Intel SSD 335 Solid State Drive Review

Intel's first SSD to feature 20-nanometer NAND flash memory components

Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Product Name: Solid-State Drive 335 Series
Model Number: SSDSC2CT240A4K5 (240GB)
UPC: 735858249645
Prices: $209.99 (Newegg / Amazon)

Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by Intel.

When Benchmark Reviews tested the entry-level Intel SSD 320 back in June 2011, that solid state drive featured 25nm Intel MLC NAND Flash memory optimized for the SATA 3Gb/s interface that produced sequential read speeds up to 270 MB/s and 60,000 combined IOPS. Now optimized for the SATA 6Gb/s (Revision 3.0) interface, the Intel SSD 335 Series provides sequential reads up to 500 MB/s and 450 writes up to MB/s. Performance for 4 KB random reads reaches 42,000, while writes climb to 52,000 IOPS (94,000 combined). Intel SSD 335 uses a second-generation LSI/SandForce SF-2281VB1-SDC processor with enhanced BCH ECC capability, and supports for ATA-7 Security Erase. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the value-priced Intel SSD 335 Solid State Drive (SSDSC2CT240A4K5) against competing storage solutions to determine the best value for your computer system.

Intel's SSD 335 Series solid state drive is available in 240GB capacity and features 20nm 64GB IMFT 29F16B08CCMF2 NAND Flash components, the first in the industry, using a planar cell structure with performance and reliability similar to previous 25nm-generation products. Intel's 20nm planar cell structure overcomes scaling constraints common with standard NAND floating gate cells by integrating the first Hi-K/metal gate stack on NAND production. The reward is lower total cost of production, which translates into a competitively priced product. Intel offers consumers the industry's best customer service backed by a three-year warranty.

Users are given several free tools to further optimize performance of their Intel SSD 335: Intel SSD Toolbox with Intel SSD Optimizer, and Intel Data Migration Software. SSD Toolbox/SSD Optimizer delivers management, information, and diagnostic tools to maintain health on Intel SSD 335 products and optimize performance original clean-NAND levels. SSD Toolbox includes a System Configuration Tuner that assists users in configuring their computer system to take advantage of 335 Series performance features. Data Migration Software helps users upgrade their PC with an Intel SSD 335 solid state drive. This tool clones the entire operating system and user files from an existing drive to any Intel SSD 335 Series product.

Solid State vs Hard Disk

Despite decades of design improvements, the hard disk drive (HDD) is still the slowest component of 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.

Intel SSD 335 Specifications

1. Based on the Intel® Solid-State Drive 335 Series Product Specification.
2. Performance varies by capacity and is measured using Iometer* with Queue Depth 32.
3. Performance measured using Iometer with Queue Depth 32. Measurements are performed on 8GB of logical block address (LBA) range on a full SSD.
4. Active power measured during execution of MobileMark* 2007 Workload with SATA Link Power Management (LPM) enabled.
5. Idle power defined as SSD at idle with SATA Link Power Management (LPM) enabled.

Closer Look: Intel SSD 335

SSDs are quickly gaining popularity because they work equally well in PC, Linux, or Apple computers. Likewise, they easily install into both desktop and notebook platforms without modification. For this article Benchmark Reviews is testing the Intel SSD 335 solid state drive, model SSDSC2CT240A4K5.

The Intel Solid-State Drive 335 Series is a 240GB entry-level enthusiast storage product sold for $209.99 (Newegg / Amazon). Ideal for price-conscious enthusiasts looking to upgrade a desktop or notebook PC, Intel SSD 335 Series uses the smallest, most efficient next-generation multi-level cell NAND flash available.

The Intel SSD 335 Series kit includes the solid state drive, a SATA 6Gb/s signal cable, 4-pin Molex to SATA power cable, and 35-inch adapter bracket with screws. The Intel SSD 335 measures 3.94"/100mm long, by 2.76"/70mm wide, by 0.37"/9.5mm tall. Intel offers only capacity for their Intel SSD 335 Series solid state drive: 240GB.

