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Intel SSD 520 Series Features
Source: Intel Corporation
New Level of Performance
Built with compute-quality Intel 25 nanometer (nm) NAND Flash Memory, the Intel SSD 520 Series accelerates PC performance where it matters most. With random read performance up to 50,000 input/output operations per second (IOPS)1 and sequential read performance of up to 550 megabytes per second (MB/s)2, your PC will blaze through the most demanding applications and will handle intense multi-tasking needs. Couple that read performance with random writes up to 80,000 IOPS3 and sequential writes of 520 MB/s2 to unleash your applications. With the Intel SSD 520 Series, Intel continues to deliver solutions designed to satisfy the most demanding gamers, media creators and technology enthusiasts.4
Superior Data Protection Features
The new Intel SSD 520 Series offers the best security features of any Intel® Solid-State Drive to date and comes pre-configured with Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256 bit encryption capabilities. In the event of theft or loss of your computer, you have the peace of mind that your personal data is secured by an advanced encryption technology. Additionally, the Intel SSD 520 Series contains "End to End Data Protection" ensuring integrity of stored data from the computer to the SSD and back.
Proven Reliability with Lower Operating Costs
With no moving parts, the Intel SSD 520 Series reduces your risk of data loss due to laptop bumps or drop, all while consuming less power than a traditional hard drive-so you can stay mobile longer. Now that your work is safe, use the world-class performance of the Intel SSD 520 Series to dominate your gaming competition or to reach new levels of creativity and productivity. The choice is yours!
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Feature
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Intel SSD 320 Series
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Intel SSD 510 Series
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Intel SSD 520 Series
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Capacities
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MLC:
40/80/120/160/300/600
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MLC:
120/ 250
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MLC:
60/120/180/240/480
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NAND Litho
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25nm
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34nm
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25nm
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Interface
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SATA 3Gbps
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SATA 6Gbps
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SATA 6Gbps
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Sequential Performance*1 (MB/sec)
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Up to 260 / 210
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Up to 500/315
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Up to 550 / 520
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Random performance*1
R/W (IOPS)
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Up to 39.5K / 23K
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Up to 20K / 8K
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Up to 40K / 70K
(max 80k write IOPS)
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Power (W)*2
(active / idle)
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150 mW /100 mW
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380 mW /100 mW
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850 mW /600 mW
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Form Factors
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2.5"
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2.5"
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2.5"
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Security
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AES-128 encryption
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NA
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AES-256 encryption
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Data Reliability - Surplus Array
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Yes
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No
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Yes
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Data Path Protection
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LBA Tag Checking
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NA
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E2E Data Protection
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Low Halogen
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Warranty
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5 Year
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3 Year
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5 Year
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Intel SSDSC2CW240A3 Specification
- Capacity: 60/120/180/240/480 GB
- Components: Intel 25nm Multi-Level Cell (MLC) NAND Flash Memory
- Form Factor: 2.5-inch
- Thickness:
- 7 mm: 120/180/240 GB
- 9.5 mm: 60/120/180/240/480 GB
- Weight: Up to 78 grams
- SATA 6Gb/s Bandwidth Performance1 (Iometer* Queue Depth 32)
- Sustained Sequential Read: Up to 550 MB/s
- Sustained Sequential Write: Up to 520 MB/s
- Read and Write IOPS1 (Iometer Queue Depth 32)
- Random 4 KB Reads: Up to 50,000 IOPS
- Random 4 KB Writes: Up to 80,000 IOPS2
- Latency (average sequential)
- Read: 80 μs (TYP)
- Write: 85 μs (TYP)
- Data Compression
- AES 256-bit Encryption
- End-to-End Data Protection
- Compatibility:
- Intel SSD Toolbox with Intel® SSD Optimizer
- Intel® Data Migration Software
- Intel® Rapid Storage Technology
- Intel® 6 Series Express Chipsets (with SATA 6Gb/s)
- SATA Revision 3.0
- ACS-2
- SSD-enhanced SMART ATA feature set
- Native Command Queuing (NCQ) command set
- Data Set Management Command
- Trim attribute
- Power Management
- 5 V SATA Supply Rail
- SATA Link Power Management (LPM)
- Power
- Active (MobileMark* 2007 Workload):
- 850 mW (TYP)
- Idle: 600 mW (TYP)
- Temperature
- Operating: 0o C to 70o C
- Non-Operating: -55o C to 95o C
- Reliability
- Uncorrectable Bit Error Rate (UBER): < 1 sector per 1016 bits read
- Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF): 1,200,000 hours
- Shock (operating and non-operating): 1,500 G/0.5 msec
- Vibration
- Operating: 2.17 GRMS (5-700 Hz)
- Non-operating: 3.13 GRMS (5-800 Hz)
- Certifications and Declarations:
