Samsung has that unique position they can integrate the design of all the different parts of an ssd all under Samsung. The controller, dram, nand, firmware. This allowed samsung to quickly transition to TLC nand. This really makes the 1TB evo drive the best 2.5" drive for value/performance ratio. Samsung has the best performing m2 drive too the xp941.
Agreed. I have a PNY optima 240gb that I picked up for $90 (the discount actually came through). The SMI controller in it is legit. 500read/300write with low power consumption (micron 20nm sync MLC). Im curious about the performance consistancy, seems ok
Looks like a great product for last year. This might help JMicron capture some of the OEM market - maybe even some budget enthusiast SSDs. What JMicron didn't do was swoop in with a M2 x4 PCIExpress controller. I'm done with 6Gbps SATA.
I guess their selling point would be that they're cheaper than the Crucial M500. So if pricing is all-important to you (and why are you buying a SSD if price is all-important), then they would be a contender.
"The JMF667H is not perfect and there are a couple of things I would like to see. The first one is support for TCG Opal 2.0 and IEEE-1667 encryption standards."
IEEE-1667 is not an encryption standard. Perhaps you meant IEEE-1619
Contrary to the history given in the introduction, it was with the the Indilinx "barefoot" controller that was the game changer. Once Indrilinx entered the market, SSD's based on the J-Micron controller could only be sold to consumers who didn't understand what they were buying. The name J-Micron became toxic because if you wanted to advise somebody on buying an SSD, your first and last words would be, "whatever you do, don't buy and SSD with a J-Micron controller."
In contrast, Sandforce's first generation controller was an incremental improvement over what came before it. There's nothing wrong with that, but the term "game changer" doesn't apply.
Seems like that early history explanation really misses the point that Indilinx was the first real competition to Intel back then.
Sandforce came along and was the first company to put Intel down. But Indilinx was the first company that convinced people they could live with non-Intel SSD's and not... be JMicron'ed.
I think it's being artistically shot that way. I don't like it either. Photos from AMD article looks fine.
Nice article though. Good to see another contender in SSD market, back from the hall of shame.
It's going to be tough though. After sticking a Samsung 840 Pro 256GB in my desktop, and getting a rMBP13 laptop which has proprietary crazy fast SSD, I'm no longer in the market. But if I were to buy another SSD, it'll be whoever is cheapest (after rebates and coupons) with reasonable performance. And it should be a 7mm height so it also fits modern ultra thin laptops, not stupid 9.5mm with no reason.
Better now? I was in a hurry last night as the deadline was approaching way too quickly, so the quality suffered as a result. Bear in mind that we all work from our homes, so the camera equipment and lighting differs greatly from review to review.
For the love of god, why is it that on every SSD review here, every time I look at the performance consistancy graphs it is always for 4KB random write QD32?
3 separate tabbed graphs, all saying 4KB random write QD32 - yet clearly only one of them is, the others being perhaps 4kb reads, or 4kb writes QD 1 or 2.
It's this way every time I read an SSD review on anandtech, has nobody noticed this and fixed it yet or what?
'Micron's roadmaps showed that a SATA 6Gbps JMF66x series was planned for the second half of 2010, which made sense given that Intel was integrating SATA 6Gbps to their 6-series chipsets in early 2011. But for some reason, the JMF66x never made it to the market on time.'
I don't think that's entirely true. The Kingston SSDNow V200 used a JMicron JMF661 or JMF662 controller. That product launched towards the end of 2011 with great difficulties. The controller wasn't broken but the firmware was. It took Kingston six months to release a firmware that fixed the problems. Before that firmware the drive was utterly unusable (paused up to 5 seconds sometimes). After the firmware update it became usable and speed was then as advertised. You can read about it here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/solid-state-drives...
This was very weird because the JMF618 found in some Kingston drives, worked very well (as found in Anand's reviews).
As for the JMF667H, I've used two Transcend SSD340 256GB drives. I suppose they are using the old firmware but performance is okay. Using those systems feels more or less like a system with a M500. Nothing earth shattering.
While nice, I think JMicron is late to the market by about 1 to 2 years. For example the Micron M500 is already on the market. I would just use a another controller such as Marvell. Competitors are announcing and eventually releasing PCIe controllers. Intel has been slow to invigorate the PC market. Perhaps they are too distracted by all their Broadwell yield delays. And some key providers like Micron are trying to make their own controllers or already do in the case of Samsung, but already have relatively low cost SSD drives on the market. Perhaps JMicron should look for a buyer. The SSD market is highly competitive and there are lots of players and interest. I am hoping laptop manufacturers get their act together and start offering more ssd drives as a option. I have decided to not buy many laptops since they don't offer a 128gb or 256gb ssd drive. To me, this is the main way to invigorate the market. Too many companies wait for new Intel processors rather than take control of their own destiny. A $500 laptop that now costs $650 with a ssd would get good reviews and probably would gather a lot of sales.
