| Intel SSD 320 Series Solid State Drive |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Storage | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Written by Olin Coles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wednesday, 15 June 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Intel SSD 320 Series Solid State Drive
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by Intel. Intel is a company best known for their high-performance computer processors and motherboards, yet they're considered leaders in several different technology sectors. Solid State Drive technology is one particular market segment that has plenty of fresh competition, fighting for both retail consumer and corporate enterprise dollars. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the Intel SSD 320 series solid state drive, which includes 25nm Intel MLC NAND Flash memory and Enhanced power-loss data protection. Speed and response time for the Intel SSD 320 is compared to several other competing storage solutions, demonstrating which SSD product delivers the best value for the money. One keystone feature to the Intel SSD 320 Series is enhanced power-loss data protection. According to Intel, During a "clean" shutdown, most host systems initiate a command (the STANDBY IMMEDIATE command) to an SSD to give the SSD enough time to prepare for the shutdown. This allows the SSD to save data currently in transition (in temporary buffers) to the non-volatile NAND media. However, during an unsafe power shutdown, the SSD abruptly loses power before the host system can initiate the STANDBY IMMEDIATE command. This prevents data in the temporary buffers from being saved in the non-volatile NAND. In only three short years, the solid state drive industry exploded from a small handful of SSD controllers compared to nearly fifty different versions that have collectively appeared on the retail market. Of the most prolific designs, Intel continues to earn its reputation for reliable solid-state storage solutions. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the 160GB Intel 320 Series SSD model SSDSA2CW160G3-120G. Built upon 25nm MLC NAND flash technology, the Intel 320 is capable of sequential read speeds up to 270 MB/s and 60,000 combined IOPS. The Intel SSD 320 Series is optimized for SATA 3Gb/s controllers, but we make sure it has plenty of headroom by using our Intel P67-Express Sandy Bridge test platform.
Even after decades of design improvements, the hard disk drive (HDD) is still the slowest component in any personal computer system. Consider that modern desktop processors have a 1 ns response time (nanosecond = one billionth of one second), while system memory responds between 30-90 ns. Traditional hard drive technology utilizes magnetic spinning media, and even the fastest spinning mechanical storage products still exhibit a 9,000,000 ns / 9 ms initial response time (millisecond = one thousandth of one second). In more relevant terms, the processor receives the command and must then wait for system memory to fetch related data from the storage drive. This is why any computer system is only as fast as the slowest component in the data chain; usually the hard drive. In a perfect world all of the components operate at the same speed. Until that day comes, the real-world goal for achieving optimal performance is for system memory to operate as quickly as the central processor and then for the storage drive to operate as fast as memory. With present-day technology this is an impossible task, so enthusiasts try to close the speed gaps between components as much as possible. Although system memory is up to 90x (9000%) slower than most processors, consider then that the hard drive is an added 1000x (100,000%) slower than that same memory. Essentially, these three components are as different in speed as walking is to driving and flying. Solid State Drive technology bridges the largest gap in these response times. The difference a SSD makes to operational response times and program speeds is dramatic, and takes the storage drive from a slow 'walking' speed to a much faster 'driving' speed. Solid State Drive technology improves initial response times by more than 450x (45,000%) for applications and Operating System software, when compared to their mechanical HDD counterparts. The biggest mistake PC hardware enthusiasts make with regard to SSD technology is grading them based on bandwidth speed. File transfer speeds are important, but only so long as the operational IOPS performance can sustain that bandwidth under load. Bandwidth Speed vs Operational PerformanceAs we've explained in our SSD Benchmark Tests: SATA IDE vs AHCI Mode guide, Solid State Drive performance revolves around two dynamics: bandwidth speed (MB/s) and operational performance (IOPS). These two metrics work together, but one is more important than the other. Consider this analogy: bandwidth determines how much cargo a ship can transport in one voyage, and operational IOPS performance is how fast the ship moves. By understanding this and applying it to SSD storage, there is a clear importance set on each variable depending on the task at hand. For casual users, especially those with laptop or desktop computers that have been upgraded to use an SSD, the naturally quick response time is enough to automatically improve the user experience. Bandwidth speed is important, but only to the extent that operational performance meets the minimum needs of the system. If an SSD has a very high bandwidth speed but a low operational performance, it will take longer to load applications and boot the computer into Windows than if the SSD offered a higher IOPS performance.
