Testing (continued):

Everest Ultimate Edition 5.02.1756:

Lavalys' Everest Ultimate Edition has a hard drive benchmark I only discovered somewhat recently. The drive benchmark is hidden in a different location from the popular memory benchmark, but it is worth seeking out. In the chart below we have a variety of read test results (in MB/s), as well as an assessment of the average access time (in ms). Higher values are better for read results, while lower values are better for the average access time.



After a handful of tests concur that the Kingston 40GB drive can provide at least 180MB/s read rates, I have to agree with them and assume the published specifications are on the conservative side.

Power Consumption Testing:

Power consumption testing found each drive installed in an external enclosure that was connected to the test system via USB, while also plugged into a Seasonic Power Angel at the electric outlet. Idle conditions were established by merely letting the drive sit in the enclosure with zero activity. Load conditions were established by running CrystalDiskMark while also copying a couple DVD ISO files to the drive.

Without a drive installed in the enclosure, the AC power draw was 2W, and the chart below details the idle and load power readings minus that of the enclosure.



For this test I also included a traditional magnetic hard drive, a 750GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10, simply for some contrast. Each SSD idled at 1W (most likely less, since the Power Angel display is in 1W increments), and under load they all hit about 2W. While none of the SSDs has any room to one up the others, compared to a traditional drive, the results look particularly good.