I just recently picked up a Samsung Evo for school for virtualizing a cluster of computers. I ended up going with the Samsung for 3 reasons. One, consistently high performance, it's the 1TB version. Two, single manufacturer of the whole item, they don't source parts from 'whomever is cheaper'. I'm thinking of Kingston here. There are plenty of reviews of the drive, Samsung is proud of it, so plenty of reviews available.
I looked at the Optima, a pair of them in fact. But I could only find one review, and I also didn't want to buy something where the review sample is superior to what they are selling to the consumer. While it was cheaper, I didn't have faith that PNY wouldn't do what Kingston has been caught doing.
The importance of your website to the consumer is huge. I'd like to express my appreciation for Anandtech.com's constant diligence. If I can't find a review on something with measurements, I won't buy it.
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28 Comments
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hojnikb - Thursday, May 29, 2014 - link
They should support TLC aswell.Couple TLC flash with a cheap and decent controller and you have a cheap and still reasonably performing drive.
I'm really surprised how far jmicron came over the last few years.
Death666Angel - Thursday, May 29, 2014 - link
Is anyone but Samsung getting SSD grade TLC at this time though?Laststop311 - Thursday, May 29, 2014 - link
Samsung has that unique position they can integrate the design of all the different parts of an ssd all under Samsung. The controller, dram, nand, firmware. This allowed samsung to quickly transition to TLC nand. This really makes the 1TB evo drive the best 2.5" drive for value/performance ratio. Samsung has the best performing m2 drive too the xp941.hojnikb - Thursday, May 29, 2014 - link
Also, is anantech gonan review the new SMI based drives ?hojnikb - Thursday, May 29, 2014 - link
*gonna* ... damn no edit optionrpg1966 - Thursday, May 29, 2014 - link
* "going to"Kristian Vättö - Thursday, May 29, 2014 - link
Yes. I have Corsair's Force LX and ADATA's SP620 but they'll have to until I come back from Computex.hojnikb - Thursday, May 29, 2014 - link
Great !Looking foward to your review.
romrunning - Thursday, May 29, 2014 - link
Can we also see a review for the Samsung XS1715 and the SMART Optimus Ultra SSDs?vonWolfhausen - Thursday, May 29, 2014 - link
Agreed. I have a PNY optima 240gb that I picked up for $90 (the discount actually came through). The SMI controller in it is legit. 500read/300write with low power consumption (micron 20nm sync MLC). Im curious about the performance consistancy, seems okmflood - Thursday, May 29, 2014 - link
Looks like a great product for last year. This might help JMicron capture some of the OEM market - maybe even some budget enthusiast SSDs. What JMicron didn't do was swoop in with a M2 x4 PCIExpress controller. I'm done with 6Gbps SATA.romrunning - Thursday, May 29, 2014 - link
Ahhhh.... JMicron - like a phoenix from the ashes. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice...Oh well, someone has to be at the bottom of the barrel.
romrunning - Thursday, May 29, 2014 - link
I guess their selling point would be that they're cheaper than the Crucial M500. So if pricing is all-important to you (and why are you buying a SSD if price is all-important), then they would be a contender.The_Assimilator - Thursday, May 29, 2014 - link
Please stop insulting barrels.moridinga - Thursday, May 29, 2014 - link
"The JMF667H is not perfect and there are a couple of things I would like to see. The first one is support for TCG Opal 2.0 and IEEE-1667 encryption standards."IEEE-1667 is not an encryption standard. Perhaps you meant IEEE-1619
Kristian Vättö - Thursday, May 29, 2014 - link
Nope. IEEE-1667 is for storage devices, at least the version I'm looking at.http://www.ieee1667.com/download/informational-doc...
moridinga - Friday, May 30, 2014 - link
Yes, it is authentication and discovery for storage devices (particularly removable/portable ones). It says nothing about encryption.Gigaplex - Saturday, May 31, 2014 - link
IEEE-1667 is a requirement for Microsofts Bitlocker eDrive, which is encryption.KAlmquist - Thursday, May 29, 2014 - link
Contrary to the history given in the introduction, it was with the the Indilinx "barefoot" controller that was the game changer. Once Indrilinx entered the market, SSD's based on the J-Micron controller could only be sold to consumers who didn't understand what they were buying. The name J-Micron became toxic because if you wanted to advise somebody on buying an SSD, your first and last words would be, "whatever you do, don't buy and SSD with a J-Micron controller."In contrast, Sandforce's first generation controller was an incremental improvement over what came before it. There's nothing wrong with that, but the term "game changer" doesn't apply.
