Published work
Technical Analysis
More than 500 reviews, articles, guides and white papers, written to make storage technology legible and useful. 425 carry my byline and are listed below. The rest are white papers, press releases and technology-trend posts I wrote for enterprise SSD and server makers.
The archive
The SSD Review bylines, 2014–2019
Every card opens the original.
Stories 1 to 50 of 211, newest first.
Micron Unveils the X100 – World’s Fastest SSD with 3D XPointAt Micron Insights, in addition to the announcement of their 5300 and 7300 series SSD, the company unveiled the world’s fastest SSD with their own 3D XPoint, the X100.
Micron Announces Portable SSD and 96L TLC Powered Enterprise SSDsCrucial Memory and Micron, their parent company, have got some big announcements today. At Micron Insight in San Francisco, the company announced a bunch of new products, including their first portable SSD under the Crucial brand as well as two new enterprise SSDs.
Silicon Motion SM2262EN Controller PreviewSilicon Motion designs some of the best performing SSD controllers out. SSDs like the ADATA S11, Intel 760p, and HP EX920 deliver incredible performance and value with the SM2262 powering them. But, today we have in our hands something a bit better than that, a little gem if you will.
Intel SSD 660P M.2 NVMe SSD Review (1TB)On the Test Bench today, we take a look at Intel’s latest NVMe creation, the Intel SSD 660p NVMe M.2 SSD. The 660p, as we will refer to is as from this point on, represents the beginning of the end of days. Okay, just kidding, it really doesn’t.
Mushkin Source SATA SSD Review (500GB): A Cheap UpgradeMushkin has been updating infusing its product line with 3D NAND, but that’s not all they have been up to. While doing that, they have been pushing to make SSDs cheap again.
Corsair Force MP300 M.2 NVMe SSD Review (240GB)Corsair has SSD options for almost any need in the market. Want an entry-level SATA based SSD? The Force LE has you covered. Need high performance? You can choose from the Neutron NX500 or Force MP500 depending on the form factor and capacity that works best for you.
Phison E12 NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4 Controller Preview: Phison Turns Things Up a NotchAs many of you know, Phison is a well accomplished SSD controller manufacturer. Over the years they have designed some very competitive turnkey solutions for those who don’t have the means to do it themselves, or, helped those who can save some money by simply buying their end product rather than develop their own.
Toshiba OCZ RC100 M.2 NVMe SSD Review (240GB/480GB) – Is This The Start Of A New Trend?Today, we are going to be taking a look at something a little more unique, and possibly the start of a new trend for later SSDs. Today, we are reviewing the Toshiba OCZ RC100 which, unlike other DRAMless SSDs before it, utilizes a new technology built into the NVMe specs list, Host Memory Buffer technology.
ADATA XPG SX8200 M.2 NVMe SSD Review (480GB): A Killer ValueToday, we are going to take a look at ADATA’s newest top dog, the XPG SX8200. The XPG SX8200 was built for high demand applications including multimedia editing, gaming, rendering, and ADATA even states overclocking, although we’re not quite sure what benefits this has for overclocking vs other SSDs.
MyDigitalSSD Pocket Vault eXpress (PVX) Thunderbolt 3 USB-C External SSD Now AvailableLast December, MyDigitalSSD teased their Pocket Vault eXpress (PVX) and now that it is June, it has finally made its way to retailers. The PVX is an ultra-portable Thunderbolt 3 External SSD that combines PCI Express 3.0 technology with a Thunderbolt 3 USB-C interface for a variety of uses at home or on the go.
Intel Optane DC Persistent Memory Announced: Now Sampling, Up to 512GB DIMMSToday Intel held a memory and storage event to announce their latest product and we were there to get the inside scoop on what that is, Optane DC Persistent Memory.
Crucial MX500 M.2 SATA SSD Review (500GB)In December of 2017, we got to take a look at Crucial’s latest SATA SSD, the MX500. With a superb mix of performance, features, accessories, price, and warranty the MX500 earned our Top Value award with ease. There really wasn’t anything holding it back except for maybe one thing, availability.
