加速老化计算机的一种万无一失的方法是用SSD 驱动器(SSD drive)替换其传统硬盘。直到最近，SSD 驱动器(SSD drive)比硬盘贵得多，许多用户避免使用SSD 驱动器(SSD drive)升级他们的硬盘。然而，随着SSD 技术(SSD technology)的发展，价格下降了，现在我们以可承受的价格拥有具有大容量存储和可观传输速率的驱动器。(How)金士顿 SSDNow UV400(Kingston SSDNow UV400)是您能找到的最受欢迎的预算选择之一，许多用户倾向于购买它而不是更昂贵的型号。它的受欢迎程度是当之无愧的吗？它有多(How)快？阅读此评论以了解这些问题的答案：
开箱和硬件规格
谈到拆箱体验，SSD(SSDs)是您可以购买的一些最无聊的设备。最后，它们并没有什么特别之处(nothing fancy)：它们只是提供快速存储的小型设备。您可以在下面看到金士顿 SSDNow UV400(Kingston SSDNow UV400)的包装是多么简单。
切割包装后，您会发现SSD 驱动器(SSD drive)。没有带驱动程序的手册或光盘。外壳看起来和感觉有点脆弱，因此在将驱动器安装到计算机中时最好注意。
在驱动器的背面，您将看到SATA Rev。3.0 和电源连接器，以及一些关于您的 2.5" SSD 驱动器的(SSD drive)识别信息(identification information)。当您将它拿到手中时，您会发现这款驱动器非常轻巧，仅重 2.01 盎司或 57 克。
我们测试的驱动器的广告容量为 480 GB。但是，Windows报告有 447 GB 可用于在其上写入数据。金士顿 SSDNow UV(Kingston SSDNow UV)还提供其他容量，例如：120GB、240GB 和 960GB。
金士顿 SSDNow UV400(Kingston SSDNow UV400)宣称读取数据的传输速率高达 550MB/s，写入数据的传输速率高达 500MB/s。为了给出一些观点，以下是相同价格范围内(price range)竞争驱动器所承诺的传输率：
- ADATA Premier SP550 - 560 MB/s读取数据和 510 MB/s写入数据。
- Crucial BX200 - 540 MB/s读取数据和 490 MB/s写入数据。
金士顿 SSDNow UV400(Kingston SSDNow UV400)上使用的控制器是Marvell 88SS1074，而NAND 类型(NAND type)是TLC（更多内容在本评论的下一部分）。
硬盘空闲时的广告功耗(power consumption)为 0.672W，平均使用条件下的功耗为 0.693W。工作温度(operating temperature)可以是32°F 到 158°F 或 0°C 到 70°C
TLC NAND 及其对您的意义
说到SSD驱动器(SSD drive)，最重要的规格之一就是它所使用的NAND闪存的类型。这是一种不需要电源来保留数据的非易失性存储。它具有有限数量的写周期。它用于存储SSD 驱动器(SSD drive)上的所有数据。现代SSD 驱动器中使用的(SSD drive)NAND闪存共有三种类型：SLC（最昂贵且最耐用）、MLC 和 TLC(MLC and TLC)。
TLC NAND是三者中最便宜的，其目标是降低每比特成本并增加最大芯片容量(chip capacity)，以便闪存可以在价格上与传统硬盘竞争。降低TLC NAND的成本是以牺牲耐用性为代价的。正如这个彻底的比较所表明(thorough comparison has shown)的那样，TLC NAND的使用寿命预计低于其他类型的NAND。这就是为什么不建议将其用于需要定期大量使用的非常耐用的存储的业务环境和用户
金士顿(Kingston)目前在其UV400 SSD中使用(UV400 SSD)东芝(Toshiba)的 15nm TLC NAND。由于金士顿(Kingston)不是半导体制造商，而且可用性(semiconductor manufacturer and availability)不断变化，因此每当发生代际变化时，他们可能需要从其他供应商处采购NAND 闪存。(NAND Flash)但是，无论内部组件如何， UV400都将始终符合所列规格。
在基准测试中的表现
为了评估这款SSD 驱动器(SSD drive)的性能，我们在以下测试系统(test system)上运行了几个基准测试：
- 处理器：英特尔酷睿 i5-6600T
- 主板：华硕Z170 Pro Gaming
- 内存：HyperX FURY Black 16GB，DDR4 2133MHz
- 显卡：技嘉 GeForce GTX 950 (GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 950) OC WindForce 2X , 2GB GDDR5 , 128-bit
- 操作系统(Operating system)：Windows 10周年更新(Anniversary Update)
我们从运行CrystalDiskMark开始，它运行多个测试以顺序和随机地读取和写入数据：
- Seq Q32T1：顺序(Sequential)（Block Size=128KiB）Read/Write，具有多个队列和线程
- 4K Q32T1：具有多个队列和线程的随机 4KiBRead/Write
- Seq：顺序(Sequential)（Block Size=1MiB）单线程Read/Write
- 4K：使用单个队列和线程(queue and thread)的随机 4KiB读写(Read Write)
您可以在下面看到我们在测试系统(test system)上得到的结果。它们通常都很好，但没有官方规格中宣传的那么好。但是，与传统硬盘相比，金士顿 SSDNow UV400(Kingston SSDNow UV400)的速度要快得多。