Intel SSD 320 SeriesIntel recently debuted their Intel 311 Series SSD, which is a boot drive intended to be partnered with a high-capacity hard disk drive using Intel Smart Response Technology on compatible Intel 6-Series chipsets: Z68, HM67, QM67. This design promotes improved performance on computer systems for casual/mainstream users, and does so without the risk of losing data to an SSD failure (although hard drive failure should still be a concern). The product we're looking at is of the more traditional variety, which someone might use for their standalone storage needs in a desktop or notebook computer system. In this article we investigate the Intel SSD 320 series solid state drive.
The Intel SSD 320 Series is finished with a subtle aluminum chassis that keeps to a minimalist approach. Once installed the SSD is usually hidden away from view, which explains why Intel has remained conservative towards the appearance of their solid state drive. Standard 2.5" drive bay mounting points are pre-drilled and threaded into the SSD chassis, and an included black plastic spacer is attached to the top side of the SSD to enable the Intel 320 Series to fit into SATA notebook computers if needed. Both halves of the enclosure are made of steel, with a textured finish on the top panel and flat finish on the bottom.
The Intel SSD 320 Series draws from three generations of SSD engineering experience, and uses compute-quality Intel 25nm multi-level cell (MLC) NAND Flash memory manufacturing processes on an architecture that employs 10 parallel NAND flash channels. Native Command Queuing that enables up to 32 concurrent operations empowers the Intel SSD 320 Series to outperform traditional hard disk drives. Minimal write amplification and a unique wear-leveling design improve NAND longevity, and the Intel SSD 320 Series comes pre-configured with Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 128 bit encryption capabilities when a BIOS-level password has been configured to enable user-unique encryption.
An Intel PC29AS21BA0 SATA 3Gb/s SSD controller powers this drive, identical to recently released Intel 311 Series SSD and older Intel X25-M G2 SSDs, which means it was designed to accept 34nm NAND flash of SLC design. The DRAM buffer is marked H55S5162EFR-60M, and is of a 64MB Hynix Mobile SDR design that operates at 666Mhz.
The key ingredient on Intel's SSD 320 Series is the 25nm MLC NAND flash, which is also produced in-house by Intel. Each of the twenty NAND modules is marked 29F16B08CCME1, which references their IC part number requiring 2.7-3.6V for normal operation. Intel specifies the 320 Series solid state drive to produce sequential reads up to 270 MB/s, with 4 KB operations reaching 60,000 combined IOPS. In the next few sections we'll test the Intel SSD 320 Series as a stand-alone storage device, comparing this solid state drive to other retail products intended for notebook and desktop installation. Intel SSD 320 Series FeaturesSuperior built-in data protection featuresThe new Intel SSD 320 Series contains built-in features to protect your data from external threats and internal system snags. The Intel SSD 320 Series comes pre-configured with Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 128 bit encryption capabilities2. In the event of theft or loss of your computer, you have the peace of mind that your personal data is secured by advanced encryption technologies. Additionally, two new data protection features guard your data from internal system mishaps. To reduce potential data loss, the Intel SSD 320 Series detects and protects from an unexpected system power loss. The drive saves all cached data in the process of being written before shutting down, thereby minimizing potential data loss. The Intel SSD 320 Series also improves reliability by providing an array of surplus NAND flash. If the controller encounters a faulty NAND array, the Intel SSD 320 Series automatically reconfigures itself to reduce the prospect of data loss. Capacities to fit your needsAvailable in a wide range of capacities, the Intel SSD 320 Series provides you with the flexibility to choose an SSD that best fits your need and budget. Whether you choose the 40 gigabytes (GB), 80GB, 120GB, 160GB, 300GB or 600GB capacity, the Intel SSD 320 Series delivers the highly responsive PC experience you desire. SSD Management Tool SuiteInstall and manage the Intel SSD 320 Series with two FREE Intel utilities-the Intel® Data Migration Software and the Intel® SSD Toolbox with Intel® SSD Optimizer.
