By Olin Coles

Manufacturer: Micron Technology, Inc.
Product Name: Crucial M550 Solid State Drive
Model Number: CT512M550SSD1 (512GB capacity) CT1024M550SSD1 (1TB capacity)
UPC: 649528766113 (512GB) 649528766120 (1TB)
Price As Tested: $168.99 (256GB), $336.99 (512GB), $530.99 (1TB)

Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by Micron Technology.

Micron Technology, the company behind the Crucial brand, has delivered many first’s to the computer industry. Primary among them are advancements in the solid state storage sector. Crucial delivered excellent price value when they launched the M225 SSD series back in 2009, then followed up with the fastest available SSD when they launched the SATA 6 Gb/s Crucial C300 back in 2010. Just last year they broke the price barrier for 1TB SSDs, and now they’re back to combine all the best attributes of their past into one new product: M550.

Crucial’s C300 solid state drive introduced SSDs to the SATA-6Gb/s interface, followed by the Micron M500 SSD series which will continue in the mainstream value segment. With the Crucial M550 SSD, Micron introduces their brand’s first premium-level product series. Utilizing a new Marvell 88SS9189 controller on the Crucial M550 SSD, read speeds reach 550 MB/s while write speeds attain 500 MB/s. M550 promises 90,000 random IOPS reads, and up to 85,000 random IOPS writes. 20nm Micron 64GB and 128GB NAND flash components are used in M550, which improves overall performance and enables lower-capacity drives to perform nearly as well as the higher capacity counterparts.

20nm Micron NAND flash delivers native write acceleration, which does not depend on write compression techniques or NAND/DRAM buffer modules to deliver the advertised 550/500 MB/s performance. Micron components are arranged into a Redundant Array of Independent NAND (RAIN) configuration, offer AES 256-bit hardware-based data encryption, include Microsoft e-Drive compatibility, and feature adaptive thermal monitoring to ensure that heat does not harm the device. Crucial’s M550 meets all TCG Opal 2.0 and IEEE-1667 standards.

Despite decades of design improvements, the hard disk drive (HDD) remains the slowest component of any personal computer system. Consider that modern desktop processors typically have a 1 ns response time (nanosecond = one billionth of one second), while system memory responds between 30-90 ns. Traditional hard disk technology utilizes spinning media, and even the fastest mechanical storage products still exhibit a 9 ms (9,000,000 ns) initial response time (millisecond = one thousandth of one second). In more relevant terms, the processor sends the command, but must wait for system memory to fetch data from the storage drive. This is why any computer system is only as fast as the slowest component in the data chain, which is usually the hard drive.

In a perfect world all of the components would operate at the same speed: system memory signals as quickly as the central processor, and the storage drive fetches data as fast as memory. With present-day technology this is an impossible task, so enthusiasts try to close the speed gaps between components as much as possible. Although system memory is up to 90x (9000%) slower than most processors, consider that the hard drive is an additional 1000x (100,000%) slower than memory. Essentially, these three components are as different in speed as crawling (HDD) is to walking (RAM) is to running (CPU).

Solid State Drive technology bridges the largest gap in these response times. The difference a SSD makes to operational response times and program speeds is dramatic, and takes the storage drive from a slow ‘crawling’ speed to a much faster ‘walking’ speed. Solid State Drive technology improves initial response times by more than 450x (45,000%) for applications and Operating System software, when compared to their mechanical HDD counterparts. The biggest mistake PC hardware enthusiasts make with regard to SSD technology is grading them based on bandwidth speed alone. File transfer speeds are important, but only so long as the operational I/O performance can sustain that bandwidth under load.

As we’ve explained in our SSD Benchmark Tests: SATA IDE vs AHCI Mode guide, Solid State Drive performance revolves around two dynamics: bandwidth speed (MB/s) and operational performance I/O per second (IOPS). These two metrics work together, but one may be more important than the other. Consider this analogy: bandwidth determines how much cargo a ship can transport in one voyage, and operational IOPS performance is how fast that ship moves. By understanding this and applying it to SSD storage, there is a clear importance set on each variable depending on the task at hand.

