Performance boost
The headline sequential Read/Write performance figures Intel quotes are 500MB/s and 450MB/s, respectively. This is a little on the conservative side given the performance results the drive managed during tests. Running the ATTO benchmark it delivered a 551MB/s Read and a 505MB/s Write, which is pretty much what you’d expect from a SandForce powered drive. It's also very close to the 240GB 520 I’ve looked at previously – 552MB/s Read, 519MB/s Write.
ATTO test results
As the more demanding AS SSD and CrystalDiskMark benchmarks both use incompressible data – which the SandForce controller has difficulty handling – it’s no surprise to see the figures for both tests fall behind the ATTO results.
Even using Intel’s own figures, the 330 SSD is light years away from the previous generation. The 320 models were equipped with SATA 2 (3Gb/s interface) notching up 270MB/s Read and 130MB/s Write figures. Given the 320 series was launched in Q1 of 2011, it shows just how far the SSD technology has moved on in just over a year.
CrystalDiskMark and AS SSD results
Verdict
Intel has pitched the 120GB 330 SSD into the most competitive SSD market segment – covering 120GB/128GB capacities. While there are cheaper SSDs in this price range, many will re-assured by the Intel badge on the device alone. That said, the warranty has been pruned back to three years, which if you're prepared to make the sacrifice, does enable higher capacities to be more affordable. ®
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Intel 330 120GB SSD review
COMMENTS
Re: SSD Mounting kit
I resorted to Velcro strips with adhesive backing. If you ever need to remove the adhesive strips, lighter fluid dissolves the adhesive and it can be cleaned up easily with a paper towel, leaving no marks on the metal or plastic as long as you're careful.
Re: SSD Mounting kit
Honestly? I've used duct tape and it works great. Dirt cheap too. I check on it every now and again, and no problems so far.
I resorted to this after the last one I bought was total garbage.
Re: SSD Mounting kit
"I've used duct tape and it works great"
Jeeeze - we're suppsed to IT literate. Talk about a bodge job. What's wrong with cable ties?
Re: SSD Mounting kit
Also, there's some media-card reader/USB hub all-in-one bay things kicking around that have a 2.5" drive tray mount on the back of them for just this sort of thing. Loads of features for ~$20 (check NewEgg.com). Other option is to duct tape it to the side of your case or the underside of your DVD drive. SSDs don't have moving parts and are feather-light, so no problem.
You missed one missing key feature: the 320 series is database-safe, with capacitor that has enough power to flush pending writes in the event of power failure, unlike 330 (or 520 for that matter). Which explains why the 320 series is selling for a much higher price.
