The ADATA Ultimate SU800 SSD Review (128GB, 256GB, 512GB)

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.

All three capacities of the ADATA SU800 deliver good performance for their class on this test. The Crucial MX300 and the earlier Silicon Motion engineering sample offer slightly higher performance.

Power consumption is a little higher than average, but given the good performance, the SU800's efficiency is not bad.

ADATA Ultimate SU800 128GBADATA Ultimate SU800 256GBADATA Ultimate SU800 512GBADATA Premier SP550 120GBADATA Premier SP550 240GBADATA Premier SP550 480GBADATA XPG SX930 120GBADATA XPG SX930 240GBADATA XPG SX930 480GBCrucial MX300 525GBIntel SSD 540s 480GBOCZ Trion 150 240GBOCZ Trion 150 480GBPNY CS1311 120GBPNY CS1311 240GBPNY CS1311 480GBSM2258 240GB 3D TLCSamsung 750 EVO 120GBSamsung 750 EVO 250GBSamsung 850 EVO 120GBSamsung 850 EVO 250GBSamsung 850 EVO 500GB

The 128GB SU800 runs out of SLC cache before the end of this test, leading to poor performance during the final phase of the test where the workload is 100% writes. The larger SU800s show increasing performance over the course of the test as more writes can be cached and combined.

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.

Capacity is a big factor in performance on this test. The 512GB SU800 performs quite well for a budget drive, while the 128GB is clearly slower than its competitors.

The power consumption of the SU800 on this test is only slightly higher than average.

ADATA Ultimate SU800 128GBADATA Ultimate SU800 256GBADATA Ultimate SU800 512GBADATA Premier SP550 120GBADATA Premier SP550 240GBADATA Premier SP550 480GBADATA XPG SX930 120GBADATA XPG SX930 240GBADATA XPG SX930 480GBCrucial MX300 525GBIntel SSD 540s 480GBOCZ Trion 150 240GBOCZ Trion 150 480GBPNY CS1311 120GBPNY CS1311 240GBPNY CS1311 480GBSM2258 240GB 3D TLCSamsung 750 EVO 120GBSamsung 750 EVO 250GBSamsung 850 EVO 120GBSamsung 850 EVO 250GBSamsung 850 EVO 500GB

For the SU800, performance over the course of this test is largely a question of how soon the SLC cache fills up. The 128GB runs out very early while the 512GB doesn't bottom out until the second half of the test.