For casual users, especially those with laptop or desktop computers that have been upgraded to use an SSD, the naturally quick response time is enough to automatically improve the user experience. Bandwidth speed is important, but only to the extent that operational performance meets the minimum needs of the system. If an SSD has a very high bandwidth speed but a low operational performance, it will take longer to load applications and boot the computer into Windows than if the SSD offered a higher IOPS performance.

Solid state storage devices have gained quick popularity with performance-minded consumers because they work equally well in PC, Linux, or Apple computer systems. Likewise, these drives install quite easily into both desktop and notebook platforms without any modification necessary. The Crucial M550 SSD is designed for the high-performance user segment, and gives personal computers a much faster response time that can help boost productivity. The Crucial brand is sold through retail outlets, while the Micron M550 is packaged for OEM distribution.

In this article Benchmark Reviews tests the 512GB Crucial M550 solid state drive, which comes packaged in a cardboard retail kit with the 7mm SATA SSD and notebook adapter that brings the drive to 9mm. Crucial M550 solid state drives are available in 2.5″ SATA form factor, mSATA, and M.2 Type 2280. Micron Technology offers the Crucial M550 SSD series in four capacities for the SATA interface: 128, 256, 512GB, and 1TB. These models share the same part numbers with a capacity designation: CT512M550SSD1 that represents the 512 GB model. At the time of launch, the Crucial M550 SSD was available for $99.99 (128GB), $168.99 (256GB), $336.99 (512GB), $530.99 (1TB).

Using custom Micron firmware to drive the Marvell 88SS9189 controller inside these Crucial M550 SSDs, the 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB models are all specified to reach 550 MB/s sequential read and 500 MB/s sequential write speeds. Micron promises random read operations up to 90,000 IOPS and random writes up to 85,000 IOPS for the 512GB/1TB models. Although Crucial’s higher-capacity models offer the fastest performance ratings, the 128GB model perform to nearly the same levels.

Unlike fragile the older Hard Disk Drive (HDD) magnetic storage products, SSDs are not nearly as sensitive to impact damage and do not require (or benefit from) any kind of special vibration dampening or shock-proof enclosures. Once installed the SSD is usually hidden away from view, which explains why the Crucial M550 has maintained such a conservative appearance.

The Crucial M550 SSD features a 7.0mm thick chassis that comes with a textured silver metal finish. Micron utilizes a standard two-piece metal enclosure for the Crucial M550 SSD, with a series branding label at the top panel and product information label on the bottom. Internal components are revealed by removing four small counter-sunk screws located at the bottom of this solid state drive.

Standard 2.5″ drive bay mounting points are pre-drilled into the SSD chassis with fine screw threading, allowing this drive to fit directly into notebook computers that use SATA connections. For older notebooks that fit a 9mm drive, Micron has included a plastic adapter that fits atop M550. The threaded mounting positions matched up to the drive bracket on my notebook computer, and after only a few minutes of upgrading I booted-up from a restored Windows Backup Image with ease.

Backwards compatible with SATA 1.5 GB/s and 3.0 GB/s interfaces, the SATA 6.0 GB/s Marvell 88SS9189 controller offers: TRIM support and active garbage collection for supported Operating Systems (such as Microsoft Windows 7/8), Microsoft eDrive compatibility, power loss protection, ECC (Error Correction Code), and basic Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (SMART) command set. All Crucial M550 SSDs include a proprietary data integrity algorithm that provides four layers of defense against data corruption, hardware-based AES-256 data encryption, and adaptive thermal monitoring and protection.

In the next few sections we’ll test the Crucial M550 SSD, and compare this solid state drive to other retail products intended for notebook and desktop installations.

