[Kevin OBrien]

In this review we look at the latest Intel SSD, previously known as Cherryville.

Intel SSD 520 Review

[mike2h]

screw u guys just made up my mind to go with either a samsung 830 128/64 combo or the 256 vers & you throw this thing at me... bad kevin! tho i would probably wait a couple of months for the new intel to 'shake out' a little.
thx for the work

[Kevin OBrien]

Well if it makes you feel any better, the Samsung SSD 830 is still an excellent choice. At the upper level it is kind of like comparing a Ferrari to a high-end Porsche to a Lamborghini and so on. All top-end performers with strengths in certain areas.

[mike2h]

ok, i feel a little better. still going to take a good look at the 180 vers of the intel.

cpl of questions
intel has always pushed OP. how come none on these drives. i know SF controller has built in stuff but OP is still desirable.

if u set aside som space for op on a partioned drive does it apply t othe whole drive or just 1 partition? know that is probably a silly question but...

This post has been edited by mike2h: 06 February 2012 - 02:24 PM

[Beenthere]

I'm not a believer... yet in Intel's validation of SSDs.

We all know about their past SSD issues that required a firmware update. We also know about Intel mobos, chipsets and even CPUs being recalled - so while Intel may have the resources, history has shown that they still ship defective products. I'll take AnandTech's advice and wait 6-12 months to see if they have issues with the SSD 520 series.

[Brian]

Yes, some of it has to be taken on faith or over time. I will say, in our briefings, no other SF users have boasted of measures this robust.

[Beenthere]

Brian, on 06 February 2012 - 08:03 PM, said:

Yes, some of it has to be taken on faith or over time. I will say, in our briefings, no other SF users have boasted of measures this robust.

IME Intel always boost about their validation process be it on mobos, chipsets, CPUs or whatever. Funny how history tends to repeat itself at Intel...

This post has been edited by Beenthere: 06 February 2012 - 09:56 PM

[[ETA]MrSpadge]

Sure, you can never be 100% sure that there won't be an error creeping up somewhere. However, I think the possibility of this happening is lower with Intels products than elsewhere. Just consider on which massive scales e.g. their chipsets are deployed. And how remarkably few errors occured during all those years. And recalling CPUs? Are you referring to the FDIV bug in the first Pentiums 20 years ago?

BTW: I like the new graph style

MrS

[Beenthere]

Well there is already one user (at the Intel customer support forum), with a new Intel 520 getting BSODs after installation so we'll have to wait a bit to see if this is an exception to the rule or if the 520 is subject to similar Bugs like most all of the consumer grade SSDs released to date have been.

[stevecs]

Nice write up on the drive, and I'm glad intel/you have included the UBER rates which is something very lacking from other vendors.

For me though the big killer here is the pathetically low 36TB write endurance or 20GB/day. That just rules it out completely (heck In the time I've written this message I've already written ~2GB per drive * 4 drives (or actually 8 as it's a raid 1+0). For the price points they're looking at (say $500 for the 240GB version) that's more expensive than a 2.5" 15K rpm SAS 300GB drive which has a latency of ~2ms). Unless these become significantly cheaper than the sas drives and at least come up an order of magnitude or more for write endurance I just don't see it.

(and yes, I have intel 320's and 510's in my laptops, though frankly haven't really seen any 'big' improvement there at least under linux where you have the system already optimized and enough ram for your applications (i.e. no swap)).