Source: Intel Corporation SSD Testing MethodologySolid State Drives have traveled a long winding course to finally get where they are today. Up to this point in technology, there have been several key differences separating Solid State Drives from magnetic rotational Hard Disk Drives. While the DRAM-based buffer size on desktop HDDs has recently reached 64 MB and is ever-increasing, there is still a hefty delay in the initial response time. This is one key area in which flash-based Solid State Drives continually dominates because they lack moving parts to "get up to speed". However the benefits inherent to SSDs have traditionally fallen off once the throughput begins, even though data reads or writes are executed at a high constant rate whereas the HDD tapers off in performance. This makes the average transaction speed of a SSD comparable to the data burst rate mentioned in HDD tests, albeit usually lower than the HDD's speed. Comparing a Solid State Disk to a standard Hard Disk Drives is always relative; even if you're comparing the fastest rotational spindle speeds. One is going to be many times faster in response (SSDs), while the other is usually going to have higher throughput bandwidth (HDDs). Additionally, there are certain factors which can affect the results of a test which we do our best to avoid. SSD Testing DisclaimerEarly on in our SSD coverage, Benchmark Reviews published an article which detailed Solid State Drive Benchmark Performance Testing. The research and discussion that went into producing that article changed the way we now test SSD products. Our previous perceptions of this technology were lost on one particular difference: the wear leveling algorithm that makes data a moving target. Without conclusive linear bandwidth testing or some other method of total-capacity testing, our previous performance results were rough estimates at best. Our test results were obtained after each SSD had been prepared using DISKPART or Sanitary Erase tools. As a word of caution, applications such as these offer immediate but temporary restoration of original 'pristine' performance levels. In our tests, we discovered that the maximum performance results (charted) would decay as subsequent tests were performed. SSDs attached to TRIM enabled Operating Systems will benefit from continuously refreshed performance, whereas older O/S's will require a garbage collection (GC) tool to avoid 'dirty NAND' performance degradation. It's critically important to understand that no software for the Microsoft Windows platform can accurately measure SSD performance in a comparable fashion. Synthetic benchmark tools such as HD Tach and PCMark are helpful indicators, but should not be considered the ultimate determining factor. That factor should be measured in actual user experience of real-world applications. Benchmark Reviews includes both bandwidth benchmarks and application speed tests to present a conclusive measurement of product performance. Test System
Storage Hardware TestedThe following storage hardware has been used in our benchmark performance testing, and may be included in portions of this article:
Test Tools
Test Results DisclaimerThis article utilizes benchmark software tools to produce operational IOPS performance and bandwidth speed results. Each test was conducted in a specific fashion, and repeated for all products. These test results are not comparable to any other benchmark application, neither on this website or another, regardless of similar IOPS or MB/s terminology in the scores. The test results in this project are only intended to be compared to the other test results conducted in identical fashion for this article. AS-SSD BenchmarkAlex Schepeljanski of Alex Intelligent Software develops the free AS SSD Benchmark utility for testing storage devices. The AS SSD Benchmark tests sequential read and write speeds, input/output operational performance, and response times. Because this software receives frequent updates, Benchmark Reviews recommends that you compare results only within the same version family. Beginning with sequential read and write performance, the 160GB Intel SSD 320 Series solid state drive produced 264.52 MB/s read speed, and 162.61 MB/s write performance. Because this benchmark uses compressed data, sequential file transfer speeds are reported lower than with other tools using uncompressed data. For this section, we will concentrate on the operational IOPS performance using compressed data. Single-threaded 4K IOPS performance delivers 19.39 MB/s read and 36.04 MB/s write, while the 64-thread 4K reads recorded 133.92 MB/s and write performance was 59.97 MB/s.