Intel utilizes a standard two-piece metal enclosure for their SSD 335 Series solid state drive, which reveals the internal components after removing four small counter-sunk screws located along the top of this solid state drive. Each half of the drive enclosure is given a textured aluminum finish, which conceals fingerprints or smudges better than a glossy painted surface would. Intel branding is marked at the topside of the SSD enclosure, with a label attached to the bottom that denotes model and capacity.

Standard 2.5" drive bay mounting points are pre-drilled and threaded into the Intel SSD 335 Series solid state drive chassis, which allows for quick upgrade or addition into any existing notebook and other compact computer system. Using a universal 3.5" to 2.5" tray adapter (included with this kit), the SSD fits easily into desktop computers. The mounting positions matched up to the drive bracket on my notebook computer, and after only a few minutes I was booting from a restored Windows 7 System Image with ease.

Unlike most Hard Disk Drive (HDD) storage products, SSDs are nearly impervious to impact damage and do not require (or benefit from) any kind of special vibration dampening or shock-proof enclosures. On the Intel SSD 335 Series, a square thermal interface material pad mates the SandForce SF-2281 processor to the underside half.

Similar to other second-generation LSI/SandForce-driven SSDs, Intel SSD 335 Series features a SF-2281VB1-SDC SATA 6Gb/s processor. Offering 8 flash channels with 8 Byte lanes configured (one lane per channel), the SF-2281 maintains a BGA-256 package. More detail is available in our LSI/SandForce SF-2000 Series SSD Processor Overview article.

SandForce SF-2281VB1-SDC Controller

All LSI/SandForce SSD controllers offer native TRIM garbage collection in supporting Operating System (such as Microsoft Windows-7), Native Command Queuing (NCQ) with 32 command slots, and basic Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (SMART) command set. LSI/SandForce built the SF-2200 series to produce 500 MB/s sequential read and write bandwidth with 60K (burst)/20K (sustained) IOPS random write (4K transfers). The firmware controls the performance variables on LSI/SandForce SSDs, and some manufacturers have licensed custom firmware to unlock additional performance for their products.

The SF-2281 SSD processor provides enhanced ECC with BCH data protection, and also includes LSI/SandForce's unique RAISE (Redundant Array of Independent Silicon Elements) technology. RAISE provides the protection and reliability of RAID on a single SSD drive, thanks to flash architecture, without the significant write overhead of parity. The LSI/SandForce DuraClass technology automatically stores data using Trusted Computing Group (TCG) OPAL security with 256-bit AES encryption and automatic, line-rate double encryption with a drive-level password, preventing data extraction directly from the physical flash memory modules.

IMFT 29F16B08CCMF2 20nm NAND Flash

On the Intel SSD 335 Series solid state drive, a LSI/SandForce SF-2281VB1-SDC processors enables 20nm NAND flash support with data transfer rates up to 166 Mega Transfers per second. SF-2281 controllers also offers advanced ECC engine correcting up to 55 bits per 512-byte sector to assure high data integrity and support for future generations of flash memory. On the 240GB Intel SSD 335 Series solid state drive, sixteen 20nm multi-layer cell Intel/Micron Flash Technology (IMFT) 29F16B08CCMF2 synchronous NAND Flash modules are joined to the SandForce SF-2281VB1-SDC controller.

SSD Testing Methodology

Solid 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 Disclaimer

Early 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 ATTO Disk Benchmark and Iometer 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

• Motherboard: ASUS P8P67 EVO (Intel P67 Sandy Bridge Platform, B3 Stepping)
• Processor: Intel Core i7-2600K 3.4 GHz Quad-Core CPU
• System Memory: 4GB Dual-Channel DDR3 1600MHz CL6-6-6-18
• SATA 6Gb/s Storage HBA: Integrated Intel P67 Controller
  • AHCI mode - Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver 11.7.0.1013
• SATA 3Gb/s Storage HBA: Integrated Intel P67 Controller
  • AHCI mode - Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver 11.7.0.1013
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Edition 64-Bit with Service Pack 1