WD Black & SanDisk Extreme Pro M.2 NVMe SSD Review (1TB) – True Enthusiast Class Performance from Western DigitalThey’re here, they’re finally here! The drives that we have been waiting for, for what seems like so long. At least we at the SSD review have been waiting so long for.
Plextor M8V SSD Review (256GB)Today we are going to take a close look at the Plextor M8V. Just like the top of the line Plextor M9Pe we just reviewed last week, this new value-oriented SSD from Plextor promises to come into the market guns blazing. It is filled with Toshiba’s BiCS3 TLC NAND and powered by an SMI 2258 controller.
Plextor M9Pe M.2 NVMe SSD Review (1TB)First revealed back at Computex 2017, Plextor is back at it again with a new product. Today, we have in our hands their top of the line PCIe NVMe SSD, the M9Pe. While it is not out quite yet, its release is right around the corner.
Intel SSD DC P4510 Enterprise NVMe SSD Review (2TB/8TB)Intel has recently expanded their lineup to include some higher capacities and new form factor SSDs that are infused with their latest 64-layer 3D TLC NAND flash memory. With this announcement, we were able to get our hands on some of their latest tech, 2TB and 8TB samples of their DC P4510.
MyDigitalSSD SBX M.2 NVMe SSD Review (128GB/256GB/512GB)Things have changed a lot since we have started reviewing SSDs. They have gone from the highest priced parts, only few could afford, to something that almost everyone can buy for a reasonable price…depending on how much space you really need that is.
ADATA XPG Gammix S10 M.2 NVMe SSD Review (512GB)Last year, ADATA’s gaming branch, XPG, released their newest product line, the Gammix series, and within that, they released the XPG Gammix S10 M.2 NVMe SSD. This SSD is quite sleek and high-end looking, with its flashy red with black heatsink and blacked out PCB, but its performance doesn’t quite match its looks.
Intel SSD 760P M.2 NVMe SSD Review (512GB)Intel has just expanded their 3D NAND infused product portfolio with the release of three new SSDs, the Intel SSD 760P, Intel SSD Pro 7600P, and the Intel SSD E 6100P.
Micron Launches 5200 Series SATA SSDs With Latest 64-layer 3D NAND TechnologyToday Micron Technology, Inc. announces the launch of the Micron 5200 series of SATA SSDs, the first series of enterprise SSDs that are available for purchase today with 3D 64-layer NAND. Built heavily on the 5100’s architecture, the new 5200 series is simply a well-refined product. As such, it promises to deliver industry-leading performance, consistency, capacity, reliability, and overall infrastructure value.
Crucial MX500 SSD Review (1TB) – The Best Value In SATAIt has been a year and a half since the release of the Crucial MX300 and that means it is time for an update. Unlike what we were expecting, we didn’t receive an MX400, but rather a Crucial MX500.
WD Blue 3D SSD & SanDisk Ultra 3D SSD Review (1TB) – Twins That Rival the BestIt has been quite a time since we have seen an update to the SanDisk Ultra product line; it has been long overdue. WD’s Blue SSD product line, on the other hand, looks to be right on track.
Crucial BX300 SSD Review (480GB) – Now Featuring 3D MLC NANDIt seems like it was just yesterday that I was holding the Crucial M4 in my hands and I was ready to upgrade my first gen i7 system with my first SSD ever, let alone with the first SATA 6Gb/s SSD ever.
Crucial’s FREE Momentum Cache Works on Any NVMe SSD! – Our First Look at RAM Caching on NVMe SSDsYou heard that right. This is the first time we are exploring RAM caching on an NVMe SSD in this fashion. While many RAM caching softwares exist, no other SSD manufacturer has yet to enable RAM caching for NVMe SSDs in quite the way Crucial has.
Toshiba TR200 SSD Review (240GB/480GB/960GB)If you have been following the storage market over the past year, you may have noticed that OCZ has yet to release any products since the VX500. As a matter of fact, with the NAND shortage, there have been fewer SSD releases across the industry.
