The S511 60GB SSD from ADATA incorporates the new processor from Sandforce, code name SF-2281VB1-SDC and delivers very good performance on the SATA3 interface; before using the product, we must make also sure that AHCI is selected in the motherboard BIOS, because there is a noticeable difference in data transfer speeds between IDE and AHCI modes. In case we are still using a platform which supports SATA2 only, we are better off selecting an older model, because we won't be able to benefit of the increased speeds.

The 60GB model is enough for most of us to install the OS on along with the most used applications; for storage purposes, it is much more recommended to use a HDD as a secondary drive.

The S511 SSD is made with 25nm NAND flash, which costs less to produce than the 34nm NAND; however, there is a downside: 34nm NAND flash is reported to last for about 5000 write cycles while the 25nm lasts for about 3000 cycles. Because of this, many manufacturers have increased the reserved storage capacity, which replaces over time the sections that remain unusable. A home user mainly uses the SSD for boosting the startup of the frequently used applications and OS, a process which does not implicate a lot of wear; however, if the SSD is used in an enterprise environment for example a file server, there are lots of read/write operations involved and the flash will wear out much faster. ADATA is offering 3 years of warranty for this model, which is enough for most of us till newer and more powerful models arrive on the market and we decide to switch.

The Drive Migration utility from Acronis is offered for free, for adding more value to the product, and helps a lot in case we do not want to perform a fresh Windows installation.

ADATA S511 60GB version can be found online for about 100 Euros.

ADATA S511 6GB/sec SSD Recommended For:

I would like to thank again to ADATA for supplying the test sample!