ADATA Launches the Premier SP550M.2 2280 SSD

[btarunr]

ADATA Technology, a leading manufacturer of high performance DRAM modules and NAND Flash products, today launched thePremier SP550 M.2 2280 SATA 6Gb/s solid state drive. As the market presence of slim laptops and ultrabooks continues to grow, M.2 form factor SSDs are increasingly the preferred main storage choice due to limited internal chassis space. This applies to factory installs as well as user upgrades. Loaded with advanced features and technologies, the extremely light Premier SP550 M.2 2280 provides high speed performance alongside superior stability and efficiency to those delivered by mechanical 2.5" drives, resulting in a powerful yet affordable solution.

While the Premier SP550 M.2 2280 measures just 22x80x3.5mm, it is available in up to 480GB and upgrades slim laptops and ultrabooks without compromising performance. Its maximum read/write speeds are 560/510 MB per second, with 4K random read at up to 75K IOPS thanks to a high quality SMI controller and SLC caching technology. The latter allows the Premier SP550 M.2 2280 to operate in simulated SLC (single-level cell) mode for a performance boost. DRAM cache buffer functionality (where the SSD uses system RAM as a temporary, ultra-fast cache) also enhances read/write performance by as much as double that of solid state drives that lack a DRAM cache.



High efficiency and longevity
To improve SSD stability and data integrity, the Premier SP550 M.2 2280 is equipped with RAID engine and data shaping technologies, attaining extended lifespan for better, longer-lasting stability and return on investment. It also supports LDPC(low density parity check) error correction technology to reduce data errors, increase data integrity, and improve transfer quality. Furthermore, DEVSLP (device sleep) mode reduces power consumption and prolongs battery lifespan, an excellent feature for laptop users that want extended usability and portability.

Easy management and data migration
As with all ADATA SSDs, every Premier SP550 M.2 2280 purchase qualifies for free downloads of the ADATA SSD Toolbox software suite as well as data and operating system migration utilities. This range of value-added software makes drive backup and management effortless. SSD Toolbox allows users to monitor and manage the Premier SP550 M.2 2280, with drive status, wear level, and lifespan information. Data migration utilities are especially helpful for users making the move from HDD to SSD, designed for simple and quick backup and migration of the contents of entire drives, including the operating system.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Prima.Vera]

M2 and SATA??? What a complete garbage and waste!

 

[silentbogo]

M2 and SATA??? What a complete garbage and waste!

Why waste? It's cheap and small. M.2 sata drives are only a bit more expensive than 2.5" SATA, while PCIE ones are faster but cost double.
Perfect for laptops, netbooks, ultrabooks and nettops. Also don't forget high-end tablets and convertibles.

 

[RejZoR]

M2 and SATA??? What a complete garbage and waste!

To be honets, if you really need raw bandiwdth for sequential tasks, yes. But for everything else, 550MB/s of SATA is plenty. I had M.2 AHCI and now I'm on bigger SATA drive and I can't notice any difference because they were both about the same IOPS wise.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Actually, I agree, it's a waste. If you want to use SATA, just get a 2.5in drive.
My understanding of M.2 was that it would offer superior speed over SATA, but all the SSD makers are just charging more for M.2 SATA drives, despite using a smaller PCB, no plastic connector and no housing, so they should be cheaper...

 

[silentbogo]

Actually, I agree, it's a waste. If you want to use SATA, just get a 2.5in drive.
My understanding of M.2 was that it would offer superior speed over SATA, but all the SSD makers are just charging more for M.2 SATA drives, despite using a smaller PCB, no plastic connector and no housing, so they should be cheaper...

And how do you stick a SATA SSD into a yoga tablet without making it into a brick, or an NVME drive without making it cost like a porshe?

 

[TheLostSwede]

And how do you stick a SATA SSD into a yoga tablet without making it into a brick, or an NVME drive without making it cost like a porshe?

http://www.anandtech.com/show/10437/samsung-sm961-price-and-availability-outlook

 

[silentbogo]

http://www.anandtech.com/show/10437/samsung-sm961-price-and-availability-outlook

That's exactly the point: M.2 SATA is twice as cheap.
ADATA SP900 goes for $59 for 128GB. SP600 and equivalent models from Sandisk are sub $50.
256GB SP600 is only $86
A 512GB Sandisk x400 costs $30 less than an announced 256GB SM961.

This upcoming SP550 series belongs to cheaper lineup than an already affordable SP900 and SP600, so I'm pretty sure a 480GB SSD will be a viable option even for a low-budget new build.

 

[ADATA-Izzy]

Just so folks hear it from the horse's mouth, the 480GB version is $129.99, which we think is very reasonable. As mentioned, M.2 SATA is clearly not as fast as M.2 PCIe NVMe, but it's affordable, space saving, and even in desktops has its use since it's a simple slot-in with no cables.