ADATA AS599S-128GM-C Conclusion

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 for the sample received which may differ from retail 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 ADATA S599 SSD performs in operations against direct competitor SATA storage products. For reference, SandForce specifies the SF-1200 at 260 MB/s read and write, yet ADATA suggests 280/270 MB/s performance. In our benchmark tests, the ADATA S599 SSD performed at or above this rating. The ADATA S599 delivered 286/277 MBps peak read and writes speeds using ATTO Disk Benchmark and trailed by 260/255 MBps in Everest, making this the fastest SATA-3GBps MLC SSD we've tested. Operational performance was very good in Iometer, where the S599 outperformed all other MLC SSDs and competed with SLC models. Based on these results, enthusiasts can expect high operational speeds and functionality for demanding applications.

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. ADATA has kept production costs down while maintaining attractive looks by using an anodized aluminum chassis for their S599 SSD. As SSD controllers become faster and more advanced, heat dissipation through the enclosure walls is critical, and makes chassis design more important that it previously needed to be.

Construction is probably the strongest feature credited to the entire SSD product segment, and the ADATA S599 is no exception. Although the ADATA S599 SSD is covered by a limited warranty, the duration and restrictions are unknown. ADATA recommends that you register your product to receive warranty support. Unfortunately, there are no online discussion forums/chat or local telephone service numbers available for technical support.

Benchmark Reviews has tested the ADATA S599 SSD against its closest competitors, and the performance results were impressive. High-performance enthusiasts will enjoy the a noteworthy 0.16 ms response time, which assures a nearly-instant reactions when called upon. Based on the SATA-3.0 SandForce SF-1222TA3-SBH processor, the ADATA S599 SSD delivers native TRIM garbage collection and SMART support with impressive transfer speeds. More importantly, SandForce DuraClass technology adds their proprietary RAISE and DuraWrite features not available to other SSDs, and the end result is a product that lasts up to five times longer with less wear on NAND flash modules. One drawback to ADATA's SSD series is that they lack any publicly available firmware updates and there no enthusiast community supporting the company.

As of August 2010, the ADATA S599 Solid State Drive is available online at NewEgg. Benchmark Reviews tested the 100GB capacity SSD for this article, model AS599S-128GM-C, which which sells for $295.99. If you're in need of a higher-capacity storage solution, the 200GB model (AS599S-256GM-C) is listed for $629.

In summary, the ADATA S599-series is a high-performance SATA-3.0 GBps Solid State Drive that builds on the powerful SandForce SF-1200 SSD processor. SandForce innovates the SSD industry by prolonging MLC NAND flash module lifetime, and delivering RAID-like data redundancy. The ADATA S599 proved to meet or exceed its specifications, and 286/277 MBps read and write speeds are enough push the envelope of second-generation SATA performance. Unfortunately, most new SSDs coming to market are likely to be compliant with 3rd-generation SATA standards, and may also be faster. While the current retail prices make the ADATA S599 an attractive buy, expect even more discounts to come as additional SATA-6G SSDs join the market. ADATA made a wise decision to partner with SandForce for the S599, as it easily outperforms Indilinx-based SSDs.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Benchmark Reviews has used this SSD to publish our SandForce SF1200 RAID-0 SSD Performance review.

Pros:

Cons:

- Limited warranty and technical support
- Lacks integrated USB Mini-B data connection
- Not 3rd-Generation SATA-6.0 compliant
- No public firmware updates available

Questions? Comments? Benchmark Reviews really wants your feedback. We invite you to leave your remarks in our Discussion Forum.

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