接下来，我们使用HD Tune来测量最小、最大和平均读取速度，单位为MB/sec。该基准还为我们提供了以毫秒 (ms) 为单位的平均访问时间(access time)以及突发速率(burst rate)（数据可以从驱动器接口(drive interface)传输到操作系统的最高速度(operating system)。HD Tune共享的另一个有用指标是CPU 使用率(CPU usage)显示（系统需要多少处理器时间(processor time)（以 % 为单位）从SSD读取数据）。您可以在下面看到我们获得的结果。同样(Again)，它们是可观的，但绝对低于金士顿(Kingston)做广告。
在类似的价位上，您可能会发现比(price point)金士顿 SSDNow UV400(Kingston SSDNow UV400)稍快的驱动器。但是，差异相当小。
优点和缺点
以下是我们为金士顿 SSDNow UV400(Kingston SSDNow UV400)确定的优点：
- 价格——这款SSD 硬盘(SSD drive)非常实惠，让预算用户可以轻松更换传统硬盘
- 您以价格获得的性能非常可观
还有一些缺点需要考虑：
- 此SSD 驱动器(SSD drive)使用TLC NAND，这使得它比具有其他类型NAND闪存的SSD更不耐用(SSDs)
- 不建议用于需要非常耐用存储的业务环境和用户
判决
金士顿 SSDNow UV400面向希望通过使用经济实惠的(Kingston SSDNow UV400)SSD驱动器替换传统硬盘驱动器来提高计算机性能的预算用户。如果这是您想要的，那么金士顿 SSDNow UV400(Kingston SSDNow UV400)是一个不错的选择。它比传统硬盘快得多，容量对于大多数电脑来说足够大，购买时也不会花很多钱。唯一的缺点是耐力。虽然目前还没有关于带有TLC NAND的(TLC NAND)SSD驱动器的使用寿命的数据，但很可能不会像更昂贵的SSD驱动器那样持久。如果钱是个问题，金士顿 SSDNow UV400(Kingston SSDNow UV400)可能是您的最佳选择！
Reviewing the Kingston SSDNow UV400 - Generous SSD storage on a budget!
One bullet-proof way to speed up an aging computer is to replace its traditional hаrd disk with an SSD drive. Until recently, SSD driνes were a lot more expensive than hard disks and many uѕers avoided upgrading their hard disk with аn SSD drivе. Howеver, as SSD technology has evolved, prіces went down and now we have drives with generous storage and respectаble transfer rаtes, at an affordable prіce. Kingston SSDNow UV400 is one of the most popular budget choiсes you сan find and mаny users tend to buy it over mоre еxpensive models. Is its popularity well deserved? How fast is it? Read thіs review to learn the answers to these questionѕ:
Unboxing and hardware specifications
When it comes to the unboxing experience, SSDs are some of the most boring devices you can purchase. In the end, there's nothing fancy about them: their just small devices that deliver fast storage. Below you can see how simple is the packaging for Kingston SSDNow UV400.
Once you cut the packaging, all you will find is the SSD drive. There's no manual or disc with drivers. The casing looks and feels a bit fragile, so it is best that you pay attention when mounting the drive inside your computer.
On the back of the drive, you will see the SATA Rev. 3.0 and power connectors, as well as some identification information about your 2.5" SSD drive. When you take it into your hand, you will notice that this drive is very light, weighing only 2.01 ounces or 57 grams.
The advertised capacity of the drive that we tested is 480 GB. However, Windows reported that 447 GB were available for writing data on it. Kingston SSDNow UV is available also in other capacities like: 120GB, 240GB and 960GB.