Source: Micron Technology

Native Write Acceleration

Doesn’t require file compression, a NAND buffer, or system DRAM
Achieves 550 MB/s seq. reads & 500 MB/s seq. writes

Lower Power Consumption

Device Sleep support at <3mW
Active power use at 150mW

Industry-leading Encryption

AES 256-bit hardware encryption
Meets TCG Opal 2.0 and IEEE-1667
Compatible with Microsoft eDrive

Redundant Array of Independent NAND (RAIN)

Protects data at the component level
Similar to the way RAID is used with multiple drives

Data Integrity Algorithm

Safeguards integrity of data
Four layers of defense against data corruption at the component level

Adaptive Thermal Protection

Maintains optimal operating temperatures Enables the drive to dynamically adjust NAND activity based on usage demand

Solid State Drives have traveled a long winding course to finally get where they are today. Up to this point in technology, there have been several key differences separating Solid State Drives from magnetic rotational Hard Disk Drives. While the DRAM-based buffer size on desktop HDDs has recently reached 64 MB and is ever-increasing, there is still a hefty delay in the initial response time. This is one key area in which flash-based Solid State Drives continually dominates because they lack moving parts to “get up to speed”.

However the benefits inherent to SSDs have traditionally fallen off once the throughput begins, even though data reads or writes are executed at a high constant rate whereas the HDD tapers off in performance. This makes the average transaction speed of a SSD comparable to the data burst rate mentioned in HDD tests, albeit usually lower than the HDD’s speed.

Comparing a Solid State Disk to a standard Hard Disk Drives is always relative; even if you’re comparing the fastest rotational spindle speeds. One is going to be many times faster in response (SSDs), while the other is usually going to have higher throughput bandwidth (HDDs). Additionally, there are certain factors which can affect the results of a test which we do our best to avoid.

Early on in our SSD coverage, Benchmark Reviews published an article which detailed Solid State Drive Benchmark Performance Testing. The research and discussion that went into producing that article changed the way we now test SSD products. Our previous perceptions of this technology were lost on one particular difference: the wear leveling algorithm that makes data a moving target. Without conclusive linear bandwidth testing or some other method of total-capacity testing, our previous performance results were rough estimates at best.

Our test results were obtained after each SSD had been prepared using DISKPART or Sanitary Erase tools. As a word of caution, applications such as these offer immediate but temporary restoration of original ‘pristine’ performance levels. In our tests, we discovered that the maximum performance results (charted) would decay as subsequent tests were performed. SSDs attached to TRIM enabled Operating Systems will benefit from continuously refreshed performance, whereas older O/S’s will require a garbage collection (GC) tool to avoid ‘dirty NAND’ performance degradation.

It’s critically important to understand that no software for the Microsoft Windows platform can accurately measure SSD performance in a comparable fashion. Synthetic benchmark tools such as ATTO Disk Benchmark and Iometer are helpful indicators, but should not be considered the ultimate determining factor. That factor should be measured in actual user experience of real-world applications. Benchmark Reviews includes both bandwidth benchmarks and application speed tests to present a conclusive measurement of product performance.

Motherboard: ASUS P8P67 EVO (Intel P67 Sandy Bridge Platform, B3 Stepping)
Processor: Intel Core i7-2600K 3.4 GHz Quad-Core CPU
System Memory: 4GB Dual-Channel DDR3 1600MHz CL6-6-6-18
SATA 6Gb/s Storage HBA: Integrated Intel P67 Controller
- AHCI mode – Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver 11.7.0.1013
SATA 3Gb/s Storage HBA: Integrated Intel P67 Controller
- AHCI mode – Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver 11.7.0.1013
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Edition 64-Bit with Service Pack 1

The following storage hardware has been used in our benchmark performance testing, and may be included in portions of this article:

AS SSD Benchmark 1.6.4067.34354: Multi-purpose speed and operational performance test
ATTO Disk Benchmark 2.46: Spot-tests static file size chunks for basic I/O bandwidth
CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1a by Crystal Dew World: Sequential speed benchmark spot-tests various file size chunks
Iometer 1.1.0 (built 08-Nov-2010) by Intel Corporation: Tests IOPS performance and I/O response time
Finalwire AIDA64: Disk Benchmark component tests linear read and write bandwidth speeds
Futuremark PCMark Vantage: HDD Benchmark Suite tests real-world drive performance

