Bearing Micron 3D NAND technology, the MX300 strikes the ideal balance of performance, reliability and affordability. Looking for big SSD storage? Check out this 2TB model!
Product On Review: MX300 2TB SSD
Manufacturer & Sponsor: Crucial/Micron
Street Price: £500 GBP – $500 USD
While Sata 6Gbps may have a 550MB/s bottleneck, such performance is more than adequate for a vast majority of users wanting a slice of the SSD cake. In recent times the cost per GB of Sata-based SSDs has plummeted meaning there has never been a better time to move away from aging mechanical storage.
Typically, it is the primary storage which benefits from an SSD upgrade but these prominent price drops and availability of 3D-NAND has also paved the way for large capacity SSDs to be much more affordable. Today we’ll be examining a large, 2TB SSD which could be ideal for games, movies and music storage.
In the spotlight is the Crucial MX300 SSD. After already reviewing the 750GB model, we’ll be turning to the newly released 2TB edition today to see how this large capacity SSD handles our benchmark suite. Is it finally time to swap out all of those mechanical drives?
Crucial on their MX300
Increase the speed, durability, and efficiency of your system for years to come with the Crucial MX300 SSD. Boot up in seconds and fly through the most demanding applications with an SSD that fuses the latest 3D NAND flash technology with the proven success of previous MX-series SSDs. Your storage drive isn’t just a container, it’s the engine that loads and saves everything you do and use. Get more out of your computer by boosting nearly every aspect of performance.
Technical Specifications & Features
NAND:- Micron 3D TLC NAND
Form factor:- 2.5 inches, 7mm thick (7 – 9.5mm spacer included)
Interface:- SATA III (6Gbps)
Controller:- Marvell 88SS1074
Sequential read:- Up to 530MB / Sec
Sequential write:- Up to 510MB / Sec
4K random read:- Maximum 92,000IOPS
4K random write:- Maximum 83,000IOPS
Mean time to failure (MTTF):- 1.5 million hours
Capacity:- 2050GB
Endurance:- 220TB Total Bytes Written
Encryption: Hardware AES 256-bit encryption
Form factor:- 2.5 inches, 7mm thick (7 – 9.5mm spacer included)
Interface:- SATA III (6Gbps)
Controller:- Marvell 88SS1074
Sequential read:- Up to 530MB / Sec
Sequential write:- Up to 510MB / Sec
4K random read:- Maximum 92,000IOPS
4K random write:- Maximum 83,000IOPS
Mean time to failure (MTTF):- 1.5 million hours
Capacity:- 2050GB
Endurance:- 220TB Total Bytes Written
Encryption: Hardware AES 256-bit encryption
Advanced Features
– Redundant Array of Independent NAND
– Multistep Data Integrity Algorithm
– Adaptive Thermal Protection
– Power Loss Protection
– Data Path Protection
– Active Garbage Collection
– TRIM Support
– Self-Monitoring and Reporting Technology (SMART)
– Error Correction Code (ECC)
– Device Sleep Support
– Multistep Data Integrity Algorithm
– Adaptive Thermal Protection
– Power Loss Protection
– Data Path Protection
– Active Garbage Collection
– TRIM Support
– Self-Monitoring and Reporting Technology (SMART)
– Error Correction Code (ECC)
– Device Sleep Support
On-paper performance, perhaps unsurprisingly, nudges the now-common SATA III limits after encoding overhead is taken into account. It’s no wonder therefore that performance-class SATA drives have focussed on 4k random read/write IOPS in an effort to squeeze out an advantage, but the MX300 may disappoint slightly in this regard.
Once again on paper, raw read speeds and both 4k random read/write IOPs are edged out by the previous generation MX200. The inclusion of Dynamic Write Acceleration may provide real-world parity, but generally the MX300 will need to prove itself in the frame of cost-effectiveness and long-term durability.
Micron 3D TLC NAND
Recently there has been a mini-revolution in SSD NAND: the 3D Revolution. Realising the limits of 2D planar NAND – i.e. worsening reliability as the lithography decreases in size due in part to escaped electrons – semiconductor manufacturers have invested considerable resources into transitioning to their own proprietary 3D NAND technology. Both Samsung and Toshiba have debuted their own 3D NAND technologies, and now Micron are ready to implement theirs in consumer-class storage.
Micron in partnership with Intel are the first to implement floating gate technology in 3D NAND, a technique with well understood ramifications compared to the newer Charge Trap Flash employed by Samsung in their 3D ‘V-NAND’. This first generation of Micron 3D NAND drives are designed to optimise both capacity and cost compared to their planar antecedents, and are incorporated in consumer SSDs alongside other controller and algorithmic improvements.