Kingston SSDNow UV400 advertises transfer rates of up to 550MB/s for reading data and 500MB/s for writing data. To give a bit of perspective, here are the transfer rates that are promised by competing drives in the same price range:
- ADATA Premier SP550 - 560 MB/s for reading data and 510 MB/s for writing data.
- Crucial BX200 - 540 MB/s for reading data and 490 MB/s for writing data.
The controller used on the Kingston SSDNow UV400 is Marvell 88SS1074, while the NAND type is TLC (more on that in the next section of this review).
The advertised power consumption is 0.672W when the drive is idle and 0.693W under average usage conditions. The operating temperature can be anything from 32°F to 158°F or 0°C to 70°C
TLC NAND and what it means for you
When it comes to SSD drives, one of the most important specifications is the type of NAND flash memory that it is used. This is a type of non-volatile storage that does not require power to retain data. It has a finite number of write cycles. It's used to store all the data on your SSD drive. There are three types of NAND flash memory used in modern SSD drives: SLC (the most expensive and the most durable), MLC and TLC.
TLC NAND is the cheapest of the three and its goal has been to reduce the cost per bit and increase maximum chip capacity so that flash memory can compete in terms of price with traditional hard disks. Cutting down the cost in TLC NAND was done at the expense of endurance. As this thorough comparison has shown , TLC NAND is expected to last less than the other types of NAND. That's why it is not recommended for business environments and users who need very durable storage that's used heavily, on a regular basis
Kingston is currently using Toshiba's 15nm TLC NAND in its UV400 SSD. As Kingston is not a semiconductor manufacturer and availability is ever-changing, they may need to source NAND Flash from other suppliers whenever there are generational changes. However, the UV400 will always meet the specs listed regardless of the internal components.
Performance in benchmarks
In order to evaluate the performance of this SSD drive, we ran a couple of benchmarks on the following test system:
- Processor: Intel Core i5-6600T
- Motherboard: ASUS Z170 Pro Gaming
- Memory: HyperX FURY Black 16GB, DDR4 at 2133MHz
- Graphics card: GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 950 OC WindForce 2X, 2GB GDDR5, 128-bit
- Operating system: Windows 10 with Anniversary Update
We started by running CrystalDiskMark, which runs several tests for reading and writing data, both sequentially as well as randomly:
- Seq Q32T1: Sequential (Block Size=128KiB) Read/Write with multiple queues and threads
- 4K Q32T1: Random 4KiB Read/Write with multiple queues and threads
- Seq: Sequential (Block Size=1MiB) Read/Write with a single thread
- 4K: Random 4KiB Read Write with a single queue and thread
Below you can see the results we got on our test system. They are generally good, but not as great as advertised in the official specifications. However, when compared to a traditional hard disk, Kingston SSDNow UV400 is a lot faster.
Next, we used HD Tune to measure the minimum, maximum and average read speed in MB/sec. This benchmark also gives us the average access time in milliseconds (ms) as well as the burst rate (the highest speed at which data can be transferred from the drive interface to the operating system. Another useful metric that is shared by HD Tune is the CPU usage shows (how much processor time (in %) the system needs to read data from the SSD). You can see the results we obtained below. Again, they are respectable but definitely lower than what Kingston advertises.
At a similar price point you may find drives which are slightly faster than Kingston SSDNow UV400. However, the differences are rather small.
Pros and cons
Here are the pluses we identified for Kingston SSDNow UV400:
- The price - this SSD drive is very affordable, making it easy for budget users to replace their traditional hard drives
- The performance you get for the price is very respectable
There are also a few downsides to consider:
- This SSD drive uses TLC NAND, which makes it less durable than SSDs with other types of NAND flash memory
- It is not recommended for business environments and users who need very durable storage
Verdict
Kingston SSDNow UV400 is targeted at budget users who want to get more performance out of their computers, by replacing traditional hard drives with affordable SSD drives. If this is what you want, then Kingston SSDNow UV400 is a good choice. It is much faster than traditional hard disks, the capacity is generous enough for most computers and you won't spend a lot of money when purchasing it. The only downside is endurance. While at this point there is no data on how long SSD drives with TLC NAND tend to last, most probably it won't be as long as more expensive SSD drives last. If money is an issue, than Kingston SSDNow UV400 might be the best choice for you!
