Continuing our SSD product ranking, after the 120 GB SATA 3 SSD category, we tested 240 GB SATA 3 SSD products.

This article is part of a series of tests performed by DRAMeXchange, a research division of TrendForce. We tested 42 models of 2.5-inch SSD in our 2012 SSD ranking, covering standard SSD as well as performance SSD used in work stations and high-end notebooks.

The following chart provides information on the 240 GB class SATA 3 SSD products tested, mainly 240GB SSDs, some of them are 256GB:

AS SSD Benchmark 1.6.4013.39530

This program is a good evaluator of SSD performance under different uses. Our tests were run several times, and the average was taken as the result.

Most products used SandForce controller chips. The performance depends on the performance and class of the Flash chip as well as the firmware writing and adjustment. Some products presented remarkable performance.

Among the 18 products tested, you may noticed the performance gap is not huge.

Plextor PX-256M3P took the lead in the test with its Marvell controller chip, followed byBIWIN Elite S836 240GB, Intel 520 SSDSC2CW240A3K5 240GB, SOLIDATA X8-240, SanDisk Extreme SDSSDX-240G-G25, OCZ VERTEX3 VTX3MI-25SAT3-240G, tigo SSD sata3 PRO 256GB.

HD Tune Pro 5

The HD Tune Pro 5 is a commonly used test.

Size=R Avg Read leader group: crucial M4 CT256M4SSD1, Plextor PX-256M3P, Intel 520 SSDSC2CW240A3K5 240GB, SanDisk Extreme SDSSDX-240G-G25, Kingston HYPERX SH100S3240G。

Size=R AVG Write leader group: BIWIN Elite S836 240GB, Apotop SSD S3A 240GB, Intel 520 SSDSC2CW240A3K5 240GB, OCZ VERTEX3 VTX3MI-25SAT3-240G, SanDisk Extreme SDSSDX-240G-G25。

IOMeter

The IOMeter test measures SSD response time when reading and writing large amounts of data. The results will differ based on controller chip performance, design, and environment, as well as the NAND flash chip used. The same controller chip paired with different NAND flash chips, or even a different firmware, will result in varied performance.

However, during normal use, reading and writing such high volumes of data is uncommon. Even if such circumstances do occur, it typically only lasts for a short period of time, so this test serves better as a reference.

The leaders were OCZ VERTEX3 VTX3MI-25SAT3-240G, Intel 520 SSDSC2CW240A3K5 240GB, BIWIN Elite S836 240GB, SanDisk Extreme SDSSDX-240G-G25, Apotop SSD S3A 240GB, PATRIOT MAC XT PAXT240GS25SSDR, Kingston HYPERX SH100S3240G.

Best SATA 3 240 GB MLC SSD

Plextor PX-256M3P

OCZ VERTEX3 VTX3MI-25SAT3-240G

Intel 520 SSDSC2CW240A3K5 240GB

SanDisk Extreme SDSSDX-240G-G25

BIWIN Elite S836 240GB

Best Price-Performance Ratio for SATA 3 240 GB SSD

SOLIDATA X8-240

SuperSSpeed SHY-SF21240G3-GF25M