Specifications and Features
Samsung SSD 850 Pro Specifications and Features
Samsung is now offering four versions of the 850 Pro which includes a 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and a 1TB model. So the sample that has arrived in our secret test facility is the 1TB version of the drive. The 850 Pro series will come with MLC NAND flash memory from Samsung's new 3D V-NAND node.
- Type: Solid State Drive
- Type: 2.5" 7mm (Ultraslim) Form Factor
- Type: 850 PRO Series
- Storage Capacity: 1TB
- Features: Sequential Read Speed: Up to 550MB/s
- Features: Sequential Write Speed: Up to 520MB/s
- Random Read Speed Up to 100K IOPS
- Random Write Speed Up to 90K IOPS
- Warranty: 10 Years
- Price: 730 USD
| Capacities | 128GB | 256GB | 512GB | 1TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design | 2.5-inch 7mm | 2.5-inch 7mm | 2.5-inch 7mm | 2.5-inch 7mm |
| Interface | SATA3, SATA2, SATA | SATA3, SATA2, SATA | SATA3, SATA2, SATA | SATA3, SATA2, SATA |
| Included Cache | 256MB | 512MB | 512MB | 1GB |
| Sequential Read | 550 MB/s | 550 MB/s | 550 MB/s | 550 MB/s |
| Sequential Write | 470 MB/s | 520 MB/s | 520 MB/s | 520 MB/s |
| Random Read | 100K IOPS | 100K IOPS | 100K IOPS | 100K IOPS |
| Random Write | 90K IOPS | 90K IOPS | 90K IOPS | 90K IOPS |
| Power consumption (idle) | 2mW | 2mW | 2mW | 2mW |
| Power consumption (read | write) | 3.3W | 3.0W | 3.3W | 3.0W | 3.3W | 3.0W | 3.3W | 3.0W |
| Endurance (Terabytes written) | 150TB | 150TB | 150TB | 150TB |
| Suggested US retail price | $130 | $230 | $430 | $730 |
| Warranty | 10-year | 10-year | 10-year | 10-year |
3D NAND
3D NAND is physical vertical NAND cell stacking not to be confused with chip stacking in a multi-chip package. In 3D NAND, NAND layers, not chips, are stacked in a single IC. The good news is continued cost reduction, smaller die sizes and more capacity per NAND chip. Also, installed NAND toolsets in the wafer fabs can, for the most part, be reused, thereby extending the useful life of fab equipment.
Controller Architecture
The 850 Pro has been equipped with Samsung's newest MEX controller, this is a triple-core ARM-based controller that of course is SATA 6Gb/s compatible and can be paired with the latest NAND flash memory. Samsung mentioned in some tech white-papers that the 850 Pro's MEX controller is able to get you superior multi-tasking results under heavy I/O loads and provide steadier performance on more tasks. The MEX controller itself is based upon an ARM Cortex R4 processor. It has three cores that can execute multiple instructions at once, allowing, for example, one to be used for reading data, one for writing data and another for optimization. And that fact all by itself makes Samsung's claim on superior multi-tasking a very likely one.
Pricing
I just pulled some numbers from some online etailers. Making your own SSD with your own controller, own PCB, own cache chips and own NAND flash memory does have advantages as Samsung is able to keep the prices very competitive as this product is made 99% in-house.
- 128GB costs 100 EUR
- 256GB costs 160 EUR
- 512GB costs 315 EUR
- 1024GB costs 550 EUR
The Samsung 850 Pro SSD
