Samsung 470 Series 256GB SSD Review – Final Thoughts

5.  PCMark Vantage X64

We left the best for last with respect to testing and one will soon see why.  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

Get ready for this because these charts are going to knock your socks off!!  We are going to compare scoring with the Samsung 470 Series 256GB, Crucial C300 64GB RealSSD in SATA3 mode, the OWC Mercury Extreme  Pro 120GB, and Intel X25m 160GB SSD.  We have no doubt whatsoever that these are four of the top SSDs to be found anywhere.

We are not fans of overall scoring given by the suite but the Samsung scored so much higher, we did the suite two more times.  For those of you familiar with these tests, thats an hour of testing alone.  Samsung scored an amazing, and all time high, 40664 points while the next best was the Crucial with 34020 and thats in SATA 3 mode.  This was followed by the OWC with 33042 and then the Intel at 31457 marks.  To give you an idea exactly how much better the SSD is than the hard drive, our Samsung 1.5TB drive scores a high 4345 marks.

Take a look at these performance speeds!!!!

FINAL THOUGHTS

After completing all testing, we just had to scour the net to find another review that would confirm what we have seen in every test conducted.  This is simply the best drive on the market.  The initial tests spoke for themselves but the Vantage scoring just blew all others out of the water and we would love to see any similar scoring from any other SSD.

We had to ask ourselves whether we were the first to receive the drive because there is not another review to be found.  Did we get the exclusive?  One wouldn’t think so because the drive has been available since its release this August past. The question remains as to why nobody else has discovered this hidden gem of an SSD yet??

Samsung 470 Series SSDs range from 64GB to 256GB in capacity, the 256GB drive of which can be found at retailers now for $549.  Samsung has also put an amazing visual together of these drives at the SamsungSSD website. We dare you to log on to their site with Facebook.  Its a whole new experience.

PG 1 –  PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

PG 2 –  TESTING CRITERIA

PG 3  – BENCHMARKS

PG 4 – FINAL THOUGHTS