![]() ![]() To be precise the SMI 2259 is just a slightly modified 2258 that was used in the original MX500 line-up. While decent the SMI 2259 is based upon a rather old design. Interestingly, the controller the MX500 4TB uses is the same as the refreshed MX500 1TB. 1x 512MB $14) is not a sacrifice worth making. I think we can confidently speak for most when we say that saving two bucks (1x1GB $16 vs. Put bluntly this massive reduction will impact deep queue depth performance… yet Crucial obviously feel that when it comes to SATA drives, performance should take a back seat to cost. One could argue that SMI is being overly pessimistic in their recommendations, but we doubt they are being so conservative that one eighth is ‘good enough’. For their SATA controllers SMI has always used a 1GB per 1TB rule of thumb for RAM to NAND capacity ratio… and yet the 4TB capacity version of the ‘MX500’ series is using a mere 128MB per 1TB configuration. Mainly thought it is not enough for what SMI recommends. This is indeed suboptimal for a couple reasons. Taking a closer look we can see that RAM IC’s speed has not changed (still ancient DDR3-1866)… but there is now only half the amount of what is used with the 1TB capacity option – via a single 512MB RAM IC. ![]() Thus the lack of heat pads can in no shape nor form be justified. All NAND ICs should get them as these small heat pads cost in the cent range when dealing with orders as big as Crucial routinely place. Though with that said only using heat pads on one side of the PCB and sloppily applied heat pads at that… is disappointing. Needless to say, the newer NAND with its lower operating voltage can be stacked higher with fewer concerns over heat becoming an issue. In its stead is a one third’ish length PCB with only room for 2 NAND ICs per side. Gone is the ¾ length board with upwards of 8 NAND ICs per side. One that shares almost nothing in common with previous ‘MX500’ models. With all that said, internally… this is an entirely different drive. The labels are attractive but not garish, and an all-metal SATA chassis is always preferable to the typical polymer ones that have flooded the SATA SSD market in recent years. Once again Crucial is known for being conservative and we have zero complaints here. The chassis and labeling also have not changed all that much (beyond capacity listed that is). In addition to the 2.5mm plastic adapter (which converts this 2.5-inch 7mm z-height SSD into a virtual 9.5mm z-height one), expect to find a short pamphlet as well as instructions on how to download Crucial’s Storage Executive software. ![]() The same is true of the internal protection configuration – which consists of a plastic clamshell one-piece that may do somewhere between jack and squat all good against ESD damage but is still pretty much the de-facto industry standard.Įven the accessories have not changed. The shipping box is classic Crucial in that it is aesthetically pleasing, choke full of details, and generally speaking is pretty much everything one could as for in a Solid State Drive’s cardboard box. ![]()
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