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    Thoughts on the Crucial MX200 msata drives?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Qing Dao, Oct 3, 2015.

  1. Qing Dao

    Qing Dao Notebook Deity

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    I currently have a 512GB MX100 but I want to get some msata drives so that I can either free up the sata bay for a normal drive or run three SSD in RAID0. I think the price is right on the 500GB drives. Is there anything to be cautious of with the MX200? There do not seem to be many msata drives to choose from and I don't want a Samsung again. I already have a 500GB Samsung msata drive but it is utterly useless and just sitting in my desk.
     
    Qing Dao, Oct 3, 2015
    #1
  2. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

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    Nothing in particular, it is a Crucial drive after all, though I don't see much point in getting a MX200 mSata over a M550 or M600. Just whatever comes the cheapest.
     
    Raidriar, Oct 3, 2015
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  3. octiceps

    octiceps Nimrod

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    MX200 and M600 are the same thing
     
    octiceps, Oct 3, 2015
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  4. hmscott

    hmscott Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    octiceps, the M600 is a 512GB device sold by Micron, the MX200 is a 500GB device sold by Crucial. They may share a manufacturing line (or they may not), but they are definately not the same device.
     
    hmscott, Oct 3, 2015
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  5. octiceps

    octiceps Nimrod

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    That just means the factory OP is different, it doesn't mean they're not the same drive. The MX200 is the Crucial branded version of the Micron M600. They're the same company.
     
    octiceps, Oct 3, 2015
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  6. hmscott

    hmscott Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    octiceps, and I ran both Micron M600 512GB M.2 and Crucial MX200 500GB M.2 as RAID0, and they benchmark, perform, and run at different temperatures.

    They do look the same...there are some component / layout differences as shown below.

    Micron M600
    m600.jpg
    Crucial MX200
    Crucial MX200.jpg
    The M600 performed better and generated less heat than the MX200, in the same application.
     
    Last edited: Oct 3, 2015
    hmscott, Oct 3, 2015
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  7. triturbo

    triturbo Long live 16:10 and MXM-B

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    Crucial is the consumer brand, Micron - business. Usually Micron drives come with more capacitors (on the back side, can't be seen in the above images), reducing the chances of data loss/corruption when the power goes out. Since business, the chips used could be better as well. That's the hardware, most likely there are firmware differences as well. As for the MX200 mSATA 500GB, I have the exact same drive for a couple of months now and I'm pretty happy with it.
     
    triturbo, Oct 3, 2015
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  8. hmscott

    hmscott Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    triturbo,

    Micron M600 512GB mSATA
    micron m600 512gb msata.jpg

    Crucial MX200 500GB mSATA
    crucial mx200 500gb msata.jpg
     
    hmscott, Oct 3, 2015
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  9. triturbo

    triturbo Long live 16:10 and MXM-B

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    The other side. On the top (usually) are the controller, the cache and two memory chips (as seen on pictures). On the back (usually) there are two more memory chips and power delivery/protection circuity.
     
    triturbo, Oct 3, 2015
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  10. Mr.Koala

    Mr.Koala Notebook Virtuoso

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    Different slot? Different temperature is normal. RAID-0 is also not purely symmetric, depending on the striping layout, file system and workload.

    Usually OEM firmware is not turned as aggressively as its retail counterpart.
     
    Mr.Koala, Oct 7, 2015
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  11. BigTelHols

    BigTelHols Notebook Enthusiast

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    I've got a Crucial MX200 250GB drive in my laptop as my OS boot drive and it's performing great.
     
    BigTelHols, Nov 12, 2015
    #11