Plextor M8Se NVMe SSD Review (512GB)It has been quite some time since we have reviewed a product from Plextor. In September of 2015 we took a look at the M6V, an entry-level SATA based SSD and before it, their flagship M6e Black edition, one of the very first NVMe SSDs in the market in the beginning of 2015. But, as of late, nothing…at least until now.
ADATA Ultimate SU900 SSD Review (512GB) – 3D MLC, But At What Cost?Last year, we reviewed ADATA’s Ultimate SU800. It was the second SSD in the market to utilize Micron’s 3D TLC NAND and paired with an SMI SM2258 controller, it made out to be a fairly good performer. This year we now have the Ultimate SU900 in hand. Just as the name suggests, it does rank above the SU800.
BIOSTAR G330 SSD Review (256GB)BIOSTAR isn’t the first name to come to mind when thinking about SSDs. Even for us, we didn’t even recall ever seeing a BIOSTAR SSD until today. They aren’t entirely new to the game, however. Last year at about this time, they released their first SSD, the G300.
Corsair Neutron NX500 NVMe SSD Review (400GB)Back in February, Corsair released one of the fastest NVMe SSDs into the market, their Force MP500. This SSD delivers more than enough performance to cover the needs of the majority of PC enthusiasts, however, with a rather typical 3-year warranty and fairly high price tag, it was just shy of earning our Gold Seal.
Intel DC P3520 Enterprise NVMe SSD Review (1.2TB) – With 3D NAND Comes ValueJust a few years ago the enterprise SSD market was born and over these few years, we have seen SSDs evolve quite a bit to the point at which they are today.
Team Group T-Force Cardea M.2 NVMe SSD Review (240GB)If you’re a fan of SSDs, you won’t be surprised with the latest thought process that SSDs need to be cooled. As of late, there seems to be a common theme that some type of SSD cooling is better than no cooling at all and, with respect to that thought, I would agree entirely.
Maxiotek MK8115 Controller Preview – MLC & TLC NAND Put To The TestIn May of 2016, we published a report from Computex that described the latest ADATA line and their continued willingness to support a number of SSD controllers within their SSD designs. The report is here. Within their line was a new notebook SSD that was being aimed directly at the consumer with what was expected to be a very low price point.
Kingston DCP1000 Enterprise NVMe SSD Review (1.6TB) – 7GB/s & 1 Mil IOPS in a Single HHHL SSDConsidering that data center SSDs affect so much of what we do everyday in today’s world, their technological marvel is really overlooked. Where the hard drive once filled our largest data centers worldwide, today’s data centers contain SSDs that either complement original HDD implementation, or take the place of hard drives completely.
Kingston DC400 Enterprise SSD Review (800GB/960GB)Enterprise-class SATA SSDs are offered by nearly all the big name SSD manufacturers in the market.
WD Black PCIe NVMe SSD Review (512GB) – Does It Live Up To Its Lineage?WD Black hard drives have long been the go-to hard drive for many storage consumers. They satisfy the needs of those looking for fast, reliable storage and although they are priced on the high side, they come with a 5-year warranty, which is hard to beat. However, with the release of so many SSDs into the market, WD had been falling behind.
MyDigitalSSD BPX M.2 NVMe SSD Review (480GB) – An Unmatched ValueMyDigitalSSD isn’t one of the big-name brands you may be used to, but don’t mistake a lack of brand awareness with their quality. MyDigitalSSD has been selling quality products for a while now and we have reviewed quite a few of them over the years. Many of which, have earned our Gold Seal, Editor’s Choice, and Top Value awards.
Micron 5100 MAX & ECO Enterprise SSD Review (960GB/1920GB)By now, if you are an avid reader or haven’t been stuck under a rock for the past 7-8 years, you know what a difference an SSD provides an end user. But, for years now, SSDs have been not only revolutionizing the way we compute in our homes but everywhere else as well.
Corsair Force MP500 M.2 NVMe SSD Review (480GB) – Is The Force Strong With This One?Corsair has a history of releasing high-quality products into the PC market. Whether you are a gamer or an avid PC builder, we’re willing to bet you have had experience with them.