Storage Hardware Tested

The following storage hardware has been used in our benchmark performance testing, and may be included in portions of this article:

• Crucial RealSSD-C300 CTFDDAC256MAG-1G1 256GB SATA 6Gb/s MLC SSD
• Crucial m4 CT256M4SSD2 256GB SATA 6Gb/s MLC SSD
• Intel X25-E Extreme SSDSA2SH032G1GN SATA SLC SSD
• Intel SSD 311 Series Larson Creek SSDSA2VP020G2E
• Intel SSD 320 Series MLC Solid State Drive SSDSA2CW160G3
• Intel SSD 335 Series Solid State Drive SSDSC2CT240A4K5
• Intel SSD 520 Series MLC Solid State Drive SSDSC2CW240A3
• OCZ Agility 2 'Extended' OCZSSD2-2AGTE120G 120GB MLC SSD
• OCZ Agility 3 AGT3-25SAT3-240G 240GB MLC SSD
• OCZ RevoDrive OCZSSDPX-1RVD0120 120GB MLC PCI-Express SSD
• OCZ RevoDrive X2 OCZSSDPX-1RVDX0240 240GB MLC PCI-E SSD
• OCZ RevoDrive3 X2 RVD3X2-FHPX4-480G 480GB MLC PCI-E SSD
• OCZ Vertex 2 'Extended' OCZSSD2-2VTXE120G 120GB MLC SSD
• OCZ Vertex 3 VTX3-25SAT3-240G 240GB MLC SSD
• OCZ Vertex 3 Max IOPS VTX3MI-25SAT3-240G MLC SSD
• OCZ Vertex 4 VTX4-25SAT3-256G MLC SSD
• Patriot Torqx 2 PT2128GS25SSDR 128GB MLC SSD
• PNY XLR8 PRO Solid State Drive SSD9SC240GCDA-RB
• WD SiliconEdge-Blue SSC-D0256SC-2100 256GB SATA SSD

Test Tools

• AS SSD Benchmark 1.6.4067.34354: Multi-purpose speed and operational performance test
• ATTO Disk Benchmark 2.46: Spot-tests static file size chunks for basic I/O bandwidth
• CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1a by Crystal Dew World: Sequential speed benchmark spot-tests various file size chunks
• Iometer 1.1.0 (built 08-Nov-2010) by Intel Corporation: Tests IOPS performance and I/O response time
• Lavalys EVEREST Ultimate Edition 5.50: Disk Benchmark component tests linear read and write bandwidth speeds
• Futuremark PCMark Vantage 1.02: HDD Benchmark Suite tests real-world drive performance

Test Results Disclaimer

This 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 Benchmark

Alex 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 transfer performance, the Intel SSD 335 Series solid state drive produced speeds up to 484.33 MB/s reads and 308.97 MB/s writes. Because this benchmark uses compressed data, sequential file transfer speeds are reported lower than with other tools using uncompressed data. For this reason, we will concentrate on the operational IOPS performance for this section. Single-threaded 4K IOPS performance tests deliver 19.69 MB/s read and 56.62 MB/s write, while the 64-thread 4K reads recorded 224.02 MB/s and write performance was 249.81 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. In these 64-thread 4KB IOPS performance tests the Intel SSD 335 Series-series outperformed many other SSDs, nearly matching the premium-level Intel SSD 520 Series. The chart below is sorted by total combined performance, which helps 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 Benchmark

The 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 bandwidth speed tests begin with the Intel SSD 335 Series solid state drive attached to the Intel P67-Express SATA 6Gb/s controller operating in AHCI mode. Using the ATTO Disk Benchmark tool, the test drive performs basic file transfers ranging from 0.5 KB to 8192 KB. This 240GB model reports 558 MBps maximum read speeds that plateau from about 1024-8192 KB file chunks, and 533 MBps peak write bandwidth plateaus from 128-8192 KB. These results exceed Intel's performance specifications of 400/450 MBps for the SSD 335 Series, and compared well against the fastest SATA-based solid state drive products.

