Samsung 470 Series 256 GB SSD Review (30nm)

The Samsung 470 Series SSD is the top performing SSD tested since our first was published in 2007. If you are considering a SSD purchase, this article is a must as it compares four of the best SSDs available today. Read on!!!

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Solid state drives were first introduced to the consumer in 2007 and Samsung was one of the first out of the gate with their initial release of a a 64Gb slc SSD as we reviewed here on April 20, 2008. This would definitely mark Samsung as a pioneer in the SSD field and most agree that they seem to have weathered the well published growing pains of ssd hiccups rather well. This is due in part to their proprietary control over key SSD components that include the controller (Samsung S3C29MAX01-Y340)  , 256MB DDR2 (667Mhz) DRAM module and NAND flash memory chips. Samsung has a very unique way of displaying this on their ssd site here.

For those new to SSDs, most manufacturers assemble their products with components built elsewhere and the best example is that of SandForce controllers found in products sold by APacer, Corsair, G.Skill, Mushkin, OCZ, OWC, Patriot, Renice, and Super Talent to name just a few. Samsung and Toshiba play key roles in the same arena with their supply of NAND flash memory which is also used in many competitive SSD brands. In fact, the consumer can still find SSDs today that were originally completely manufactured by Intel and Samsung only to be sold to competing companies who then simply put their branding on the product and sold it as their own.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

This SSD review is going to examine the Samsung 470 Series 256GB SSD which has a product number of MZ5PA256HDMR – 0100 and firmware revision of AXM0601Q. The consumer version appears to be of brushed aluminum with an orange mark on the bottom right of the drive face, a marking that is fast becoming an easily recognizable trademark of Samsung SSDs. The SSD received by The SSD Review differs completely on the exterior and is a solid black plastic casing with a descriptive sticker on its face. A quick check with Samsung confirms that it is an evaluators version of the drive, pictured as below.

The most interesting view of this SSD is the actual shot of the circuit board. It contains Samsung 30nm NAND flash memory chips which are a great deal smaller than previous flash memory and will eventually provide for SSDs with a much larger storage capacity. It is fascinating that the entire circuit board is much smaller rather than simply using the same board with additional memory. Take a look at some pictures of the products interior as well as the new circuit board compared to that of another manufacturer using traditional sized board and memory.

SPECIFICATIONS

Model	470 Series	470 Series	470 Series
Capacity	64GB	128GB	256GB
Form factor	2.5-Inch	2.5-Inch	2.5-Inch
Dimensions (Height x Width x Length)	9.5×69.85×100 (mm)	9.5×69.85×100 (mm)	9.5×69.85×100 (mm)
Weight	Max 64g	Max 68g	Max 68g
Interface	Serial ATA 3.0Gbps	Serial ATA 3.0Gbps	Serial ATA 3.0Gbps
Sequential read	Up to 250 MB/sec	Up to 250 MB/sec	Up to 250 MB/sec
Sequential write	Up to 170 MB/sec	Up to 220 MB/sec	Up to 220 MB/sec
Random read1	Up to 31,000 IOPS	Up to 31,000 IOPS	Up to 31,000 IOPS
Random write1	Up to 11,000 IOPS	Up to 20,000 IOPS	Up to 21,000 IOPS
Active power use	0.24W	0.24W	0.24W
Idle power use	0.14W	0.14W	0.14W
Allowable voltage	5V± 5%	5V± 5%	5V± 5%
TRIM support2	YES	YES	YES
Reliability (MTBF)3	1.5 million hours	1.5 million hours	1.5 million hours
Warranty	3 year (= 21.9TBW, 20GB@day)	3 year (= 21.9TBW, 20GB@day)	3 year (= 21.9TBW, 20GB@day)
Temperature	-55? to 95? (Non-Operating)	-55? to 95? (Non-Operating)	-55? to 95? (Non-Operating)
Humidity	5% to 95% (Non-Operating)	5% to 95% (Non-Operating)	5% to 95% (Non-Operating)
Vibration	Operating: Random 2.17Grms(5~700Hz) Non-Operating: Random 3.13Grms(5~800Hz) Swept sine: 20G peak @10~2KHz	Operating: Random 2.17Grms(5~700Hz) Non-Operating: Random 3.13Grms(5~800Hz) Swept sine: 20G peak @10~2KHz	Operating: Random 2.17Grms(5~700Hz) Non-Operating: Random 3.13Grms(5~800Hz) Swept sine: 20G peak @10~2KHz
Shock	1500G, duration 0.5ms, Half Sine Wave	1500G, duration 0.5ms, Half Sine Wave	1500G, duration 0.5ms, Half Sine Wave

PG 1 – PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

PG 2 – TESTING CRITERIA

PG 3 – BENCHMARKS

PG 4 – FINAL THOUGHTS