? Would still want to leave ~20% unused for trim?
The SSD is already TRIM compliant so no worries…..and yes it is that easy. Install the SSD and hard drive. Partition the SSD and install Windows. Install Hybridisk and partiton for the remaining SSD logical drive as your cache…simple as that.
Now you have a pure SSD boot and cached hard drive with perfrormance close to that of a SSD.
when i install this, i partition 40gb for my OS and 24gb for the caching but do i stall hybridrive on the OS partition or the other unused (unallocated space) also do i need to make the other space not used for the OS into another volume. please include correct installation details please very interested but this hardware being so new i cant find to much as far as guides or walkthroughs.
Hello,
When we have a 128gb ssd , the optimal partitioning could be like this ?
100 gb for windows and most used programs
20 gb for cache
8 gb for windows cache (like linux partition, if it works for windows?)
Do you have any suggestions ?
Thanks for the reply! I was only eyeing a 120gb drive to use for the OS because I don’t really have the coin for a higher capacity ssd and didn’t want to get caught up in what’s worthy of going on the ssd, continuously uninstalling programs, or moving files to make room. This sounds like great way to use some of that left over space on the ssd to leverage performance from a platter drive; exciting stuff. I’m going to be using the asus maximus vi impact which is mITX and has that additional adapter that you weren’t fond of on your review of the ADATA AXNS360E back in September. Any concern’s there? Thanks again for the reply.
The only reason I wasn’t fond of it was because it was a last minute implementation that limited the size of the M.2 SSD we could use at the time. IN addition, it is limited to a single PCIe lane.
It is still a M.2 SSD solution, however, and if you have the compatible SSD…all the power!
Hi I just bought one of these for my Elitebook 840 G1 with a 500gb hdd and will use as dual boot/cache device. What partition ratio would you advise? is 20gb enough for hdd caching?
Would you also install programs on the ssd or only the OS?
I might go with a 30/40 cache and yes…OS and programs on the SSD.
Hi Les, I got the m.2 drive and managed to migrate the OS (Win 8.1) with EaseUS backup…al working well. I installed Hybrid Disk but it won’t show me the HDD as a master for caching…it only shows the SSD? Any idea why? could it be that the migrations was not successful?
I was considering the 128gb version of this drive as boot drive for a thinkpad t440p. Then I read your review and now it seems that using it as cache may make more sense. Why mess around with having 2 logical drives and restrictions on what can be stored in C:, when you can have almost as good performance using it in cache mode. In which case I can save some money by getting the 64gb version, which should be enough for cache for the 500gb main HDD. What are your thoughts on that?
You could go that route but, IMHO, these drives have a wicked price point. I would favor 64GB for the OS and then the remainder as a cache, rather than 32GB for the OS.
I was thinking 64gb as cache, no separate partition for the OS. That way you keep it simple with only one logical drive.
I’ve just ordered a Lenovo S540 and it comes with a 1 TB HDD (5400 rpm) + a 16 GB M.2 SSD for caching. This leads to several questions related to the SC2 Super Cache 2:
1. Could I swap out the 16 GB M.2 that comes with the Lenovo, replace it with the MyDigitalSSD SC2 Super Cache 2, install the OS and apps on it and use it as the primary boot drive?
2. What’s the difference between the MyDigitalSSD 128GB Super Boot Drive and the MyDigitalSSD SC2 Super Cache 2 42mm SATA III 6G M.2 NGFF M2 SSD Solid State Drive?
3. How reliable is this M.2 SSD in comparison to a Crucial MX100 or a Samsung EVO?
4. Would it just make more sense to pluck the M.2 and HHD from the computer and install a 500 GB Crucial MX100 or a Samsung EVO?
Thanks in advance for any feedback / advice on this.