Toshiba THNSNF512GCSS 512GB SSD review

Review: Toshiba THNSNF512GCSS
512GB SSD
Reviewed by: Wendy
Robertson

Provided by: Toshiba UK
Model: THNSNF512GCSS
Firmware version: FSR1N101

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Way back in 1987 Toshiba invented NAND flash memory, yes
that is correct, one quarter of a century ago. One wonders if the inventor, Dr.
Fujio Masuoka could have envisaged what NAND has become today, and the
applications that NAND flash memory is used for. Without NAND, there would be
no SD cards, no smart mobile phones, no USB pen drives, and of course no SSDs.

NAND was developed from EEPROM, the big difference from NAND
to EEPROM is, that NAND flash can be erased and written in blocks, whereas an
EEPROM had to be completely erased before it could be reprogrammed. Of course
modern NAND has come a long way in the past 25 years. It has got faster, and
smaller.

The SSD I'm looking at today is from the manufacturer who
invented NAND, Toshiba. The THNSNF512GCSS, which
Toshiba were kind enough to send me for review, is in fact the first SSD to use
19nm toggle mode MLC NAND. The THNSNF range of SSDs is available in capacities
of 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB. The model I will be looking at today is the
512GB version.

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Toshiba company information

Toshiba should need no introduction, but those of you who
would like to find out more about Toshiba, can do so at their website.


The Toshiba THNSNF512GCSS - 512GB SSD

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

Packaging

The SSD I received was a bare drive, and arrived in a
cardboard box, with no markings.

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Inside the box


The retail Toshiba THNSNF512GCSS 512GB SSD


Drive top

The top of the unit is made of metal, and as you can see,
the review sample had no label.


Drive underside

On the underside of the SSD, I found a label which displays
the SSD model number, storage capacity, and indicating that the SSD was
manufactured in the Philippines. The label also states that the firmware
version is FSXAN102, but our review sample arrived with firmware version
FSR1N101, which is most likely a later version of the firmware. The bottom of
the case is also made of metal and acts as a heat sink for the SSD controller
and NAND.

The case itself is 7mm thick and designed to be housed in a
standard 2.5 inch drive bay, or a 3.5 inch drive bay using a converter bracket.

Now let's head to the next page, where we look in more
detail at the Toshiba
THNSNF512GCSS SSD.....

 

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