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IntelSSDMCEAC030B301
CrucialCT256M550SSD1
$152
▲ 500 ▼

Controller: LSI SandForce SF2281VB1-SDC. Memory: Intel Synchronous 25nm MLC. Release date ≤ Q4 2013.

VS
▲ 527,484 ▼
 $152 

Controller: Marvell 88SS9189. Flash Memory: Micron Synchronous 20nm MLC. Release date: Q1 2014.

Effective Speed 
+147%
Real World Speed
Performance profile from 8,383 user samples
Benchmark your SSD here
50 User Benchmarks
Best Bench: 45% 28GB free
Worst Bench: 27% 16GB free
Poor: 27% Great: 45%
SPEED RANK: 981st / 1080
8,333 User Benchmarks
Best Bench: 113% 106GB free
Worst Bench: 60% 231GB free
Poor: 60% Great: 113%
SPEED RANK: 328th / 1080
Effective Speed
Effective SSD Speed 		36.6 % 90.5 % Hugely faster effective speed.
+147%
Average Score 
+333%
Read
Avg. Sequential Read Speed 		217 MB/s 418 MB/s Hugely faster read speed.
+93%
Write
Avg. Sequential Write Speed 		40.7 MB/s 416 MB/s Hugely faster write speed.
+922%
4K Read
Avg. 4K Random Read Speed 		23.3 MB/s 27.1 MB/s Faster random read.
+16%
4K Write
Avg. 4K Random Write Speed 		36.3 MB/s 85 MB/s Hugely faster random write.
+134%
Mixed
Avg. Sequential Mixed IO Speed 		67.7 MB/s 299 MB/s Hugely faster mixed IO speed.
+342%
4K Mixed
Avg. 4K Random Mixed IO Speed 		18.1 MB/s 37.9 MB/s Hugely faster random mixed IO.
+109%
SusWrite
Avg. Sustained Write Speed 		38.3 MB/s 311 MB/s Hugely faster sustained write speed.
+712%
Peak Score 
+338%
Read
Peak Sequential Read Speed 		242 MB/s 466 MB/s Hugely faster peak read speed.
+93%
Write
Peak Sequential Write Speed 		47.8 MB/s 470 MB/s Hugely faster peak write speed.
+883%
4K Read
Peak 4K Random Read Speed 		34.6 MB/s Slightly faster peak random read.
+8% 		31.9 MB/s
4K Write
Peak 4K Random Write Speed 		46.9 MB/s 118 MB/s Hugely faster peak random write.
+152%
Mixed
Peak Sequential Mixed IO Speed 		80.2 MB/s 333 MB/s Hugely faster peak mixed IO speed.
+315%
4K Mixed
Peak 4K Random Mixed IO Speed 		29.9 MB/s 46.4 MB/s Much faster peak random mixed IO.
+55%
SusWrite
Peak Sequential Sustained Write 60s Average 		46.9 MB/s 459 MB/s Hugely faster peak sustained write speed.
+879%
Value & Sentiment 
�%
Market Share
Based on 77,052,835 SSDs tested
See market share leaders
Market Share
Market Share (trailing 30 days) 		0 % 0 %
Value
Value For Money 		0.9 % 8.68 % Hugely better value.
+864%
User Rating
UBM User Rating 		50 % 52 % +4%
Price
Price (score) 		$109 Cheaper.
+28% 		$152
Nice To Haves 
+421%
Age
Newest 		129+ Months 126 Months +2%
DQ Read
Peak 4K-64Thread Read Speed 		67.8 MB/s 387 MB/s Hugely faster peak deep queue read.
+471%
DQ Write
Peak 4K-64Thread Write Speed 		47.5 MB/s 361 MB/s Hugely faster peak deep queue write.
+660%
AS-SSD Total
AS-SSD Total Score 		297 Pts 1,240 Pts Hugely stronger server IO.
+318%
DQ Mixed
Peak 4K-64Thread Mixed IO Speed 		55.7 MB/s 240 MB/s Hugely faster peak deep queue mixed IO.
+331%
ADQ Read
Avg. 4K-64Thread Read Speed 		52 MB/s 311 MB/s Hugely faster deep queue read.
+498%
ADQ Write
Avg. 4K-64Thread Write Speed 		40.4 MB/s 282 MB/s Hugely faster deep queue write.
+598%
ADQ Mixed
Avg. 4K-64Thread Mixed IO Speed 		33.9 MB/s 201 MB/s Hugely faster deep queue mixed IO.
+493%
Specifications 
Capacity
Capacity 		30GB 256GB
Conclusion 
Average Bench 36.6%
Average Bench 90.5%

The 256GB Crucial M550 is a welcome improvement over the 240GB M500. The new Marvel 88SS9189 controller has addressed our primary concern with the M500 which was poor sequential write speed. With sequential read/write speeds of 510/478 MB/s the M550 has a healthy core performance profile. Comparing the M550 and M500 shows that the new M550 leads on nearly every single performance metric. Unfortunately the M550 is priced significantly higher than the M500 but prices will likely drop as retailers build up stocks of the new M550. A key comparable for the M550 is the similarly priced market leading Samsung Evo. Comparing the Evo and M550 shows that the Evo is around 11% slower in terms of effective speed. [Mar '14 SSDrivePro]

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Solid State Drive Rankings (Price vs Performance) September 2024 SSD Rankings

Welcome to our SSD comparison. We calculate effective speed for both SATA and NVMe drives based on real world performance then adjust by current prices per GB to yield a value for money rating. Our calculated values are checked against thousands of individual user ratings. The customizable table below combines these factors to bring you the definitive list of top SSDs. [SSDrivePro]

Group Test Results

  • Best user rated - User sentiment trumps benchmarks for this comparison.
  • Best value for money - Value for money is based on real world performance.
  • Fastest real world speed - Real World Speed measures performance for typical consumers.
How Fast Is Your SSD? (Bench your build) Size up your PC in less than a minute

Welcome to our PC speed test tool. UserBenchmark will test your PC and compare the results to other users with the same components. You can quickly size up your PC, identify hardware problems and explore the best value for money upgrades.

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How it works

  • - Download and run UserBenchmark
  • - CPU tests include: integer, floating and string
  • - GPU tests include: six 3D game simulations
  • - Drive tests include: read, write, sustained write and mixed IO
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  • - Reports are generated and presented on userbenchmark.com
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  • - See speed test results from other users
  • - Compare your components to the current market leaders
  • - Explore your best upgrade options with a virtual PC build
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 Frequently Asked Questions

Storage Devices FAQ
What is sustained sequential write speed?
What’s the difference between SLC, MLC and TLC?
What is 3D XPoint and how fast is it?
What’s the difference between SATA, PCIe and NVMe?
What’s the difference between NAND and V-NAND?
What is sequential write speed?
What is sequential read speed?
What is incompressible data?
What is queue depth?
Solid State Drives
What is the SSD value for money rating?
What is 4K 64 thread write speed?
Can CPU power saving states (C1,C2,C3) impact SSD speed?
What is the effective SSD speed index?
How is the AS SSD write score calculated?
How is the AS SSD read score calculated?
How is the AS SSD total score calculated?
ALL FAQs »

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Brands make boatloads on flagships like the 4090 and 14900KS. We help users get similar real-world performance for less money.
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We don't pay youtubers, so they don't praise us. Moreover, our data obstructs youtubers who promote overpriced or inferior products.
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The Best
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Intel Core i5-12400F $112Nvidia RTX 4060-Ti $380WD Black SN850X M.2 1TB $75
Intel Core i5-13600K $248Nvidia RTX 4070 $500Crucial T700 M.2 4TB $350
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