2.5" SATA (Crucial M500) SSD vs M.2 (SanDisk Ultra Plus) SSD + M.2-to-SATA circuit board

I plan on buying an Asus Zenbook UX303LN. It has a 256GB M.2 SSD plugged into a M.2-to-SATA card, and I suspect Asus probably had a surplus of M.2 SSDs. The laptop does have a spare M.2 port, but it requires a half-size card, and those are significantly more expensive than the full size M.2 or 2.5" SATA SSDs.

This is a picture from a review website:


Based on the label, it looks like it's a Sandisk x110 265GB M.2.

The spare 2.5" SATA drive I have is a Crucial M500 240GB.

According to Hexus, the x110 SSD is an OEM rebrand of SanDisk Ultra Plus SSD. The 2.5" Sandisk SSD is actually really small and the PCB only takes up about a 1/3 of the case's space: Review: SanDisk Ultra Plus SSD (256GB) - Storage - HEXUS.net

I intend on reformatting the laptop and installing a fresh OS, but I can't decide if I should leave the M.2 SSD and the M.2-to-SATA circuit board in the laptop, or replace it with the 2.5" SATA SSD.

My main concern is power consumption, especially at idle.

 

Your Power consumption won't get much better than a Sandisk Ultra Plus. That thing was already engineered for low power (4 channel architecture). It even has DevSleep though I'm note sure if it still can be implemented via an adaptor (which I'm assuming is totally passive). Besides, whatever benefits you might get from swapping, isn't worth the opportunity cost.

 

Don't get too caught up with idle power consumption. It's an important number, no doubt. But a drive must complete it's IO tasks quickly and get back to the low power states. In this example the lower power consuming Samsung 850 Pro loses to the SanDisk Extreme Pro because it takes longer to complete the IO tasks and get back to idle. Samsung 850 Pro 1TB SSD Review - The New Performance King - Benchmarks - Notebook Battery Life
The 2.5" SanDisk Ultra 256GB does very well in power consumption finishing fourth, a minute behind the low idle great Samsung 840 Pro and both higher performing SanDisk Extremes (SEII 13 minutes.& Pro 11 minutes). Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series 240GB Encrypted SSD Review - Benchmarks - Power Testing

Your SanDisk X110 M2 should outperform your M500 240GB.

 

Any place you can buy this Sandisk X110 M.2 SSD in 80mm? That looks like a 60mm card.

 

There are a few listings on ebay
Says used, don't know if it's a new and pull. SanDisk X110 M 2 NGFF 2280 256GB SSD Solid State Drive SD6SN1M 256G 1006 | eBay
This looks like it, no size given and even says mSATA SanDisk SSD X110 256GB SSD Solid State Drive FW X231006 for Asus Lenovo | eBay

 

Thanks. New from China or used from USA... hmmm.

 

I'd say it depends how used for the $37 savings. SMART details, MWI, NAND Writes

This used, mostly surfing (6-7 days 8 hours) Intel 335 240GB is at MWI 100 and 1.7TB NAND Writes @ 2400 hours, couldn't get me much. It's not in a rare category like the X110 M2.

 

It'd be going in my Sony Vaio Pro 11. I don't use it extensively, just want more space than the 256GB, and am planning on loading it up with some movies and need room for photos/videos I take while going on a family trip in a few months. It only has a 128GB SSD. Plus a handful of games for those quiet down times, if they happen.

I am planning on uploading all my photos/videos to my home server, but just depends on quality of upstream networking.

Other options are the Transcend and Crucial M550. There is the Intel 530 but only one I can find is 180GB and not quite enough for my needs, and also don't want to spend a fortune. I figure about 180-200GB will suffice my needs, so 256GB is perfect. 10-15% OP and I should be good to go. Just wondering which is the best option. Transcend seems to need some more firmware updates according to the tweaktown review of the 2.5" version: http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/6331/transcend-ssd340-256gb-ssd-review/index2.html. Crucial M550 seem to run quite hot. But the 2.5" version of this X110 SSD seems to be quite favorable.

 

The M550 is running hot in the Vaio? Transcend firmware is a bit worrisome. 530 too small for you. Process of elimination = X110

Some good M.2 info here: M.2 (NGFF) SSD Compatibility List

 

Here's the SSD in my Vaio Pro:



Just wish I could buy the X110 from "official" channels. I did get a response about the X110 used on eBay:

"It's from Windows 8 laptop. Crystal Disk Info says 451 power on count and 684 power on hours. How can I check total host writes?"

