Transcend SSD230S TS256GSSD230S 256 GB

Best in Economy Class

The Transcend SSD230S is the best low-cost SSD in our opinion. It is built on the SM2258 controller, a joint creation of Silicon Motion and Micron. The second is also responsible for the production of 3D TLC flash memory, also used in the SSD230S.

third dimension

Compared to Toshiba's two-dimensional (planar) memory (used in SSDs with Phison controllers), Micron's three-dimensional memory is packed into several layers, thus allowing you to create larger chips. And the smaller the number of chips typed in the volume of the SSD, the faster the read speed (560 MB / s, which corresponds to the maximum throughput of the SATA III interface). This also has a positive effect on the power consumption of SSDs, which is important for laptops. In the future, 3D-memory drives should also become cheaper than planar ones, but this, unfortunately, has not happened yet.

Array array strife

The SM2258 controller provides a more efficient approach to running a virtual SLC array. Its volume is not fixed, as in models with Phison, but corresponds to a third of the volume of the disk (for a 256-gigabyte, respectively, 85 GB). You also need to look for a file that would not fit into the SLC array and, accordingly, would be recorded at a reduced speed (70 vs. 520 MB / s).

Hard and soft

In addition, a 256-MB Nanya RAM cache is provided, which not only speeds up the SSD, but also extends its life. Transcend should also be praised for its functional proprietary software that allows you to check the health status of an SSD, update its firmware and, which is especially useful, clone an operating system from an old drive to a new one. As a result, we get, albeit not a record, but still a very fast SATA-SSD with a price only a little higher than the cheapest, but much less successful models.