This article utilizes benchmark software tools to produce operational IOPS performance and bandwidth speed results. Each test was conducted in a specific fashion, and repeated for all products. These test results are not comparable to any other benchmark application, neither on this website or another, regardless of similar IOPS or MB/s terminology in the scores. The test results in this project are only intended to be compared to the other test results conducted in identical fashion for this article.

Alex Schepeljanski of Alex Intelligent Software develops the free AS SSD Benchmark utility for testing storage devices. The AS SSD Benchmark tests sequential read and write speeds, input/output operational performance, and response times.

AS-SSD Benchmark uses compressed data, so sequential file transfer speeds are reported lower than with other tools using uncompressed data. For this reason, we will concentrate on the operational IOPS performance in this section.

Beginning with sequential transfer performance, the 512GB Crucial M550 solid state drive produced speeds up to 507.18 MB/s for reads and 475.12 MB/s writes. Single-threaded 4K IOPS performance tests delivered 27.26 MB/s reads and 64.89 MB/s writes, while the 64-thread 4K read test recorded 385.63 MB/s with write performance at 325.51 MB/s.

AS-SSD 64-thread 4KB IOPS performance results are displayed in the chart below, which compares several enthusiast-level storage products currently on the market. In the 64-thread 4KB IOPS performance tests, the 512GB Crucial M550 solid state drive easily surpassed the competition, while offering far improved sustained performance over previous Crucial SSDs.

The chart below is sorted by total combined performance, which helps illustrate which products offer the best operational input/output under load:

In the next section, Benchmark Reviews tests transfer rates using ATTO Disk Benchmark.

The ATTO Disk Benchmark program is free, and offers a comprehensive set of test variables to work with. In terms of disk performance, it measures interface transfer rates at various intervals for a user-specified length and then reports read and write speeds for these spot-tests. There are some minor improvements made to the 2.46 version of the program that allow for test lengths up to 2GB, but all of our benchmarks are conducted with 256MB total length. ATTO Disk Benchmark requires that an active partition be set on the drive being tested. Please consider the results displayed by this benchmark to be basic bandwidth speed performance indicators.

ATTO Disk Benchmark: Queue Depth 4 (Default)

Our bandwidth speed tests begin with the Crucial M550 solid state drive attached to the Intel P67-Express SATA 6Gb/s controller operating in AHCI mode. Using the ATTO Disk Benchmark tool, the test drive performs basic file transfers ranging from 0.5 KB to 8192 KB.

The 512GB model provided to Benchmark Reviews for testing produced 562 MBps maximum read speeds that plateau from around 512-8192 KB file chunks, and 514 MBps peak write bandwidth that plateaus from 64-8192 KB. These results outperform Micron’s specifications of 550/500 MBps for the 512GB Crucial M550 SSD model.

In the next section, Benchmark Reviews tests sequential performance using the CrystalDiskMark 3.0 software tool…

CrystalDiskMark 3.0 is a file transfer and operational bandwidth benchmark tool from Crystal Dew World that offers performance transfer speed results using sequential, 512KB random, and 4KB random samples. For our test results chart below, the 4KB 32-Queue Depth read and write performance was measured using a 1000MB space. CrystalDiskMark requires that an active partition be set on the drive being tested, and all drives are formatted with NTFS on the Intel P67 chipset configured to use AHCI-mode. Benchmark Reviews uses CrystalDiskMark to illustrate operational IOPS performance with multiple threads. In addition to our other tests, this benchmark allows us to determine operational bandwidth under heavy load.

CrystalDiskMark uses compressed data, so sequential file transfer speeds are reported lower than with other tools using uncompressed data. For this reason, we will concentrate on the operational IOPS performance in this section.

