The Samsung 750 EVO (120GB & 250GB) SSD Review: A Return To Planar NAND

Mixed Random Read/Write Performance

The mixed random I/O benchmark starts with a pure read test and gradually increases the proportion of writes, finishing with pure writes. The queue depth is 3 for the entire test and each subtest lasts for 3 minutes, for a total test duration of 18 minutes. As with the pure random write test, this test is restricted to a 16GB span of the drive, which is empty save for the 16GB test file.

The 750 EVO outperforms any non-Samsung drive of similar capacity on the mixed random I/O test, and the 120GB 750 EVO even beats a few MLC drives with twice the capacity.

The 750 EVO has above-average power efficiency during the mixed random I/O test.

Samsung 750 EVO 120GBSamsung 750 EVO 250GBADATA Premier SP550 120GBADATA Premier SP550 240GBADATA XPG SX930 120GBADATA XPG SX930 240GBCrucial BX100 120GBCrucial BX100 250GBCrucial MX200 250GBOCZ ARC 100 240GBOCZ Trion 100 240GBOCZ Trion 150 240GBOCZ Vector 180 240GBPNY CS1311 120GBPNY CS1311 240GBPNY CS2211 240GBPlextor M6V 256GBSamsung 850 EVO 120GBSamsung 850 EVO 250GBSamsung 850 EVO M.2 120GBSamsung 850 EVO mSATA 250GBSamsung 850 Pro 128GBSamsung 850 Pro 256GBSanDisk Ultra II 240GB

Most drives lose performance during the middle phases of the mixed random I/O test. High performance scores on this test rely on performance bouncing back during the final phase of the test when the workload shifts to pure writes. The 750 EVO's spike at the end is noticeable though not huge, but it also benefits from comparatively good performance in the first two sub-tests.

Mixed Sequential Read/Write Performance

The mixed sequential access test covers the entire span of the drive and uses a queue depth of one. It starts with a pure read test and gradually increases the proportion of writes, finishing with pure writes. Each subtest lasts for 3 minutes, for a total test duration of 18 minutes. The drive is filled before the test starts.

Unlike for the mixed random I/O test, most MLC drives are able to maintain a clear performance lead over the planar TLC drives—including the 750 EVO.

The 750 EVO's power consumption is low enough that it is clearly the most efficient planar TLC drive, but its efficiency doesn't beat a typical MLC drive.

Samsung 750 EVO 120GBSamsung 750 EVO 250GBADATA Premier SP550 120GBADATA Premier SP550 240GBADATA XPG SX930 120GBADATA XPG SX930 240GBCrucial BX100 120GBCrucial BX100 250GBCrucial MX200 250GBOCZ ARC 100 240GBOCZ Trion 100 240GBOCZ Trion 150 240GBOCZ Vector 180 240GBPNY CS1311 120GBPNY CS1311 240GBPNY CS2211 240GBPlextor M6V 256GBSamsung 850 EVO 120GBSamsung 850 EVO 250GBSamsung 850 EVO M.2 120GBSamsung 850 EVO mSATA 250GBSamsung 850 Pro 128GBSamsung 850 Pro 256GBSanDisk Ultra II 240GB

The 750 EVO has great read speed, but it bottoms out at a relatively low level during the middle of the test and doesn't bounce back at the end as much as most MLC drives and the 850 EVO.