Crucial Adrenaline 50GB m4 Cache SSD Review
Comparison Drives & Test System
Legit Reviews Test System
All tests were performed on a fresh and up-to-date install of Windows 7 Pro x64 with no other applications running while using AHCI mode set through the BIOS. Synthetic Benchmarks were run with the OS loaded on a 40GB Corsair Force SSD. In between every test, the test drive was secure erased using an instance of Parted Magic. As such, all results should be indicative of optimal performance. All components were set to their default speeds and are listed below. As always, we thank ASUS for their generosity and support in providing the motherboard for our test bench.
P67 Test Bench
| Intel LGA 1155 Test Platform | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Component | Brand/Model | Live Pricing | |||
|
Processor |
Core i5 2500k | ||||
|
Motherboard |
ASUS P8P67 Deluxe | ||||
|
Memory |
Crucial 2 x 2GB PC3-10600 | ||||
|
Video Card |
Gigabyte GeForce GT 430 | ||||
|
OS Drive |
Corsair Force 40GB | ||||
|
Power Supply |
Corsair HX1000 | ||||
|
Operating System |
Windows 7 Pro 64-Bit | ||||
Comparison Drives & Other Models We Have Tested
Since there are so many SSDs out there now with different controllers, we started a reference table of which controllers are used by each drive to help you compare results. Different controllers definitely perform differently and each has various strengths and weaknesses. Like CPU’s, even identical drives will have variations in performance and part of that variance may be attributable to the NAND flash used. Since the tests of the drives listed have spanned different test benches and represent three different interfaces, we have listed them for easy reference.
| SSD MODEL | CONTROLLER(S) | TRIM? | Interface |
| Vertex 4 256GB |
Indilinx Evertest 2 | Yes | SATA III |
| Vertex 4 512GB |
Indilinx Evertest 2 | Yes | SATA III |
| Micron P400e 200GB |
Marvell 88SS9174 | Yes | SATA III |
| Kingston V+200 120GB |
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) | Yes | SATA III |
| RunCore Pro V 120GB |
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) | Yes | SATA III |
| Intel 520 Series 240GB |
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) | Yes | SATA III |
| Samsung 830 Series 256GB |
S4LJ204X01-Y040 | Yes | SATA III |
| Corsair Force GT 180GB |
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) | Yes | SATA III |
| Corsair Force GT 240GB |
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) | Yes | SATA III |
| Samsung 830 Series 256GB |
Samsung S4LJ204X01-Y040 | Yes | SATA III |
| OCZ Octane 512GB |
Indilinx Everest | Yes | SATA III |
| Corsair Force 3 120GB |
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) | Yes | SATA III |
| Super Talent TeraDrive CT3 64GB |
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) | Yes | SATA III |
| Kingston HyperX 240GB |
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) | Yes | SATA III |
| Corsair Force GT 120GB |
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) | Yes | SATA III |
| Patriot Pyro 120GB |
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) | Yes | SATA III |
| OCZ RevoDrive 3 X2 480GB |
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281)x4 | Yes | PCI-E |
| OWC Mercury EXTREME Pro 6G 240GB |
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) | Yes | SATA III |
| OCZ Vertex 3 Max IOPS 240GB |
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) | Yes | SATA III |
| OCZ Vertex 3 Max IOPS 240GB |
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) | Yes | SATA III |
| OCZ Agility 3 240GB |
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) | Yes | SATA III |
| OCZ Vertex 3 120GB |
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) | Yes | SATA III |
| PQI S535 256GB |
SandForce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | Yes | SATA II |
| OWC Mercury EXTREME Pro 120GB |
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) | Yes | SATA III |
| Crucial m4/Micron C400 256GB |
Marvell 88SS9174 | Yes | SATA III |
| Intel 320 Series 128GB |
Intel PC29AS21BA0 (G3 FW) | Yes | SATA II |
| Corsair Performance 3 Series 128GB |
Marvell 88SS9174 | Yes | SATA III |
| Intel 510 Series 250GB |
Marvell 88SS9174 | Yes | SATA III |
| Plextor M2 Series 128GB |
Marvell 88SS9174 | Yes | SATA III |
| Kingston V100 Series 128GB |
JMicron JMF618 (Toshiba branded) | Yes | SATA II |
| OCZ Vertex 3 Pro 200GB (beta) | SandForce SF-2500 (SF-2582) | Yes | SATA III |
| OCZ Vertex 4 |
SandForce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | Yes | SATA II |
| Samsung 470 Series 256GB |
Samsung S3C29MAX01-Y340 | Yes | SATA II |
| Zalman N Series 128GB | SandForce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | Yes | SATA II |
| Kingston V+100 128GB | Toshiba T6UG1XBG | Yes | SATA II |
| Corsair Force 40GB | Sandforce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | Yes | SATA II |
| Intel X25-V 40GB | Intel PC29AS21BA0 (G2 FW) | Yes | SATA II |
| G.Skill Phoenix Pro | Sandforce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | Yes | SATA II |
| Patriot Inferno 100GB | Sandforce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | Yes | SATA II |
| OCZ RevoDrive X2 240GB |
4X SF-1200 (SF-1222) | No* | PCI-E |
| OCZ RevoDrive 120GB |
2X SF-1200 (SF-1222) | No* | PCI-E |
| ADATA S596 128GB | JMicron JMF612 | Yes | SATA II |
| Corsair Force Series 120GB | Sandforce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | Yes | SATA II |
| Patriot Zephyr 128GB | JMICRON JMF612 | Yes | SATA II |
| Patriot Torqx 128GB | Indilinx Barefoot | Yes | SATA II |
| Kingston 30GB V Series SNV125-S2 | Toshiba T6UG1XBG | Yes | SATA II |
| Kingston 128GB V Series SNV425-S2 | JMICRON JMF618 | Yes | SATA II |
| Corsair Force Series 100GB | Sandforce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | Yes | SATA II |
| Corsair Nova Series 128GB | Indilinx Barefoot | Yes | SATA II |
| Intel X25-M 160GB G2 |
Intel PC29AS21BA0 (G2 FW) | Yes | SATA II |
| Micron RealSSD C300 256GB | Marvell 88SS9174 | Yes | SATA III |
| * TRIM is not supported due to the RAID controller. | |||
For the Crucial Adrenaline m4 50GB drive, the readout on CrystalDiskInfo 4.1.3 shows that both
NCQ and S.M.A.R.T. are enabled, as well as TRIM and the interface is
confirmed at SATA 6Gbps. This is a great free tool to see lots of detailed information about the
drive such as the firmware version for which we are running the latest available at the time of testing – 0309.
Setting up the cache drive is easy. First you need to download the Dataplex software at the address given in the box with the serial number.
Installation couldn’t be easier.
First off it asks for your product key which can be found inside of the SSD box as we showed on the first page of the article.
Next, choose the target and cache drives.
A final chance before execution.
…and done! Simple.
On to the benchmarks!
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