CrystalDiskMark 3.0 reports sequential speeds reaching 510.8 MB/s reads and 489.8 MB/s writes. 512K test results reached 469.3 MB/s read and 481.5 MB/s write performance. 4K tests produced 30.74 read and 87.77 write performance. All CrystalDiskMark results produced by this 512GB Crucial M550 SSD surpassed all other SATA-based solid state drives.

Maximum 4KB IOPS performance results at queue depth 32 are reported in the chart below. These values represent the performance levels for several enthusiast-level storage solutions, and illustrates which products offer the best operational performance under load:

In the next section, we continue our testing using Iometer to measure input/output performance…

Iometer is an I/O subsystem measurement and characterization tool for single and clustered systems. Iometer does for a computer’s I/O subsystem what a dynamometer does for an engine: it measures performance under a controlled load. Iometer was originally developed by the Intel Corporation and formerly known as “Galileo”. Intel has discontinued work on Iometer, and has gifted it to the Open Source Development Lab (OSDL). There is currently a new version of Iometer in beta form, which adds several new test dimensions for SSDs.

Iometer is both a workload generator (that is, it performs I/O operations in order to stress the system) and a measurement tool (that is, it examines and records the performance of its I/O operations and their impact on the system). It can be configured to emulate the disk or network I/O load of any program or benchmark, or can be used to generate entirely synthetic I/O loads. It can generate and measure loads on single or multiple (networked) systems.

To measure random I/O response time as well as total I/O’s per second, Iometer is set to use 4KB file size chunks over a 100% random sequential distribution at a queue depth of 32 outstanding I/O’s per target. The tests are given a 50% read and 50% write distribution. While this pattern may not match traditional ‘server’ or ‘workstation’ profiles, it illustrates a single point of reference relative to our product field.

All of our SSD tests used Iometer 1.1.0 (build 08-Nov-2010) by Intel Corporation to measure IOPS performance, using a SandForce-created QD30 configuration: 4KB 100 Random 50-50 Read and Write.icf. The chart below illustrates combined random read and write IOPS over a 120-second Iometer test phase, where highest I/O total is preferred:

In our Iometer tests, which are configured to use 32 outstanding I/O’s per target and random 50/50 read/write distribution, SandForce SSDs generally outperform the competition when tested with this large queue depth.

To date, the OCZ Vector 150 and Vector 450 SSDs have delivered the best combined IOPS performance we’ve seen from any SATA-based drive with 88299 and 87323 respectively. The OCZ Vertex 4 (83494) and Vertex 3 Max IOPS Edition (83117) trail behind with notable scores, before the Intel 520 SSD (80433) and Intel 335 (80015).

The Crucial M550 produced 68146 IOPS, which is better than the M500’s 62873 but not quite among the top performing SSDs. It should be noted that nearly all modern SSDs deliver I/O far beyond the needs of multi-tasking power users and hardcore gamers, and would be ideal for workstation systems running utilizing virtual machines.

In our next section, we test linear read and write bandwidth performance and compare its speed against several other top storage products using EVEREST Disk Benchmark. Benchmark Reviews feels that linear tests are excellent for rating SSDs, however HDDs are put at a disadvantage with these tests whenever capacity is high.

Many enthusiasts are familiar with the Finalwire AIDA64 benchmark suite (formerly Lavalys EVEREST), but very few are aware of the Disk Benchmark tool available inside the program. The AIDA64 Disk Benchmark performs linear read and write bandwidth tests on each drive, and can be configured to use file chunk sizes up to 1MB (which speeds up testing and minimizes jitter in the waveform). Because of the full sector-by-sector nature of linear testing, Benchmark Reviews endorses this method for testing SSD products, as detailed in our Solid State Drive Benchmark Performance Testing article. However, Hard Disk Drive products suffer a lower average bandwidth as the capacity draws linear read/write speed down into the inner-portion of the disk platter. AIDA64 Disk Benchmark does not require a partition to be present for testing, so all of our benchmarks are completed prior to drive formatting.