HisDivineOrder - Thursday, May 29, 2014 - link
Seems like that early history explanation really misses the point that Indilinx was the first real competition to Intel back then.Sandforce came along and was the first company to put Intel down. But Indilinx was the first company that convinced people they could live with non-Intel SSD's and not... be JMicron'ed.
Bindibadgi - Friday, May 30, 2014 - link
I'm genuinely wondering if the photos are artistically filtered or simply just that bad??hp79 - Friday, May 30, 2014 - link
I think it's being artistically shot that way. I don't like it either. Photos from AMD article looks fine.Nice article though. Good to see another contender in SSD market, back from the hall of shame.
It's going to be tough though. After sticking a Samsung 840 Pro 256GB in my desktop, and getting a rMBP13 laptop which has proprietary crazy fast SSD, I'm no longer in the market. But if I were to buy another SSD, it'll be whoever is cheapest (after rebates and coupons) with reasonable performance. And it should be a 7mm height so it also fits modern ultra thin laptops, not stupid 9.5mm with no reason.
Kristian Vättö - Friday, May 30, 2014 - link
Better now? I was in a hurry last night as the deadline was approaching way too quickly, so the quality suffered as a result. Bear in mind that we all work from our homes, so the camera equipment and lighting differs greatly from review to review.MrPoletski - Friday, May 30, 2014 - link
For the love of god, why is it that on every SSD review here, every time I look at the performance consistancy graphs it is always for 4KB random write QD32?3 separate tabbed graphs, all saying 4KB random write QD32 - yet clearly only one of them is, the others being perhaps 4kb reads, or 4kb writes QD 1 or 2.
It's this way every time I read an SSD review on anandtech, has nobody noticed this and fixed it yet or what?
MrPoletski - Friday, May 30, 2014 - link
haha, this time there was an explanation in the article. Ok. IGNORE ME LOL.milli - Friday, May 30, 2014 - link
'Micron's roadmaps showed that a SATA 6Gbps JMF66x series was planned for the second half of 2010, which made sense given that Intel was integrating SATA 6Gbps to their 6-series chipsets in early 2011. But for some reason, the JMF66x never made it to the market on time.'I don't think that's entirely true.
The Kingston SSDNow V200 used a JMicron JMF661 or JMF662 controller. That product launched towards the end of 2011 with great difficulties. The controller wasn't broken but the firmware was. It took Kingston six months to release a firmware that fixed the problems. Before that firmware the drive was utterly unusable (paused up to 5 seconds sometimes). After the firmware update it became usable and speed was then as advertised.
You can read about it here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/solid-state-drives...
This was very weird because the JMF618 found in some Kingston drives, worked very well (as found in Anand's reviews).
As for the JMF667H, I've used two Transcend SSD340 256GB drives. I suppose they are using the old firmware but performance is okay. Using those systems feels more or less like a system with a M500. Nothing earth shattering.
go4aBetterPC - Friday, May 30, 2014 - link
While nice, I think JMicron is late to the market by about 1 to 2 years. For example the Micron M500 is already on the market. I would just use a another controller such as Marvell. Competitors are announcing and eventually releasing PCIe controllers. Intel has been slow to invigorate the PC market. Perhaps they are too distracted by all their Broadwell yield delays. And some key providers like Micron are trying to make their own controllers or already do in the case of Samsung, but already have relatively low cost SSD drives on the market. Perhaps JMicron should look for a buyer. The SSD market is highly competitive and there are lots of players and interest. I am hoping laptop manufacturers get their act together and start offering more ssd drives as a option. I have decided to not buy many laptops since they don't offer a 128gb or 256gb ssd drive. To me, this is the main way to invigorate the market. Too many companies wait for new Intel processors rather than take control of their own destiny. A $500 laptop that now costs $650 with a ssd would get good reviews and probably would gather a lot of sales.Shiitaki - Wednesday, June 4, 2014 - link
I just recently picked up a Samsung Evo for school for virtualizing a cluster of computers. I ended up going with the Samsung for 3 reasons. One, consistently high performance, it's the 1TB version. Two, single manufacturer of the whole item, they don't source parts from 'whomever is cheaper'. I'm thinking of Kingston here. There are plenty of reviews of the drive, Samsung is proud of it, so plenty of reviews available.I looked at the Optima, a pair of them in fact. But I could only find one review, and I also didn't want to buy something where the review sample is superior to what they are selling to the consumer. While it was cheaper, I didn't have faith that PNY wouldn't do what Kingston has been caught doing.
The importance of your website to the consumer is huge. I'd like to express my appreciation for Anandtech.com's constant diligence. If I can't find a review on something with measurements, I won't buy it.