Scaling for 3D NAND is vertical rather than horizontal, meaning that there is more room to manoeuvre with respect to larger (and hence more reliable) lithographic processes. The MX300 3D NAND technology uses cells stacked in 32 layers for a total size of 384Gb (Gigabits) per die in its TLC configuration.
Additional Proprietary Features
Dynamic Write Acceleration is a feature that uses an adaptable pool of high-speed, single-level cell (SLC) NAND flash memory to improve the speed of MLC-based drives (like the MX300) without the added cost of more expensive SLC-based drives.
Exclusive Data Defense technology is one of the many layers of data protection included with the Crucial MX300 SSD. This technology minimizes data corruption as it’s moved onto the components, ensuring that the invaluable files or documents you have on your computer are reliably stored on the drive.
Exclusive Data Defense technology is one of the many layers of data protection included with the Crucial MX300 SSD. This technology minimizes data corruption as it’s moved onto the components, ensuring that the invaluable files or documents you have on your computer are reliably stored on the drive.
Firmware Updates
In common with most SSD manufacturers Crucial offers firmware updates for all of their drive, improving performance or fixing bugs as and when they’re unearthed. Typically Crucial have a very fast turn-around time from bug notification to a fix being issued, and they can be found at http://uk.crucial.com/gbr/en/support-ssd-firmware.
Support
We’re not typically effusive over support but we should mention that Crucial offer a 3-year limit warranty with a centre of operations in the UK for UK consumers. Should an issue occur that warrants a manufacturer RMA consumers can enjoy short turn-around times and low shipping costs compared to support services based on the Continent.
Packaging, Bundle & Closer Look
The entire range of MX300 SSDs arrive in the same packaging which consists of a flat, compact box with a depiction of the drive on the front and an indication of the capacity edition.
Inside the box, there are just a few items which form the bundle, we have:
• MX300 SSD
• 7mm to 9.5mm spacer
• Data migration software key (Acronis True Image HD)
The spacer allows users to install the drive inside a laptop which feature a different sized slot. Having data migration software is useful for those wanting to backup their content and Acronis has a solid reputation in this field.
The MX300 sits within a lightweight part-plastic, part-metal enclosure which should fit in well in terms of coordinating aesthetics. Opting for a simple design is a wise decision as this style is likely to pair up with other hardware easily.
Test Setup & Methodology
Our test system is formatted and a fresh version of Windows is installed with just drives in place – no additional applications. Windows is then updated to the latest release and the drivers are installed.
Included in the list of benchmarks are the following applications:
Benchmarks
Anvil Pro
AS SSD
ATTO Disk Benchmark v2.46
Futuremark PCMark 8
AIDA64
AS SSD
ATTO Disk Benchmark v2.46
Futuremark PCMark 8
AIDA64
Test system
CPU
Intel Core i7-6700K
Motherboard MSI Z170A GAMING M7
Graphics PALIT NVIDIA GTX 760
Memory 32GB Corsair Vengeance LPX 3200MHz DDR4
HDD
– Crucial MX300 2TB (Sata 6Gbps)
– Samsung 960 PRO 512GB (NVM Express)
– Samsung 950 PRO 256GB (NVM Express)
– Crucial MX300 750GB (Sata 6Gbps)
– Crucial BX200 960GB (Sata 6Gbps)
– OCZ Vector 180 240GB (Sata 6Gbps)
– Crucial MX200 1TB (Sata 6Gbps)
– Corsair Force LX 256GB (Sata 6Gbps)
– Corsair Neutron GTX 480GB (Sata 6Gbps)
PSU Corsair HX1050 Gold
OS Microsoft Windows 10 Professional 64-Bit
Intel Core i7-6700K
Motherboard MSI Z170A GAMING M7
Graphics PALIT NVIDIA GTX 760
Memory 32GB Corsair Vengeance LPX 3200MHz DDR4
HDD
– Crucial MX300 2TB (Sata 6Gbps)
– Samsung 960 PRO 512GB (NVM Express)
– Samsung 950 PRO 256GB (NVM Express)
– Crucial MX300 750GB (Sata 6Gbps)
– Crucial BX200 960GB (Sata 6Gbps)
– OCZ Vector 180 240GB (Sata 6Gbps)
– Crucial MX200 1TB (Sata 6Gbps)
– Corsair Force LX 256GB (Sata 6Gbps)
– Corsair Neutron GTX 480GB (Sata 6Gbps)
PSU Corsair HX1050 Gold
OS Microsoft Windows 10 Professional 64-Bit
Benchmarks: Anvil Pro
Anvil Pro from Anvil Storage utilities is one of the most popular storage benchmarking utilities today thanks to the large suit of tests available. You can test pretty much anything from Read/write Speed to IOPs with many variables to tweak allowing you to get either a single or host of results to compare with other likeminded enthusiasts. In our test we ran the standard suite 5 times, subtracting both the highest and lowest scores and determined the final result from the average of the remaining three results.
