ADATA S511 series 60GB SSD review - Introduction

SandForce based SSDs have had a a bit of a rough start with firmware issues. That all new SandForce SATA3 based SSD controller seems to have stabilized and slowly but steadily we see more manufacturers pushing new products based on the SandForce 2281 controller.

We had a peek at OCZ's SATA3 series, the Corsair series, Patriot and a few others. So yeah we spotted lots and lots of SATA3/6G SSDs, predominantly with a SandForce 2200 series controller with cheaper 25nm NAND flash memory, which offers the good value versus performance.

ADATA jumps on the SATA3 SSD bandwagon with their all new SS511  series SSD. No less then four  volume sizes will be made available. The most popular volume size is likely to be the 120GB which will cost you 175 EUR at the moment of writing this article. We'll test the smaller variant though, the 60GB coating roughly 90 EUR.

ADATA added no less than four new SATA 3 (SATA 3 6Gs) SSDs in their S511  series lineup, in 60GB, 120GB, 240GB and even 480MB capacities, all SATA 3 of course.

The SSD drives come with that already prominent SandForce SF-2281 controller to deliver up to 550 MBps read and 500 MBps write speeds (when peaking). Though that number slightly differs per SSD volume size

After a rough launch with firmware plagued issues with this controller, things have now stabilized, the product as tested today under SKU codename ASS511 S3-60GM-C comes with the latest Firmware.

ADATA rates the drive we test today at 80k IOPS (4k aligned) write performance, but unfortunately due to a substandard measurement to reach that number is not representative to compare with the numbers of say OCZ, as our tests will show you.

So yes sir .. we'll test the 60GB 511 series SSD from ADATA.

Enough info for an introduction I think, let's move onwards and head into the actual review. Next page please.