Corsair Neutron 128GB and 256GB (2013 Hynix Edition) SSD Review

PCMark Vantage - Drives with Data Testing

For a complete breakdown on the Drives with Data Testing please read this article. You will be able to perform this test at home with the files provided in the article - full instructions are included.

- Brief Methodology

SSDs perform differently when used for a period of time and when data is already present on the drive. The purpose of the Drives with Data testing is to show how a drive performs in these 'dirty' states. SSDs also need time to recover, either with TRIM or onboard garbage collection methods.

Drives with Data Testing - 25%, 50%, 75% Full States and Dirty / Empty Test

Files needed for 60 (64GB), 120 (128GB), 240 (256GB)

60GB Fill - 15GB, 30GB, 45GB

120GB Fill - 30GB, 60GB, 90GB

240GB Fill - 60GB, 120GB, 160GB

Empty but Dirty - a test run just after the fill tests and shows if a drive needs time to recover or if performance is instantly restored.

Once we get data on the drives, the performance changes. The Neutron 128GB does really well with 50% of the capacity full, something we've noticed on many 128GB class SSDs, like the Intel 520 Series.

On the 256GB class models on the chart, the Neutron is below all of the budget offers listed on the previous page other than the SanDisk Ultra Plus.