- UL*
- CE*
- C-Tick*
- BSMI*
- KCC*
- Microsoft* WHQL
- VCCI*
- SATA-IO*
- Product Ecological Compliance
1. Performance values vary by capacity.
2. Random 4 KB writes measured using out-of-box SSD.
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Comments
While these drives are appreciably more expensive than equally performing models from other companies, one would hope that a lot more testing and quality controls went into making them, and there's no way to test for reliability between brands in a review like this, you need to run tests for a long period of time using large numbers of drives and the expense and time of such an undertaking would be beyond the capabilities of a review site.
I am concerned with the 520's reliance on the bios password for encryption. Isn't the bios password fairly easy to hack? If my laptop 'walks off' is my data really 100% secure or is it readily available to anyone who can garner the bios password?
Although I do not use it personally, it is my understanding that TrueCrypt works perfectly on an SSD.
I think the origin for this mixup is comming from the first sandforce controlled SSDs - they encrypted the data on the memory chips, but users had no way to enter a password since ATA HD security was not supported. back then it was no security enhancement at all. encryption was just used as a cheap way to randomly scatter data over the NAND as a wear leveling tool.
Setting up a ATA HD password with a selfencrypting ssd like the intel 520 series will securly encrypt all data and you wont be able to read or write to the drive without the password. the drive cannot be pluged into another computer and be accessed there. It will show up as a locked drive until you enter the correct ATA master- or user password. you wont even be able to secure erase the drive without a password - better don't loose it or you have to dump your drive. However, your mainburd has to support ATA HD security. That is a still little hard to find...
this is also not what the article you reffere to (SandForce SSD Encryption - Demystified) is stating. the articel you reffered to was mainly questioning the security of such a "black box" solution in spite of an open source solution like truecrypt. The article is also quite old.
to get a clearer view of how it actually works see the document:
##hgst.com/tech/techlib.nsf/techdocs/F08FCD6C41A7A3FF8625735400620E6A/$file/HowToGuide_BulkDataE ncryption_final.pdf
It seems to be just a logical step to use ondisk encryption whenever possible with a SSD since SSDs loose up to 80% performance if you use truecrypt.
@Bill: Yes, ATA HD encryption is sufficient for personal or corporate use.
Best
Bjoern
From your comments, my understanding is that if my motherboard supports ATA Security, I can set a password that is unrelated to the BiOS password and is not stored in the BIOS. Correct?
One other question, if my motherboard does NOT support ATA Security, can the Intel toolkit be used to set the SSD ATA password? Do I then continue to use the toolkit to provide the password and enable access?
1.) Yes. The PW will be hashed and the hash will be saved in the drive. the PW can then be used to decrypted the key used for the encryption of the data on the drive itself. You can also use the drive in another computer supporting ATA security - at least if it is the same mainboard and therefore BIOS implementation of ATA security.
2.) If your BIOS does not support ATA security there is no way to use a password protected disk. the disk would be locked - without a supporting BIOS you cannot enter the password. Most systems would not even boot with a locked drive on any SATA channel. that is also the reason why you cannot set the password using the intel toolkit. imagin you would set a password in windows and then be unable to access your system anymore, because your bios actualy does not support it.
Therefore, the entire handling of the password is quite uncomfortable and you have a risk of loosing your hardware. allways remember - if you loose the password you loose not only the data but also the drive itself. It would be bricked forever.