In the next section, Benchmark Reviews tests sequential performance using the CrystalDiskMark 3.0 software tool...

CrystalDiskMark 3.0 Tests

CrystalDiskMark 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.

CrystalDiskMark uses compressed data in its benchmark tests, so sequential file transfer speeds appear lower compared to those tested with other tools using uncompressed data. This section concentrates on operational IOPS performance using compressed data.

CrystalDiskMark 3.0 reports sequential speeds reaching 459.6 MB/s reads and 329.9 MB/s writes on the Intel SSD 335 Series. 512K test results reached 390.4 MB/s read and 302.4 MB/s write performance. 4K tests produced 26.19 read and 68.85 write performance. All of these results are significantly better than many previous generation solid state drive storage products.

Maximum 4KB IOPS performance results at queue depth 32 are reported in the chart below. These values represent the performance levels for several enthusiast-level storage solutions, and illustrates which products offer the best operational performance under load:

In the next section, we continue our testing using Iometer to measure input/output performance...

Iometer IOPS Performance

Iometer 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 (build 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 are configured to use 32 outstanding I/O's per target and random 50/50 read/write distribution, SandForce SSDs generally outperform the competition when tested with this large queue depth. The OCZ Vertex 4 SSD delivered the best combined IOPS performance we've seen from any SATA-based SSD with 83,494, followed by the Intel SSD 520 Series at 80,433 peak combined IOPS, then the Intel SSD 335 Series with 80,015. This 240GB Intel SSD 335 Series solid state drive kept pace with all the leaders, delivering top-end IOPS performance from a value-branded drive. It should be noted that nearly all modern SSDs deliver I/O far beyond the needs of multi-tasking power users and hardcore gamers, and would be ideal for systems running several virtual machines.

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 Benchmark

Many 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 we've tested with EVEREST Disk Benchmark are connected to the Intel P67-Express SATA 6Gb/s controller and use a 1MB block size option. Read performance on the Intel SSD 335 Series solid state drive measured average speeds of 465.0 MB/s, with a maximum peak speed of 472.3 MB/s. Everest linear write-to tests were next...

The waveform chart above illustrates how well the Intel SSD 335 Series managed file transfers, making linear write performance appears very consistent. Intel's SSD 335 recorded an average linear write-to speed of 469.7 MB/s, with maximum performance reaching 482.0 MB/s. 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 Tests

PCMark 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 different storage benchmarks, each with a specific purpose. Once testing is complete, results are given a PCMark score while and detailed results indicate actual transaction speeds. Intel SSDs are best known for their high levels of I/O, and the SSD 335 Series keeps the tradition alive. The 240GB Intel SSD 335 Series solid state drive produced a total PCMark Vantage (secondary disk) HDD Test Suite score of 51077, with specific speeds reported below:

Our tests were conducted on an Intel P67-Express Sandy Bridge motherboard using the onboard native SATA 6Gb/s controller with 64-bit Windows 7. Performance results are displayed in the chart below:

In the next section, I share my review conclusion and final product rating.

Intel SSD 335 Conclusion

IMPORTANT: 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.

SandForce has made an enormous impact on the storage market, and as a result Benchmark Reviews has tested plenty of their products over the past few years. 2012 has been filled with countless reviews of SF2281-based SSDs; most sharing performance nearly identical to one another. It was surprising to find a SandForce SF-2281VB1-SDC inside the Intel SSD 335 Series solid state drive, but it makes perfect sense because the SF-2281 has been a wildly popular controller due to solid performance and reliability. This is an excellent starting point for a value-branded storage solution, but it's the IMFT 29F16B08CCMF2 20nm NAND Flash that really sets the Intel SSD 335 Series apart.