Patriot Hellfire SSD Review (480GB) – Fast & EfficientMost well known for their DRAM and USB drives, Patriot memory isn’t new to offering performance and gamer oriented products. Years ago, they jumped on the SSD bandwagon, but they seemed to fall off at one point or another. As of last two years, however, they hopped back on and they now offer SSDs for every segment of the market.
Phison Demos Entry-level NVMe E8 Controller – CES 2017 UpdateWhen talking about high-performance storage and the controllers that power them, you can be sure that Phison will be in the conversation. Many companies have taken advantage of their E7 NVMe controller to bring out enthusiast class SSDs, such as the Patriot Hellfire, Corsair MP500, and MyDigitalSSD BPX (all of which are in our queue to review).
ADATA Reveals XPG 950 and Demos Latest NVMe SSDs in RAID – CES 2017 UpdateIn December, ADATA announced the first ever SSD to feature Micron’s latest 3D MLC NAND, Ultimate SU900, which is a huge announcement because Samsung will no longer be the only player in the market with 3D MLC NAND ( ie 850 PRO).
WD Unveils WD Black PCIe NVMe SSD – CES 2017 UpdateAfter stepping into the WD suite at CES this year we saw quite the array of storage products. From traditional mechanical disks and NAS storage devices to USB drives and the like, WD has devices for anybody’s needs. Recently we reviewed their first SSD product, the WD Blue SSD and at the same time, they launched the green series too.
Seagate and LaCie Showcase Latest SSD Products – CES 2017 UpdateLaCie, as many of you know, is Seagate’s premier/professional product brand. At CES they have on display their latest product updates, which feature upgraded interfaces and performance improvements. The Rugged Thunderbolt USB-C can connect to USB 3.0-compatible computers as well as to USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 models.
Kingston Reveals World’s Largest Flash Drive and More – CES 2017 UpdateCES 2017 and all the chaos that comes with it has just begun. One of our first booth tours is with Kingston, where they just revealed the world’s largest flash drive, the DataTraveler Ultimate GT.
Intel 600P M.2 NVMe SSD Review (512GB) – Is It THE Budget NVMe SSD to buy?Back in April of 2015 Intel was the first company to release an NVMe SSD into the consumer marketplace. The Intel 750 was the new standard in PCIe performance storage.
Samsung Magician 5.0 Released – Is Less More?SSD toolboxes are quite useful for monitoring your SSD’s health, updating its firmware, and more often than not, have some other features built into them to optimize the operating system and/or boost the SSD’s performance. Almost every company has one, but one company is more well known for theirs over anyone else.
PNY CS2030 M.2 NVMe SSD Review (240GB) – Our First Look at Phison’s E7 ControllerThe PNY CS2030 M.2 NVMe SSD comes out of the blue for us. The day it was released, we were more surprised than anyone. Not a whisper in the world about it had crossed our ears like it normally would. Not even our colleagues knew about it.
Samsung 960 EVO M.2 NVMe SSD Review (250GB/1TB)Last month we took a look at the best performing SSD, Samsung’s 960 PRO. Packed with Samsung’s latest MLC V-NAND, new Polaris controller, and put together with their engineering expertise, it easily sped off to the top of our charts. Not only that, but it did so without even utilizing their latest NVMe 2.0 driver.
Toshiba OCZ TL100 SSD Review (120GB/240GB)SSDs are state of the art memory components. Over the recent years we have seen the market grow and diversify. With the explosion of TLC SSDs in the marketplace these days it is a race to the bottom more than ever.
ADATA Ultimate SU800 SSD Review (512GB) – More 3D TLC For The MassesThe ADATA Ultimate SU800, despite the name and in contrast to the last ADATA SSD we had reviewed (SX930), is not an enthusiast oriented SSD, rather, it is an entry level/ budget SSD. The SX930 utilized a JMicron controller and enterprise-grade MLC+ NAND.
From my author pages at Tom’s Hardware and The SSD Review, as of November 4, 2026. TechnologyX is offline, so its cards open the Internet Archive copies.
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