discussion Kingston HyperX 3K 240GB SSD Review

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SATA 2 Performance

SATA 2 Performance

In a perfect world everyone investing in a new solid state drive would have access to a SATA 6Gb/s controller which could pass on the TRIM command. In reality not everyone has this and for many the decision comes down either giving up TRIM – never a good idea with most controllers – and running it off a secondary controller; or taking a performance hit and running in SATA 2.0 mode.

These tests will consist of some of our real world and synthetic benchmarks run on our standard 1155 test-bed; but the drive will be attached to an SATA 2 port.

For synthetic we have opted for the newcomer to our charts: Anvil Storage Utilities Pro. For real world we have opted for our Adobe test. These two tests should give you a very good idea of the level of performance impact you can expect from running a modern SATA 6 drive in compatibility mode.

As with all the other tests we have performed on the HyperX 3K, the results of the SATA 2 testing show this to be just as good a drive as the original model. By current standards, it seems that drives using SF-2281 with ONFI 2 NAND (be it 3K or 5K) relying upon stock firmware are more or less interchangeable. Simply put, none shows enough of a difference in performance to make it standout from the rest. Custom firmware and newer controllers have simply compressed standard SF-2281 drives into the mid-tier clump that we have today. This is not to say that choosing the HyperX 3K over an original HyperX is a bad choice; rather, both of the drives are solid performers.

 

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Conclusion

Conclusion

Considering HyperX 3K 240GB has virtually the same performance as it’s more expensive sibling but comes to market with a lower price, it can be considered a success for Kingston. They wanted to release a budget-friendly drive without sacrificing performance and that’s exactly what we’ve been given. Giving up some theoretical lifespan in order to gain capacity seems like a reasonable compromise considering how quickly users seem to upgrade from one SSD generation to the next. Unfortunately, while the HyperX 3K 240GB SSD may indeed be less expensive than the original HyperX and even most of the competition, the SandForce SF-2281 controller with ONFi 2.0 NAND is the most common combination on the market today, and drives based on this technology are virtually interchangeable.
Because this model has arrived so late on the scene, Kingston has effectively handicapped the HyperX 3K by bringing it into a market radically that’s different than the one its forefather found itself competing in. When the original was released, there were far fewer competitors and its 5K NAND gave it a distinct advantage. Today, the HyperX 3K may be able to slightly outperform, out-price, and even out-feature some of the competition—but it is not the fastest or even the least expensive SF-2281 / ONFi 2 drive available today. For less money you can opt for an OCZ Vertex 3 240GB, or for approximately $30 more you can get a faster Intel 520 with an additional two years of warranty. The Kingston HyperX 3K does not appear to be a decisive winner. In fact, it is going to have a rather difficult time gaining traction in a saturated market.

One thing Kingston has done to help this new drive stand out is the inclusion of an impressive accessory bundle. Simply put, the HyperX 3K offers one of the most complete packages available today, and few other SSDs can match it. As with the Crucial M4 and original Kinston HyperX line, purchasers will be able to clone their existing hard drives with minimal hassle and no additional hardware or software outlay. If the accessories are useful to you, then the price of the 3K can be considered a bargain, and your mid-tier storage solution choice becomes clear: pick the HyperX 3K. For most consumers, however, these accessories are unlikely to tip the scales in Kingston’s favor.

To be blunt, the HyperX 3K 240GB drive should have been released six to 12 months ago. Drives using a SandForce SF-2281 controller with standard firmware and equipped with ONFi 2 3K NAND ICs are now too plentiful to be considered noteworthy. Even a great accessory kit is not enough to overcome market saturation and consumer apathy towards any new model featuring such ubiquitous hardware. Kingston needs to drastically reduce the price—or do something equally apparent—in the face of these new market realities if they hope to make this new model as popular as the original.


Pros:

- Much improved price-to-performance ratio over original HyperX
- Good looks
- Great accessories
- No real performance loss compared to original HyperX


Cons:

- Besides accessories, nothing distinguishes this model from similarly priced competing models
- 3-year warranty
- Price, while good, is still not great
- Kingston Toolbox does not favorably compare to Intel’s SSD Toolbox