Benchmarks: AS SSD
AS SSD Benchmark is a straightforward tool for measuring the speed of your SSD drive.
Simply launch the program, choose your drive, click Start, and it’ll test your SSD’s read and write speed in a variety of ways, delivering a score for each when it’s done. And if that’s not enough, there are also additional file copy and compression-related benchmarks available from the Tools menu. (The author’s support page is German only, but if you need further English explanations then there’s a thread on the program at the OCZ Technology forum.).
Simply launch the program, choose your drive, click Start, and it’ll test your SSD’s read and write speed in a variety of ways, delivering a score for each when it’s done. And if that’s not enough, there are also additional file copy and compression-related benchmarks available from the Tools menu. (The author’s support page is German only, but if you need further English explanations then there’s a thread on the program at the OCZ Technology forum.).
Benchmarks: ATTO
The ATTO Disk Benchmark performance measurement tool is compatible with Microsoft Windows. Measure your storage systems performance with various transfer sizes and test lengths for reads and writes. Several options are available to customize your performance measurement including queue depth, overlapped I/O and even a comparison mode with the option to run continuously. Use ATTO Disk Benchmark to test any manufacturers RAID controllers, storage controllers, host adapters, hard drives and SSD drives and notice that ATTO products will consistently provide the highest level of performance to your storage.
Benchmarks: AIDA64
AIDA64 Product PageThis simple integer benchmark focuses on the branch prediction capabilities and the misprediction penalties of the CPU. It finds the solutions for the classic “Queens problem” on a 10 by 10 sized chessboard. At the same clock speed theoretically the processor with the shorter pipeline and smaller misprediction penalties will attain higher benchmark scores. For example — with HyperThreading disabled — the Intel Northwood core processors get higher scores than the Intel Prescott core based ones due to the 20-step vs 31-step long pipeline. CPU Queen test uses integer MMX, SSE2 and SSSE3 optimizations.
Benchmarks: PCMark 8
PCMark 8 Product PageWe use the Futuremark PCMark 8 utility to measure storage via Photoshop performance under both light and heavy loading conditions. Accelerated (open CL) is used to perform this test. The test is measured in seconds to complete.
Conclusion
After already reviewing the 750GB Edition of the MX300 SSD we had first-hand experience with Micron’s own rendition with 3D NAND. Overall, we were pleased with the transfer rates and performance from Crucial’s MX300, but what about the sizable 2TB edition?
Well, the read and write performance is marginally better with this larger model. Across our benchmark suite we experienced a slight boost in numbers. At this point in time the Sata 6Gbps standard has plateaued, obtaining transfer rates beyond 550MB/s urges users to consider NVMe M.2 storage but as far as Sata 6Gbps goes, the MX300 2TB drive offers decent, consistent figures in different scenarios.
The popular choice for large capacity storage has typically fallen to the aging mechanical hard disk drive but since the market is now saturated, there has never been a better time to replace existing mechanical drives with fast, SSD storage. Availability of capacities beyond 1TB have only recently been a possibility but with such products now stabilising and demand having eased up prices have lowered considerably. This new 2TB edition of MX300 represents good value for money and is a sensible choice for those wanting to retire large capacity mechanical drives hosting games, movies and music.
This 2TB edition of MX300 is available to buy now and arrives with the price-tag of £500 GBP / $500 USD. Looking around, there are actually very few SSD product lines which offer 2TB capacity and those that do are notably more expensive than the MX300, so we can vouch for this drive offering good value for money – and the backing of 3 years of warranty further emphasises this point too.
The 2TB edition of MX300 is a great choice for enthusiasts who are seeking to wave goodbye to large capacity mechanical storage. This drive offers great performance, is reliable and is the ideal platform for that beloved games volume.
Pros
+ Slightly faster than smaller capacity MX300
+ Consistently good results
+ Great value high capacity drive
+ Features dynamic write acceleration
+ Acronis True Image bundled with drive
+ 3 years’ warranty
Cons
– None!
+ Slightly faster than smaller capacity MX300
+ Consistently good results
+ Great value high capacity drive
+ Features dynamic write acceleration
+ Acronis True Image bundled with drive
+ 3 years’ warranty
Cons
– None!
Click here for an explanation of our awards at Vortez.net.