AS-SSD 64-thread 4KB IOPS performance results are displayed in the chart below, which compares several enthusiast-level storage products currently on the market. The chart is sorted by total combined performance, which helps to illustrate which products offer the best operational input/output under load:
In the next section, Benchmark Reviews tests transfer rates using ATTO Disk Benchmark. ATTO Disk BenchmarkThe ATTO Disk Benchmark program is free, and offers a comprehensive set of test variables to work with. In terms of disk performance, it measures interface transfer rates at various intervals for a user-specified length and then reports read and write speeds for these spot-tests. There are some minor improvements made to the 2.46 version of the program that allow for test lengths up to 2GB, but all of our benchmarks are conducted with 256MB total length. ATTO Disk Benchmark requires that an active partition be set on the drive being tested. Please consider the results displayed by this benchmark to be basic bandwidth speed performance indicators.
ATTO Disk Benchmark: Queue Depth 4 (Default)Our basic bandwidth speed tests begin with the 160GB Intel SSD 320 Series Solid State Drive, attached to the Intel SATA 6Gb/s controller operating in AHCI mode. Using the ATTO Disk Benchmark tool, the test drive performs file transfers ranging from 0.5 KB to 8192 KB. The SSDSA2CW160G3 model we received reveals 283 MBps maximum read speed that plateaus from 64-8192 KB file chunks, and 175 MBps peak write bandwidth plateaus from 16-8192 KB. These both exceed Intel's own specifications for the SSD 320 Series.
In the next section, Benchmark Reviews tests sequential performance using the CrystalDiskMark 3.0 software tool... CrystalDiskMark 3.0 TestsCrystalDiskMark 3.0 is a file transfer and operational bandwidth benchmark tool from Crystal Dew World that offers performance transfer speed results using sequential, 512KB random, and 4KB random samples. For our test results chart below, the 4KB 32-Queue Depth read and write performance was measured using a 1000MB space. CrystalDiskMark requires that an active partition be set on the drive being tested, and all drives are formatted with NTFS on the Intel P67 chipset configured to use AHCI-mode. Benchmark Reviews uses CrystalDiskMark to illustrate operational IOPS performance with multiple threads. In addition to our other tests, this benchmark allows us to determine operational bandwidth under heavy load. Each of our tests with the Intel SSD 320 Series Solid State Drive were consistent, and the best results obtained were used in the chart below. Because this benchmark uses compressed data, sequential file transfer speeds are reported lower than with other tools using uncompressed data. For this section, we will concentrate on the operational IOPS performance using compressed data. CrystalDiskMark 3.0 reports 512K results reaching 174.7 MB/s read and 173.1 MB/s write performance. 4K tests produced 21.36 read and 42.05 write performance.
Displayed in the chart below, the maximum 4KB queue depth 32 IOPS performance results for several enthusiast-level storage products illustrate which products offer the best operation under load:
In the next section, we continue our testing using Iometer to measure input/output performance... Iometer IOPS PerformanceIometer is an I/O subsystem measurement and characterization tool for single and clustered systems. Iometer does for a computer's I/O subsystem what a dynamometer does for an engine: it measures performance under a controlled load. Iometer was originally developed by the Intel Corporation and formerly known as "Galileo". Intel has discontinued work on Iometer, and has gifted it to the Open Source Development Lab (OSDL). There is currently a new version of Iometer in beta form, which adds several new test dimensions for SSDs. Iometer is both a workload generator (that is, it performs I/O operations in order to stress the system) and a