Intel was kind enough to send me a 510 series 120GB SSD for review. The 510 series is Intel’s first foray into SATA 6Gbps SSD, and also the first SSD that Intel have shipped without their own SSD processor, instead Intel have used the popular Marvell 88SS9174-BKK2 SSD processor coupled with 128GB of their own branded 32nm NAND.

As I write this article there are only two SSD processors in the SATA 6Gbps consumer grade segment, the Marvell 88SS9174-BKK2 and the SandForce SF-2281 SSD processor. Technically the SandForce SF-2281 is more advanced and faster than the Marvell, but will this translate into a noticeable difference in the real world? Let’s find out in this review.

Intel company information

Intel needs no introduction, if you haven’t heard of Intel then you most likely have never owned a PC, but for those of you who would like to find out more about Intel, you can visit their website.

The Intel 510 series 120GB SSD

Now it’s time to take a look at the drive itself and what the drive came shipped with.

Box front

Box rear

The package contained the 510 series 120GB SSD, 3.5 inch to 2.5 inch converter bracket, 4 pin to SATA power converter, 2 packs of fixing screws, instruction manual on CD-ROM, and quick installation booklet.

Specifications

Now let’s head to the next page, where we look in more detail at the Intel 510 series SSD.

A closer look at the Marvell 88SS9174-BKK2 SSD controller

11 Comments

bigmike7: Posts: 9442; Posted on: 13 Aug 11 04:37

Yo Wendy-

Thank you SO much for your fine review. Your experiences and my 'real world' use of this drive are very similar.

I was looking for a good/reliable drive and this seems to have fit the bill very well for me.

However - only time will tell-eh.

Thanks again.

alan1476: Posts: 17234; Posted on: 15 Aug 11 01:12

Great review, I really like the fact that these SSDs are becoming mainstream now and all the kinks ( most anyway) are ironed out, I have to admit I only have a couple of Vertex 2 drives but in the future when upgrading I am going to give alot of different SSDs a shot, the prices seem to be coming down a bit, and new models abound, I think I find this the most interesting of all the new tech innovations. I cant wait to try these in a Raid config ( when affordable) , its gives me alot to look forward too, and after Wendys review I am even more interested.

bigmike7: Posts: 9442; Posted on: 16 Aug 11 10:00

Yo-

I wonder why Wendy doesn't post this in the "MyCE - SSD reviews" sticky?

Afterall - it is one of her best works-eh.

Dee: Posts: 11995; Posted on: 16 Aug 11 18:41

Thanks for the comments.
SSDs were pretty much "plug n play" until P67/Z68 came out, now things are not quite so simple, but are being fixed with new drive firmware to work around the isses with P67/Z68, and also OPROM updates for the chipset itself.

I forgot to add the 510 review to the list Mike, but i'll fix that later.

bigmike7: Posts: 9442; Posted on: 16 Aug 11 21:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee

Yo Wendy-

Can we start a drive specific firmware update area (Sticky) - like they do over in the ODD Forums?

DukeOfUrl: Posts: 38; Posted on: 19 Aug 11 14:36

You didn't mention (or maybe know?) that if one installs the SSD w/o specifically installing Intel's RST drivers, then the 510 series will employ a driver from MS W7 i.e. msahci.sys 6.1.7601.17514.

As evidenced on Intel's website, there are a goodly number of 510 buyers who have not installed the Intel RST driver and aren't aware that it can apparently provide some small performance enhancement. My 510 uses the msahci driver and it works fine thus I haven't changed it.

Dee: Posts: 11995; Posted on: 19 Aug 11 21:30

Yes I know of the default AHCI drivers, and they will work. In fact I've used them for trouble-shooting.
If you're happy with them, then by all means use them.

RST drivers are recommended by the motherboard manufacturers, and by most SSD manufacturers.

Also, the standard AHCI drivers can't TRIM a file that is over 2GB in size.
They also don't support the full feature set of P55 and P67/Z68/H67.

While performance gains can be marginal on some SSDs, on others, such as the OCZ Vertex 3, the performance gain by using RST is quite substantial, especially with higher queue depths.

bigmike7: Posts: 9442; Posted on: 08 Jan 12 12:47

Yo-

Can anyone explain why I get this error when I try to access the "Intel 510 series 120GB SSD Review"

"Forbidden
You don't have permission to access /404/ on this server."

vroom: Posts: 6731; Posted on: 08 Jan 12 15:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigmike7

Yo-

Can anyone explain why I get this error when I try to access the "Intel 510 series 120GB SSD Review"

"Forbidden
You don't have permission to access /404/ on this server."

Mike, everything is working fine here, tested on FF9 (logged in) and o chrome (as a guest user).

Dee: Posts: 11995; Posted on: 08 Jan 12 15:54

There was a problem earlier, but the site owner fixed it.

bigmike7: Posts: 9442; Posted on: 09 Jan 12 19:15

Yo-

Yup - it's fixed now!!

Thank you all very much-eh!!

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Intel 510 series 120GB SSD review

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