Our performance rating considers how effective the Intel SSD 335 Series solid state drive performs in operations against direct competitor storage solutions. For reference, SandForce specifies the SF-2281 controller capable of 500 MB/s maximum read/write speeds, which Intel adjusts to much more conservative levels of 500/450 MB/s sequential read/write. In our storage benchmark tests, the Intel SSD 335 Series solid state drive (model SSDSC2CT240A4K5) performed at or above this speed, and competed with the fastest products previously tested. Our test results proved the Intel SSD 335 Series was good for delivering 558/533 MBps peak read/writes speeds using ATTO Disk Benchmark, which matches performance with the fastest SandForce-based SSDs we've tested. Linear testing with Everest Disk Benchmark produced 465/470 MB/s, placing the Intel SSD 335 Series among the top results.

The 240GB retail kit sent us for testing advertises 4 KB random I/O reads reaching 42,000, and up to 52,000 write IOPS (94,000 combined IOPS). Using a SandForce-provided configuration for our own Iometer operational performance tests, we used a queue depth of 32 outstanding I/O's per target that measured 80,015 combined IOPS performance. In this test, the Intel SSD 335 Series performed well and positioned itself among the highest-I/O products, and measured better than nearly all other SandForce SF-2281 SSDs. In the 4K 32QD tests with AS-SSD and CrystalDiskMark, the Intel SSD 335 Series continued to match up to enthusiast storage solutions like the OCZ Vertex 3 Max IOPS Edition.

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 335 Series, with simple branding at the top for identification. Intel adds a square pad of thermal interface material between the SF-2281 solid state storage controller and the enclosure wall, a manufacturing step most companies skip, which allows for better heat dissipation and improved component longevity.

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 immune to most abuses by nature of their durable technology, which is further extended with the addition of a hard metal shell. If any Intel SSD 335 Series product fails during the limited 3-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 on the Planet.

Because so many SandForce-based products are physically identical to each another, the overall value tends to focus on price, warranty, and customer support. As of launch (29 October 2012), the 240GB Intel SSD 335 Series solid state drive is available online for $209.99 at either Newegg or Amazon (model SSDSC2CT240A4K5). This price places the Intel SSD 335 at the lower-midrange for 240GB solid state drives.

The second-generation SandForce SF-2281 controller inside Intel's SSD 335 Series achieved performance levels eclipsing the fastest SATA-based storage solutions we've tested. It's clear by Intel's specifications that SSD 335 is designed to deliver exceptional transfer speeds with emphasis on improved I/O performance. IMFT 29F16B08CCMF2 20nm NAND Flash components help differentiate the Intel SSD 335 Series from the large selection of competing SF-2281 alternatives, as will the reduced price. While Intel's three-year product warranty is less impressive than their other models that come with five-years of protection, Intel's high level of after-sales customer support is far and above anything the competition could dream of. In consideration of its top-level performance, reasonable price, the industry's first implementation of 20nm NAND, Intel's SSD 335 Series solid state drive series earns our Golden Tachometer Award for excellence.

Pros:

+ Outstanding 558/533 MBps read/write speed with ATTO
+ Produced 80,015 combined 4K IOPS
+ Among the fastest SATA-based SSDs available
+ TCG OPAL security with 256-bit AES encryption
+ Uses 20nm NAND flash components
+ SandForce SF-2281 processor supports TRIM, SMART, and RAISE
+ DuraWrite technology extends NAND lifetime
+ Enthusiast-level operational I/O performance
+ 3-Year Intel product warranty support
+ Lightweight compact storage solution
+ Resistant to extreme shock impact
+ Intel SSD Toolbox, SSD Optimizer, and Data Migration Software
+ Installation kit includes adapter, power and signal cables

Cons:

- Similar products carry five-year warranty
- Expensive enthusiast-level product

Ratings:

• Performance: 9.75
• Appearance: 9.00
• Construction: 10.0
• Functionality: 9.50
• Value: 8.25

Final Score: 9.1 out of 10.

Excellence Achievement: Benchmark Reviews Golden Tachometer Award.

Benchmark Reviews invites you to leave constructive feedback below, or ask questions in our Discussion Forum.

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