Introduction
Crucial have just released the latest in their MX range, the MX300. The MX300 uses Micron 3D NAND, which Crucial are calling the most advanced storage technology they’ve had in an SSD. Crucial also plan more to come later this year with the technology seen in the MX300 release, including additional capacities and form factors. Micron and Crucial what you could call integrated partners, so this release is fresh on the development cycle between the two brands. We have the 750Gb Limited edition SSD to review today, and if you are wondering why this is a Limited Edition, it’s actually a limited run to showcase the technology coming from Crucial later this year, something that Crucial were eager to debut.
So what’s the main difference? Recently Micron launched their 3D NAND technology and this included information on the MX300 which was scheduled to use 3D TLC NAND, well it’s here and it does.
This is the main feature point of the MX300 series, to be more exact, the 750Gb Limited Edition uses 8x DDP’s of 384Gb Micron 3D TLC NAND. The MX300 Series also includes many of the standard high end SSD features, including encryption types, Redundant Array of Independent NAND (RAIN), Dynamic Write Acceleration, TRIM Support, ECC, SMART, Adaptive thermal protection and Device Sleep Support.
The Crucial MX300 is also expected to last. The 750Gb model reviewed here states 220TB Total Bytes Written (TBW), equal to 120GB per day for 5 years and a life expectancy (MTTF) of 1.5 million hours.
Crucial say the key benefits are more space, better performance and reduced power consumption.
This is representing the next step for Micron and Crucial and with the release of the MX300 they are lining up the market for a good second half of 2016 with a number of 3D TLC NAND products that go a little further than Crucial’s and Micron’s legacy options. We have the Crucial MX300 Limited Edition 750Gb SSD on review today, let’s get on with it.
| Specification | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | MX300 | MX200 | MX100 |
| Form Factor | 2.5-inch internal SSD | 2.5-inch internal SSD | 2.5-inch internal SSD |
| Controller | Marvell 88SS1074-BSW2 | Marvell 88SS9189-BLD2 | Marvell 88SS9189 |
| Sequential Read | 530 MB/s | 555 MB/s | 550 MB/s |
| Sequential Write | 510 MB/s (275GB 500 MB/s) | 500 MB/s | 500 MB/s |
| Encryption | AES 256-bit encryption TCG Opal 2.0-compliant IEEE-1667-compliant Compatible with Microsoft eDrive | AES 256-bit encryption TCG Opal 2.0-compliant IEEE-1667-compliant Compatible with Microsoft eDrive | AES 256-bit encryption TCG Opal 2.0-compliant IEEE-1667-compliant Compatible with Microsoft eDrive |
| NAND | Micron 16nm 384Gbit 32-layer 3D TLC | Micron 16nm 128Gbit MLC | Micron 16nm/20nm 128Gbit MLC |
| NAND Packages | 48GB | 64GB | 16GB |
| Onboard Cache | 512MB LPDDR3 | 512MB LPDDR2 | 512MB LPDDR2 |
| Active Power Consumption | 75mW | 150mW | 150mW |
| Capacity | 275GB/ 525GB/ 1TB/ 2TB | 250GB/ 500GB/ 1TB | 128GB/ 256GB/ 512GB |
| Interface | SATA 6Gb/s, compatible with all older SATA interfaces | SATA 6Gb/s, compatible with all older SATA interfaces | SATA 6Gb/s, compatible with all older SATA interfaces |
| Warranty | Limited 3-year | Limited 3-year | Limited 3-year |
Product Shots
Included in the box is a 7-to-9.5mm adapter bracket, Acronis True Image HD software certificate for free data transfer and that is it.
The latter is something welcome for system builders or if you are replacing your drive and you don’t want to install your operating system again after you have installed the drive. The branding is a little different from a colour scheme point of view, but most will recognise the Crucial theme.
Crucial MX300 Limited Edition 750Gb SSD Storage Review
Package - 8
Performance - 8.5
Price - 8
Consumer Experience - 8
8.1
The MX300 series promises faster speeds, bigger capacities and a long life, the latter point we cannot confirm, but the first two do seem to be right on the money. The Crucial MX300 Limited Edition 750Gb SSD as a release on its own is a good drive and we are happy to see performance and capacity on par with Crucial’s mainstream competitors. If this is a sign of things to come from Micron and Crucial, even if you are not a fan, it’s promising.
