Average Bench: 40.4% (955th of 1080)

Based on 9,651 user benchmarks.  Models: INTEL SSDSA2CW120G3, INTEL SSDSA2BW120G3H, INTEL SS DSA2CW120G3, INTEL SSDSA2BW120G3

The Intel 320 SSD uses a proprietary Intel controller which predates Intel's adoption of Sandforce controllers for their consumer SSDs. The 320 is nearly three years old and consequently has a particularly poor performance profile. With peak and average sequential read/write speeds of 260/135 and 208/107 MB/s the 120GB Intel 320 is about half as fast as the current group leaders. Peak small file 4K read/write speeds clock in at 19/37 MB/s, again around half as fast as the current group leaders. Overall the 120GB Intel 320 has an effective speed of 214 MB/s. Although these speeds are only around half as fast as current SSDs, they are still twice as fast sequentially and 15x faster than the fastest mechanical drives. [Feb '14 SSDrivePro]

Below average average bench

The Intel 320 Series 120GB averaged 59.5% lower than the peak scores attained by the group leaders. This isn't a great result which indicates that there are much faster alternatives on the comparison list.

Strengths

Avg. 4K-64Thread Mixed IO Speed 57.2MB/s
Avg. 4K Random Read Speed 16.7MB/s

Very good consistency

The range of scores (95th - 5th percentile) for the Intel 320 Series 120GB is just 19.1%. This is a relatively narrow range which indicates that the Intel 320 Series 120GB performs reasonably consistently under varying real world conditions.

Weaknesses

Avg. Sustained Write Speed 113MB/s
Avg. Sequential Write Speed 127MB/s

Average Bench

(Based on 9,651 samples)
Min Avg Max
149 Read 220 257
101 Write 127 135
113 Mixed 134 144
74.3 SusWrite 113 135
33.1% 149 MB/s
Min Avg Max
10.6 4K Read 16.7 21
19.1 4K Write 31.7 41.6
12.4 4K Mixed 18.9 23
66.4% 22.5 MB/s
Min Avg Max
19.7 DQ Read 119 139
43.6 DQ Write 68.8 91.3
21.6 DQ Mixed 57.2 70.1
52.4% 81.5 MB/s
User Benchmarks BenchSequentialRandom 4kDeep queue 4k
The fastest SSD (mainstream) averages a speed of 100%
10GB free (System drive)
Firmware: 4PC10362
SusWrite @10s intervals: 120 106 102 120 123 107 MB/s
Read 256
Write 134
Mixed 139
SusWrite 113
36% 161 MB/s
4K Read 20.6
4K Write 42
4K Mixed 22.3
82% 28.3 MB/s
DQ Read 132
DQ Write 90
DQ Mixed 70.1
63% 97.5 MB/s
20GB free (System drive)
Firmware: 4PC10362
SusWrite @10s intervals: 107 85 52 65 71 53 MB/s
Read 241
Write 126
Mixed 143
SusWrite 72.1
32% 145 MB/s
4K Read 20.3
4K Write 38.5
4K Mixed 22.2
80% 27 MB/s
DQ Read 136
DQ Write 81.1
DQ Mixed 64.2
60% 93.7 MB/s
26GB free (System drive)
Firmware: 4PC10365
SusWrite @10s intervals: 115 109 98 110 86 83 MB/s
Read 226
Write 122
Mixed 133
SusWrite 100
32% 145 MB/s
4K Read 19.2
4K Write 35.7
4K Mixed 20.9
75% 25.3 MB/s
DQ Read 136
DQ Write 82.5
DQ Mixed 66.4
61% 95 MB/s
9,651 MORE »

 Market Share (See Leaders)

The number of benchmark samples for this model as a percentage of all 77,513,090 SSDs tested

 Prices

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MSRP ≈ $188 @ launch in Mar '11
AmazonUS $896 years
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Typical 320 Series 120GB Builds (Compare 25,018 builds) See popular component choices, score breakdowns and rankings
Gaming
Gaming 2%
Tree trunk
Desktop
Desktop 60%
Destroyer
Workstation
Workstation 2%
Tree trunk

Disqualified System: bin bin

EDIT WITH CUSTOM PC BUILDER Value: 53% - Above average Total price: $386

Popular 320 Series 120GB systems:

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 Comments

Controller: Intel. Flash Memory: Intel 25nm MLC

Smart meets fast...

Added 10 years ago.

Terrible

10 years ago.


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opinion?
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