measurement tool (that is, it examines and records the performance of its I/O operations and their impact on the system). It can be configured to emulate the disk or network I/O load of any program or benchmark, or can be used to generate entirely synthetic I/O loads. It can generate and measure loads on single or multiple (networked) systems. To measure random I/O response time as well as total I/O's per second, Iometer is set to use 4KB file size chunks over a 100% random sequential distribution at a queue depth of 32 outstanding I/O's per target. The tests are given a 50% read and 50% write distribution. While this pattern may not match traditional 'server' or 'workstation' profiles, it illustrates a single point of reference relative to our product field. All of our SSD tests used Iometer 1.1.0 (built 08-Nov-2010) by Intel Corporation to measure IOPS performance, using a SandForce-created QD30 configuration: 4KB 100 Random 50-50 Read and Write.icf. The chart below illustrates combined random read and write IOPS over a 120-second Iometer test phase, where highest I/O total is preferred:
In our Iometer tests, which use 32 outstanding I/O's per target and a random 50/50 read/write distribution, SandForce SSDs generally outperform the competition when tested which a larger queue depth. The PCI-Express based SandForce-driven RevoDrive SSDs lead the pack, followed by their latest SATA 6Gb/s storage solutions. The 160GB Intel SSD 320 Series Solid State Drive SSDSA2CW160G3 produced 19,280 peak combined IOPS, which trails behind the SLC-based Intel SSD 311 Series. In our next section, we test linear read and write bandwidth performance and compare its speed against several other top storage products using EVEREST Disk Benchmark. Benchmark Reviews feels that linear tests are excellent for rating SSDs, however HDDs are put at a disadvantage with these tests whenever capacity is high. EVEREST Disk BenchmarkMany enthusiasts are familiar with the Lavalys EVEREST benchmark suite, but very few are aware of the Disk Benchmark tool available inside the program. The EVEREST Disk Benchmark performs linear read and write bandwidth tests on each drive, and can be configured to use file chunk sizes up to 1MB (which speeds up testing and minimizes jitter in the waveform). Because of the full sector-by-sector nature of linear testing, Benchmark Reviews endorses this method for testing SSD products, as detailed in our Solid State Drive Benchmark Performance Testing article. However, Hard Disk Drive products suffer a lower average bandwidth as the capacity draws linear read/write speed down into the inner-portion of the disk platter. EVEREST Disk Benchmark does not require a partition to be present for testing, so all of our benchmarks are completed prior to drive formatting. Linear disk benchmarks are superior bandwidth speed tools in my opinion, because they scan from the first physical sector to the last. A side affect of many linear write-performance test tools is that the data is erased as it writes to every sector on the drive. Normally this isn't an issue, but it has been shown that partition table alignment will occasionally play a role in overall SSD performance (HDDs don't suffer this problem). The high-performance storage products tested with EVEREST Disk Benchmark are connected to the Intel SATA 6Gb/s controller and use a 1MB block size option. Read performance on the Intel SSD 320 Series measured an average 260.7 MBps bandwidth with a relatively close maximum peak speed of 268.0 MBps. Everest linear write-to tests were next...
The waveform chart below illustrates how the integrated buffer manages file transfers, and makes linear write performance appears relatively even. The results seen here are still relatively consistent compared to most other SSD products we've tested in the past. The Intel SSD 320 Series solid state drive recorded an average linear write-to speed of 167.8 MBps, with a maximum performance of 170.6 MBps.
