[SOLVED] Kingston A400 240GB SSD, is it THAT bad?

[whoopdeedoo]

So I'm having some doubts about this SSD. I have it here but haven't opened it yet so I could still return it just wondering if anyone has any experience with it personally or thru their own research?

I read a bunch of good reviews on Amazon but since then I've read some really horrible stuff also.. Buying it was a bit of an impulse because it was only $27.

It has a 3 year warranty.. Since I have an idrive account I can backup everything important in case it fails. Of course I really don't want to deal with that mess.

Opinions?

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Yes they are horrible quality. AVOID THEM.

 

[USAFRet]

There is a reason they are cheap...

 

[whoopdeedoo]

Yes they are horrible quality. AVOID THEM.

Fair enough, are there any you would recommend near the $50 price range?

 

[USAFRet]

Fair enough, are their any you would recommend near the $50 price range?

What size?

 

[NightHawkRMX]

I disagree and think the A400 240gb is not a horrible drive at all. The A400 240gb comes from a somewhat reputable brand with a decent warranty.
I own one and love it. It is cheap, has been reliable, and decently quick.

However, a drive like a Crucial MX500 or Samsung 860 Evo will be more reliable and faster, as well as may come with a better warranty.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

For $50, however, I would reccomend a better SSD.

Something like an MX500 250gb or HP EX900 250gb if you need NVME.

You can get an A400 480gb for around $50, if you really need capacity over reliability or speed.

 

[USAFRet]

I disagree.

I own one and love it. It is cheap, has been reliable, and decently quick.

The A400 240gb comes from a somewhat reputable brand with a decent warranty.

Kingston is on my DoNotBuy list since the idiocy with the original V300 line.

Send out drives for review, they test great.
Then change the whole internals to cheaper, worse performing parts. Keep the same model name.
People buy based on the initial reviews.
Profit!

In light of other, known reputable drives...why bother?

And the one Kingston I DO own, HyperX3k 120GB...is the only SSD in my stable that has seriously degraded its performance over time.
It's old, but not that much older than the 2x Samsung 840 EVO's I have that still run at original stock speed.

 

[whoopdeedoo]

What size?

Around 250 is good. I wouldn't mind more but keeping the price down will probably require it be smaller. As long as I can fit windows 10 64bit and maybe a game or two that I'm currently playing I'm good. I have a 1tb western blue for other stuff. Though its gotten a little bit louder over time so I'm not sure how well its holding up, almost 5 years old.

 

[whoopdeedoo]

For $50, however, I would reccomend a better SSD.

Something like an MX500 250gb or HP EX900 250gb if you need NVME.

You can get an A400 480gb for around $50, if you really need capacity over reliability or speed.

I'm new to all this but from what I understand NVME is faster? I wouldn't mind that if it doesn't come at a premium cost.

 

[USAFRet]

Crucial MX500

250GB, $48
https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-MX500-250GB-NAND-Internal/dp/B0781VSXBP

500GB, $65
https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-MX500-500GB-NAND-Internal/dp/B0786QNS9B

 

[USAFRet]

I'm new to all this but from what I understand NVME is faster? I wouldn't mind that if it doesn't come at a premium cost.

Except for the Intel 660p, NVMe does come at a price premium.

What motherboard do you have?

 

[mdd1963]

Crucial's MX500 is $65 for a 500 GB drive....(250 GB units are $47, but, if installing any games, I'd be wanting 500 GB minimum)

 

[NightHawkRMX]

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/4mkj4D/crucial-mx500-250gb-25-solid-state-drive-ct250mx500ssd1
Crucial MX500 250gb
$45

or

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/V2WfrH/hp-ex920-256gb-m2-2280-solid-state-drive-2yy45aaabc
HP EX920 256gb
$44

 

[whoopdeedoo]

Except for the Intel 660p, NVMe does come at a price premium.

What motherboard do you have?

The Asus Prime X570-P

Worth the premium for an average user/gamer? I'm guessing probably not?

 

[whoopdeedoo]

I've been looking at m.2 but I'm not sure why, I got the impression it was better?

 

[USAFRet]

The Asus Prime X570-P

Worth the premium for an average user/gamer? I'm guessing probably not?

For that use and budget, go for size over theoretical speed.
The vast majority of things you'll be doing...you won't notice the difference.

SATA III SSD (MX500) will do just fine.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

Worth the premium for an average user/gamer? I'm guessing probably not?

No, however, if you can find a good NVME for a similar price to a comparable SATA drive, go for NVME, as your mobo supports NVME drives.

NVME does have a benefit in some tasks, but small or no benefit for general tasks or gaming.

Heres an positive EX920 review.
https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/hp-ex920-ssd,5527.html

 

[USAFRet]

I've been looking at m.2 but I'm not sure why, I got the impression it was better?

Common issue.

"M.2" is simply how it plugs in...the form factor.
M.2 drives can be either SATA III or NVMe.
The aforementioned Crucial can be had in either M.2 or 2.5" formats. Exact same performance.

Something like the Samsung 970 EVO is M.2 NVMe, and 'faster'. And more expensive.

 

[whoopdeedoo]

Common issue.

"M.2" is simply how it plugs in...the form factor.
M.2 drives can be either SATA III or NVMe.
The aforementioned Crucial can be had in either M.2 or 2.5" formats. Exact same performance.

Something like the Samsung 970 EVO is M.2 NVMe, and 'faster'. And more expensive.

That makes sense and helps a lot thank you.

So the 2.5" is the the little box you have to put in the case somewhere vs the M.2 which plugs directly into the motherboard?

 

[NightHawkRMX]

That makes sense and helps a lot thank you.

So the 2.5" is the the little box you have to put in the case somewhere vs the M.2 which plugs directly into the motherboard?

Yes.

2.5in drives can either be an HDD or SSD. You can install a 2.5in SSD into any modern machine currently using a 2.5in SATA hdd, and vice versa.

 

[whoopdeedoo]

Nice appreciate the help Nighthawk and USAFRet. Love learning about this stuff.

 

[atljsf]

i have a uv400 and 2 a400 here, from 120 to 240gbs, used alot, almost 24/7 nothing bad to report, at all

so i disagree, is mostly people complaining about the controller being bad, but most people don't buy and own or use hard one, i do, and only can tell you that i would buy more of these if i have the opportunity