KingSpec 32GB SATA KSD-SA25.1-032MJ Ssd review
Links: KingSpec website - eBay offers - Suntec (KingSpec reseller) online store

9 may 2010

I was curious about the KingSpec ssd's that are offered on eBay for a while now.
In the past there were only PATA ones from that brand, but recently KingSpec started to produce and offer SATA ssd's with specs that are ok.
But I only believe benchmarks and real testing.

So I ordered the 32GB version on eBay, costing about 80 euro.
About 2 weeks later it arrived, the box with the ssd put in a paper envelope.That did not give me a good feeling, but the box was intact, so I had no doubt it would work.

The box was a bit dented, but still intact.

Well packed box.

The white ssd in the antistatic bag.

The case of the ssd is made of white plastic (except for the bottom, see next pictures).

The sata connectors are protected nicely before use.

The rubber protection pulled off.

Shiny metal plate on the bottom.

The specs don't say anything about Trim nor of a tool to simulate trim by hand, so decrease of performance is expected..

But time for some benchmarks first.
I used my Windows 7 Professional x64 machine with Intel E8400 cpu and 4 GB DDR2.

This is not that bad for an ssd.
But it doesn't give a good sight on the real performance.

This sais a bit more than the Crystaldisk benchmark: there is a very strange ripple on the read performance, like it is constantly stuttering.
This reminds me of the poor performing first JMicron controllers for ssd's.

This KingSpec ssd uses indeed the JMF602 controller, as can be found in the specs on their own site:
http://www.kingspec.com/solid-state-disk-products/series-ssd25.htm

So I tried some reallife performance.
I installed Windows XP Pro on it.

The basic installation (from dvd with SP3) was fine, allthough I already expected to get some better performance. But the wellknown delays of the JMF602 controller were very noticible after the basic installation of XP.

I installed an antivirus tool, did some Windows Updates and installed some other software at the same time.
I had noticable system delays every minute...
I did not complete the Windows Updates, as I am very disappointed by the performance.

Ok, it is faster than a harddrive, and you don't hear anything.
But for 80 euro you buy a 500GB 2.5" harddrive.

So unfortunately I must agree with Tom's: avoid ssd's with JMF602 controller...
And allthough there is a 'b' version of this controller, it doesn't seem to be chosen for these KingSpec ssd's.

Next to test will be the new OCZ Onyx ssd.