Linear disk benchmarks are superior bandwidth speed tools in my opinion, because they scan from the first physical sector to the last. A side affect of many linear write-performance test tools is that the data is erased as it writes to every sector on the drive. Normally this isn’t an issue, but it has been shown that partition table alignment will occasionally play a role in overall SSD performance (HDDs don’t suffer this problem).

The high-performance storage products tested with Lavalys AIDA64 Disk Benchmark are connected to the Intel P67-Express SATA 6Gb/s controller and use a 1MB block size option. Charted above, read performance on the 512GB Crucial M550 solid state drive measured average speeds of 502.7 MB/s with a relatively close maximum peak speed of 519.1 MB/s. These read results remained very consistent across the full range of capacity. AIDA64 linear write-to tests were next…

The waveform chart below illustrates how well the Crucial M550 manages file transfers, and makes linear write performance appears relatively uneven. The 512GB Crucial M550 solid state drive recorded an average linear write-to speed of 462.1 MB/s, with maximum performance reaching 465.2 MB/s.

While AIDA64 read performance recorded a best-ever speed, write-to results weren’t quite as fast but still surpassed nearly all other SSDs.

The chart below shows the average linear read and write bandwidth speeds for a cross-section of storage devices tested with EVEREST:

Linear tests are an important tool for comparing bandwidth speed between storage products – although HDD products suffer performance degradation over the span of their areal storage capacity. Linear bandwidth certainly benefits the Solid State Drive, since there’s very little fluctuation in transfer speed. This is because Hard Disk Drive products decline in performance as the spindle reaches the inner-most sectors on the magnetic platter, away from the fast outer edge.

In the next section we use PCMark Vantage to test real-world performance…

PCMark Vantage is an objective hardware performance benchmark tool for PCs running 32- and 64-bit versions of Microsoft Windows Vista or Windows 7. PCMark Vantage is well suited for benchmarking any type of Microsoft Windows Vista/7 PC: from multimedia home entertainment systems and laptops, to dedicated workstations and high-end gaming rigs. Benchmark Reviews has decided to use the HDD Test Suite to demonstrate simulated real-world storage drive performance in this article.

PCMark Vantage runs eight different storage benchmarks, each with a specific purpose. Once testing is complete, results are given a PCMark score while and detailed results indicate actual transaction speeds. The 512GB Crucial M550 SSD produced a total PCMark Vantage (secondary) HDD Test Suite score of 52762.0. Specific speeds are reported below:

512GB Crucial M550 SSD

Our tests were conducted on an Intel P67-Express Sandy Bridge motherboard using the onboard native SATA 6Gb/s controller with 64-bit Windows 7. Because new drivers were used, this test is not comparable to past tests and may not be fairly compared to storage devices attached to other computer systems.

In the next section, I share my review conclusion and final product rating.

IMPORTANT: 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 specifically for the product tested which may differ from future versions. Benchmark Reviews begins our conclusion with a short summary for each of the areas that we rate.

Our first rating is performance, which compares how effective the Crucial M550 SSD performs in benchmark operations against competing SATA-based solid state drive storage solutions. For reference, Micron specifications suggest 550 MB/s maximum reads and 500 MB/s write speeds from the 512GB/1TB Crucial M550 SSD. In our storage benchmark tests this solid state drive performed up to and beyond this speed, producing results that compared with fastest SATA-based products previously tested. ATTO Disk Benchmark tests proved the 512GB Crucial M550 SSD was good for delivering 562/514 MBps peak read/writes speeds, well beyond the 550/500 MBps specified. Linear testing with AIDA64 Disk Benchmark produced 503/462 MB/s, finishing near the very top of all results.

