SSD Grouptest: Crucial, Intel, Toshiba, Samsung and SanDisk

Overall

Samsung's revamped 3D V-NAND design helped the 850 Pro to dominate the top spot during testing.

The spectacular performance is backed up with a generous warranty, great endurance and encryption features. It's the most expensive SSD in this group (276), but this is jutified as it is the best in every department. If you or your company can afford it, the 850 Pro is the SSD you should buy.

SanDisk's drive costs the same as the Samsung and flashes of pace in some benchmarks are undermined by a lack of speed elsewhere that was highlighted in some of our Atto and IOMeter tests. The shorter warranty and lack of encryption don't help, either.

Intel and Toshiba's drives are cheaper and slower. They are are caught in the middle ground unable to compete with the pacier Samsung, while being undercut and out-performed by the Crucial. The MX100 is our budget choice: we're willing to forgive some of its poorer results because of its bargain price and, in other tests, rapid speeds mean it's able to punch above its weight.

Mike Jennings

 

Mike Jennings has worked as a technology journalist for more than a decade and has been fascinated by computers since childhood, when he spent far too long building terrible websites. He loves desktop PCs, components, laptops and anything to do with the latest hardware.

Mike worked as a staff writer at PC Pro magazine in London for seven years, and during that time wrote for a variety of other tech titles, including Custom PC, Micro Mart and Computer Shopper. Since 2013, he’s been a freelance tech writer, and writes regularly for titles like Wired, TechRadar, Stuff, TechSpot, IT Pro, TrustedReviews and TechAdvisor. He still loves tech and covers everything from the latest business hardware and software to high-end gaming gear, and you’ll find him on plenty of sites writing reviews, features and guides on a vast range of topics.

You can email Mike at mike@mike-jennings.net, or find him on Twitter at @mikejjennings