Western Digital Blue 1TB SSD Review

[SKYMTL]

Partial and Full Drive Performance

Partial and Full Drive Performance

<i>While it is important to know how a drive will perform under optimal conditions, more realistic scenarios are just as important. Knowing if a solid state drive will behave differently when partially or even nearly full than when it is empty is very important information to know. To quickly and accurately show this crucial information we have first filled the drive to 50% capacity and re-tested using both synthetic and real world tests. After the completion of this we then re-test at 75% and 90% of full capacity. </i>


Synthetic Test Results
<i>For our synthetic testing we have opted for our standard PCMark 7 test.</i>

<div align="center"><img src="http://images.hardwarecanucks.com/image/akg/Storage/WD_Blue1TB/data_pcm.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></div>


Real World Results
<i>For a real world application we have opted for a modified version of our standard Windows 7 Start Up test. Unlike our standard Windows 7 image this image is based on a working system that has been upgraded numerous times of the past few years and represents an even more realistic real world test.</i>

<div align="center"><img src="http://images.hardwarecanucks.com/image/akg/Storage/WD_Blue1TB/data_boot.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></div>

The combination of TLC NAND and a Marvell controller has never been a standout choice when it comes to full drive performance and as such these results are pretty much what we expected them to be – decent but not stellar when compared against similarly priced models like the VX500 and even XLR8 CS2211. By that same token they are nearly comparable to what Crucial's MX300 can do so that is not too shabby to say the least.

 

[SKYMTL]

Conclusion; A Great First Foray

Conclusion; A Great First Foray

The SSD market just got a lot more interesting but at the same time it may have lost one of its periphery players in SanDisk. On one hand this review is tinged with a bit of sadness since we’ve reviewed plenty of SanDisk drives and for the most part they proved to be well-rounded, well priced and backed by a very good warranty structure. However, that small bit of sadness has been squashed underfoot at the realization that Western Digital has taken the SanDisk DNA and incorporated it into an extremely capable new SSD series in the Blue.

Before I get too far into this conclusion I have to applaud Western Digital for their rapid integration of SanDisk into their vast product portfolio. Personally I thought it would be at least another quarter before we even began to see this timely acquisition bear some fruit. Unlike Seagate who opted to purchase a solid state storage controller company with SandForce, Western Digital nabbed a NAND manufacturer and is now sourcing the controllers on an 'as needed' basis. This move really has given them a lot more freedom to integrate the best possible backbones into their current and upcoming SSD series.

With that out of the way the WD Blue may not be paradigm shifting in what it offers consumers but compared to anything Western Digital has released previously this new SSD is a breath of fresh air. It will breathe life into Western Digital's fledgling Solid State Drive division and will put them on a good footing for the future – a future where they can pick and choose which controller to use with their own in-house manufactured NAND.

With that said, while the Western Digital Blue is a very good SSD in its own right, with competitive overall performance and excellent TDW specifications, it does not exist in a bubble. Rather, it has to be compared to similarly priced offerings from more established competitors and in that respect things do go a bit sideways in the overall value department. This is because of Western Digital's reliance on TLC NAND and the performance baggage that comes with this simply inferior NAND type. The built in pseudo-SLC cache buffer does do wonders but it still is – at best – a crutch that can be kicked out from underneath the Blue at the most inopportune times.

Due to this reliance on TLC NAND and the way Western Digital has priced their offerings, there is a significant handicap which MLC-based drives NAND would not have. Models such as Crucial's MX300, Toshiba's OCZ VX500, and even PNY's XLR8 CS2211 offer a similar price per gigabyte offer better performance, enhanced data loss protection, a longer warranty, more robust NAND, or some combination thereof.

With that taken into account, Western Digital may want to either increase the warranty coverage to five years, or think long and hard about a moderate price reduction. For example, instead of 30 cents per GB for the 1TB capacity Blue, lowering this to 26 cents a Gigabyte – or – a mere $40 - would make this a real standout and offer consumers a clear choice in what model to spend their hard earned money on.

As it stands the Western Digital Blue is still a Dam Innovative drive, just one that may not be right for all scenarios and all system builds. However, if you are looking for a drive with good performance, a good warranty, and a company with a stellar reputation backing it, then the Western Digital Blue deserves a long hard look. It also makes us wonder what WD has up their sleeves for the inevitable Black series.

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