The chart below shows the average linear read and write bandwidth speeds for a cross-section of storage devices tested with EVEREST:
Linear tests are an important tool for comparing bandwidth speed between storage products - although HDD products suffer performance degradation over the span of their areal storage capacity. Linear bandwidth certainly benefits the Solid State Drive, since there's very little fluctuation in transfer speed. This is because Hard Disk Drive products decline in performance as the spindle reaches the inner-most sectors on the magnetic platter, away from the fast outer edge. In the next section we use PCMark Vantage to test real-world performance... PCMark Vantage HDD TestsPCMark Vantage is an objective hardware performance benchmark tool for PCs running 32- and 64-bit versions of Microsoft Windows Vista or Windows 7. PCMark Vantage is well suited for benchmarking any type of Microsoft Windows Vista/7 PC: from multimedia home entertainment systems and laptops, to dedicated workstations and high-end gaming rigs. Benchmark Reviews has decided to use the HDD Test Suite to demonstrate simulated real-world storage drive performance in this article. PCMark Vantage runs eight drive tests, each with a specific purpose. Once the benchmarking test were complete, the results are given a PCMark score while the detailed result show actual transaction speeds. The 160GB Intel SSD 320 Series Solid State Drive, model SSDSA2CW160G3, produced a total HDD Test Suite score of 23742 in PCMark Vantage:
Our tests were conducted on an Intel P67 Sandy Bridge motherboard using the onboard SATA 6Gb/s controller with 64-bit Windows 7. Results are displayed in the chart below:
In the next section I share my final thoughts on the struggle between SSD and HDD technology, as well as their new hybrid counterpart, before delivering my conclusion and final product rating. HDD vs Hybrid Drive vs SSDIt's been the same argument for over two years now: SSDs offer the best performance, but HDDs still offer the best capacity and price. Now that Solid State Hybrid drives are available, that argument changes. While the optimal blend of bandwidth speed, operational performance, storage capacity, and price value has yet to be delivered, products like the Seagate Momentus-XT offer an ultra-affordable start in the right direction Installed as a primary drive for notebook and value-conscious enthusiasts, the Solid State Hybrid Drive delivers up high-capacity storage space while starting Windows and opening programs like a SSD. The last days of old technology are always better than the first days of new technology. Never has this saying been more true than with the topic of storage technology, specifically in regard to the introduction of Solid State Drive technology a few years ago. The only things standing in the way of widespread Solid State Drive (SSD) adoption are high storage capacity and affordable price of Hard Disk Drive (HDD) devices. Because NAND flash-based SSD technology costs more per gigabyte of capacity than traditional magnetic hard drives, the benefits of immediate response time, transfer speeds, and operational input/output performance often get overlooked. Like most consumer products, it wasn't a question of how much improvement was evident in the new technology, it was price. I'll discuss product costs more in just a moment, but for now consider how each new series of SSD product employs greater performance than the one before it, convincing would-be consumers into waiting for the right time to buy.
There's also a gray area surrounding SSD performance benchmarks that has me concerned. You might not know this, but SSDs can be very temperamental towards the condition of their flash NAND. My experience testing dozens of Solid State Drives is that a freshly cleaned device (using an alignment tool) will always outperform the same device once it's been formatted and used. A perfect example are Indilinx Barefoot-based SSDs, which suffers severely degraded performance when writing to 'dirty' flash NAND. The reason that all of this will matter is simple: the performance results reported to consumers in product reviews (such as this one) often report the very best performance scores, and the process used to obtain these results is not applicable to real-world usage. This is where garbage collection techniques such as TRIM become important, so that end-users will experience the same performance levels as we do in our tests. Garbage Collection (GC) is the current solution for keeping flash NAND in 'clean' condition, while maintaining optimal performance. Windows 7 offers native TRIM support, and most retail SSDs also include this special GC function or at least offer a firmware update that brings the drive up-to-date. For anyone using an Operating System or SSD that does not offer Garbage Collection functionality, you'll be using 'dirty' flash NAND modules and suffering sub-optimal performance for each write-to request. A few SSD manufacturers offers free tools to help restore peak-level performance by scheduling GC to 'clean' used NAND sectors, but these tools add excessive wear to the NAND the same way disk defragmenting tools would. SLC flash modules may resist wear much better than MLC counterparts, but come at the expense of increased production cost. The best solution is a more durable NAND module that offers long-lasting SLC benefits at the cost of MLC construction. Adoption is further stalled because keen consumers aware of this dilemma further continue their