The 512GB/1TB Crucial M550 solid state drive models are advertised to deliver up to 95,000 random 4KB read IOPS, and 85,000 random 4KB write IOPS with the new Marvell 88SS9189 controller. Using Iometer operational performance tests configured to a queue depth of 32 outstanding I/O’s per target across 100% of the drive, our benchmarks produced 52,762 combined IOPS performance – not quite the highest SATA-based test results we’ve obtained but still near the top. In the 4K 32QD tests using AS-SSD and CrystalDiskMark, the 512GB Crucial M550 SSD outperformed operational performance for every other SATA-based drive we’ve ever tested.

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. Micron Technology has created a sleek 7mm profile with appealing textured aluminum finish on the Crucial M550-series SSDs. As solid state storage controllers become faster and more advanced, heat dissipation through the enclosure walls may demand that chassis designs become more beneficial than they previously needed to be. For now, the adaptive thermal monitoring system on the M550 suits it well in managing heat in ultrathin and embedded designs.

Construction is probably the strongest feature credited to the entire SSD product segment, and Crucial products have never offered any exception otherwise. Solid State Drives are by nature immune to most abuses, but add a hard metal shell and the chance for failure is reduced to internal component defects. If there are any problems with a Crucial M550 SSD during the limited 3-year warranty period, end-users can receive support from the Crucial SSD support forum. There’s also a toll-free telephone number for support or customer service questions available at 800-336-8915.

As of March 2014, the Crucial M500 SSD launches in the following capacities and retail prices:

128GB CT128M550SSD1 – $99.99
256GB CT256M550SSD1 – $168.99
512GB CT512M550SSD1 – $336.99
1TB CT1024M550SSD1 – 530.99

If performance is all you look for from a solid state drive, then you’ll certainly find plenty of it in the Crucial M550 series. Unfortunately, keeping a narrow focus on specification will cause you to miss the bigger picture. Sure, the Crucial M550 uses native write acceleration instead of compression and is among the fastest SSDs, but it also delivers the least expensive price per gigabyte among solid-state storage devices. Micron has forcefully pushed Crucial SSDs into the limelight by offering ultra-fast SSDs for nearly $0.50/GB, bringing their performance-branded 1TB Crucial M550 down to mainstream pricing.

Competitively securing recognition for performance and value, the Crucial M550 continues to impress with hardware features that set the series apart. Smaller 20nm NAND Flash component free up PCB real-estate and enable higher density (128MB) ICs to fit, reducing manufacturing material costs and thereby reducing product prices. An advanced 256-bit hardware-based AES encryption engine secures data, while ‘Hold-Up’ capacitors ensure that data’s integrity in the event of power loss. An adaptive thermal monitoring system with on-board thermistor and microcontroller is certainly a useful feature for ultrathin and embedded designs, but the device sleep (DEVSLP) function that draws less than 3-milliwatts of power while in sleep mode is a huge improvement to power conservation over previous-generation SSDs. Collectively these items add to the already noteworthy performance, and earn the Crucial M550 SSD our Golden Tachometer Award for excellence.

+ Outstanding 562/514 MBps read/write speed with ATTO
+ Native write acceleration – no compression used
+ Marvell 88SS9189 supports TRIM, NCQ, and Microsoft eDrive
+ TCG Opal 2.0 security with 256-bit AES hardware encryption
+ 3-Year Micron Technology product warranty support
+ Offered in 128/256/512GB and 1TB storage capacities
+ Lightweight compact storage solution
+ Resistant to extreme shock impact
+ Low power consumption may extend battery life
+ Device sleep (DEVSLP) function extends battery life

– Some manufacturers offer five-year warranty
– Most affordable SSD, but still expensive enthusiast product

Performance: 9.50
Appearance: 9.00
Construction: 9.50
Functionality: 9.50
Value: 8.50

Excellence Achievement: Benchmark Reviews Golden Tachometer Award.

COMMENT QUESTION: Which brand of SSD do you trust most?

ATTO Disk Benchmark: Queue Depth 4 (Default)

512GB Crucial M550 SSD

Excellence Achievement: Benchmark Reviews Golden Tachometer Award.

By Olin Coles

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