No indication of hours, but not all SSD's report it. But 684 hours is a lot. Unless it was on 24/7 for a month and barely used. I may bite though even if it is used. My Plextor M5M mSATA which has been used a lot shows 854 power on count and 346 hours power on. Theirs is about half power on count, but double power on hours from mine. Basically it sounds like it barely ever sleeps, which isn't horrible.

I don't need to buy for a couple months so may just hold out and see what gets offered.

 

FYI, The x110 is a rebrand of the Sandisk Ultra Plus, though I couldn't find any M.2. models.

Since I'll be using the new laptop for 4-6 years, hopefully M.2 becomes standard by then.

I'm wondering what SSDs are going to be like in 2018-2020 with SATA3/AHCI no longer being the bottleneck.

I recall the first generation SSDs back in 2008-2009 and how expensive they were.

 

I wonder if SanDisk's SSD Toolkit SSD Toolkit support information would show more SMART details or the newer SSD Dashboard SanDisk SSD Dashboard Support Information They may not support it - OEM drive. Or possibly GSmartControl GSmartControl :: Downloads

This Crystal Disk Info image shows Total GB Written to NAND Note: Image from web


Not sure this is more "official" also from China 256G Sandisk SanDisk Solid State Drive SSD NGFF X110 22 * ​​80mm SD6SN1M-256G - Idealmalls Shipping cost $35

My 2400 hours have a 300 power on count, sleep disabled.

 

Sorry to hijack your thread Loney111111. When I saw it was the Sandisk Ultra Plus that's what peaked my interest. Otherwise there's not much choice out there for a consumer level drive.

SSD's will be vastly improved by 2018-2020. M.2 is supposed to be the new standard, but it's still pretty fresh. It will take a couple years for it to be implemented in new laptops before it becomes more "mainstream" but it is definitely the right step.

Thanks. Honestly it still might not be a bad buy for the used one on eBay. I don't want to spend a fortune, since I don't use the laptop a whole lot, it's my portable "just in case" laptop that stays in my work bag, and for trips. Just the 128GB is a bit restrictive, but bought the laptop for a song, so can't complain too much. I'd be happy to buy the 256GB version of the Samsung if I can get it cheap.

 

You're right, the used one may not be a bad buy at all, especially for it's intended purpose. Personally, if I knew the TB written or MWI, the seller may not know how it was used based on his other sales of hardware, I'd say his business, and if I could budge the seller a little, with his numbers and the fact it's relisted, it's an easier buy. Doesn't hurt to ask. It's a $37 savings with at least a no DOA guarantee right now.

 

Think it's better than a Crucial M550?

 

Comparing the 2.5' M550 and 2,5" SanDisk Ultra Plus, no. But it's close. Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series 240GB Encrypted SSD Review - PCMark 8 Consistency Test In really light workloads the M550 should be faster. It's the fastest TweakTown tested, so far, in the 256GB size class. Push it harder Ultra and heavy Ultra. I think your usage will be close to light except when transferring your movies and games back to back.

 

Further review of the 2.5" SanDisk Ultra Plus drives, the power consumption is excellent, which is more important to me. I just find it hard to spend same amount for a used drive as a new one.

SanDisk Ultra Plus 256GB SSD Review - Benchmarks - Power Testing

 

Hold on This one has the M550 results too in an easier to read chart. Ultra Plus wins by 4 minutes. The second chart shows "limiting conditions" of a laptop. Here M550 wins by 7.5 minutes. Either way, they are close for battery life. Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series 240GB Encrypted SSD Review - Benchmarks - Power Testing

 

The thing that concerned me is this:

AnandTech | Crucial M550 Review: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB Models Tested




Compared with this:

AnandTech | SanDisk Ultra Plus SSD Review (256GB)



Although if total battery life is about same, it may not matter. But that Tweaktown power chart is showing while under load, not watching a movie or under idle. If the Crucial M550 uses 1W idle even while watching a movie, and the SanDisk uses 0.5W idle, there is a big difference. But I guess I trust total battery life more than measured power consumption. This Sony laptop consumes only 3-4W while idle, which is incredible considering the 1080p LCD. I just don't want to compromise that. I guess I can get the Crucial M550 and return if it's a horrible power consumption.

 

Yes, the TweakTown battery test uses a business productivity pattern with media creation and consumption. which would be a little more stressing to the battery than just casual usage. It does contain consumer usage as well, Blu-ray playback, music, photo viewing/editing and surfing. It has idle time, about 30% for business and media. I think, TweakTown believes their readers are more of an enthusiast than a casual user. Their test reflects that. The low idle consumption number would have more importance for lighter workloads.
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