delay into the SSD market. Getting back to price, the changes in cost per gigabyte have come as often as changes to the technology itself. At their inception, high-performance models such the 32GB MemoRight GT cost $33 per gigabyte while the entry-level 32GB Mtron MOBI 3000 sold for $14 per gigabyte. While an enjoyable decline in NAND component costs forced consumer SSD prices down low in 2009, the price of SSD products was on the rise during 2010 and continued into 2011. Nevertheless, solid state drives continue to fill store shelves despite price or capacity, and there are a few SSD products now priced dangerously close to the high-performance storage solutions. Despite being less expensive, the cost of SSDs may still price some budget buyers out of the market. Sales prices notwithstanding, the future is in SSD technology - or possibly a high-capacity SSD hybrid - and the day when HDDs are obsolete is nearing close. Intel SSD 320 Series ConclusionIMPORTANT: Although the rating and final score mentioned in this conclusion are made to be as objective as possible, please be advised that every author perceives these factors differently at various points in time. While we each do our best to ensure that all aspects of the product are considered, there are often times unforeseen market conditions and manufacturer changes which occur after publication that could render our rating obsolete. Please do not base any purchase solely on our conclusion, as it represents our product rating specifically for the product tested which may differ from future versions. Benchmark Reviews begins our conclusion with a short summary for each of the areas that we rate. Our performance rating considers how effective the Intel SSD 320 Series Solid State Drive performs in operations against direct competitor storage solutions. For reference, Intel specifies the SSD 320 Series with 270 MB/s read and 165 MB/s write, and capable of up to 60,000 combined maximum IOPS. In our SSD benchmark tests, the 160GB Intel SSD 320 Series Solid State Drive, model SSDSA2CW160G3, performed at or above these transfer speeds. Our test results proved the Intel SSD 320 Series was good for delivering 283/175 MBps peak read and writes speeds using ATTO Disk Benchmark SSD speed tests while Everest Disk Benchmark produced 261/168 MBps. The 160GB retail kit SSDSA2CW160G3 that Intel sent us for testing is advertised to deliver 60,000 maximum combined IOPS, however there's no indication of what test tool or configuration was used to reach this figure. Using our own Iometer operational performance tests, configured for a queue depth of 32 outstanding I/O's per target, the Intel SSD 320 Series measured 19,280 combined IOPS performance. In the 4K 32QD tests with AS-SSD and CrystalDiskMark, the Intel SSD 320 Series was roughly on-par with the SLC-based Intel SSD 311 Series. With the results we've received in our tests, hardware enthusiasts can expect very good operational performance and storage functionality for demanding applications and extreme I/O environments. Solid State Drives are low-visibility products: you see them just long enough to install and then they're forgotten. Like their Hard Disk Drive counterparts, Solid State Drives are meant to place function before fashion. Anything above and beyond a simple metal shell is already more than what's expected in terms of the appearance. Intel uses a textured metal finish on the SSD 320 Series, with a branding label on the top for identification. As solid state storage controllers become faster and more advanced, heat dissipation through the enclosure walls may demand that chassis designs become more beneficial than they previously needed to be. This isn't the case yet, and a smooth metal chassis suits modern SSDs nicely. Construction is probably the strongest feature credited to the entire SSD product segment, and Intel products have never offered any exception. Solid State Drives are by nature immune to most abuses, but add to this a hard metal shell and you have to wonder what it would take to make this drive fail. If any Intel 320 Series SSD product fails during the limited 5-year warranty period, end-users can contact Intel's customer support. I've personally used Intel's warranty service, and found their customer support to be among the very best. In terms of overall value, the 160GB Intel SSD 320 Series Solid State Drive offers consumers a sizable amount of super-fast storage for a fair price. As of mid-June 2011, the SSDSA2CW160G3 model costs $305 at Amazon or Newegg. Intel offers the SSD 320 Series in several capacities, ranging from 40-600GB. Both online retailers carry brown-box OEM and retail-packaged versions of each drive, so there's definitely something to match everyone's needs. In summary, there's a lot worth considering in the Intel SSD 320 Series. If you're shopping for a solid state drive with a modest budget, the Intel SSD 320 Series should be on your wish list. This SSD competes against first-generation SandForce and second-generation Indilinx products, and comes with the industry's best MLC NAND flash components. While the speeds may not be those we've seen from recent SATA 6Gb/s storage products, the price closely matches competing products of the same capacity. This shifts the value to customer support and warranty, two important qualities that Intel is well-know for. Based on our on the combined value and performance, the Intel SSD 320 Series earns our Silver Tachometer Award. Pros:
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