Here at DecryptedTech we have always had covered a very wide range of products (as well as technologies). However, there is one item that we have never really gotten too deep into. This is direct attached storage and in particular Solid State Drives (SSDs). It is true that we do show you their performance in almost every motherboard review that we do here on the site, but we have never reviewed any SSDs exclusively. We have had many reasons for this not the last of which is there is still debate on how to properly test an SSD or HDD. While some feel that IOPs (Input Output Operations per Second) are key others want to know exactly how fast their data moves into and out of the drive. We sat down and have come up with what we hope is a good balance of synthetic and real world tests that will give you the best idea of how an SSD performs. So with that in mind we are going to dive into Kingston’s HyperX SH100S3B/120G 120GB Solid Sate Drive Upgrade Kit.
Value - Value is another very subjective topic. What is expensive to some might be a deal to others. You can look at this topic in multiple ways. One is raw price and the other is what you get for the money. Each is accurate and both are correct ways to look at price/value. We tend to look at features, performance and real-property when we discuss value. However, we also take into account the raw cash cost of the item. The Kingston SH100S3B 120GB upgrade kit will set you back $190 from most e-tailers. This is in contrast to other drives with the same SandForce 2281 controller that cost $160 or more for just the drive. So for an extra $30 you will get a USB external enclosure and backup/drive cloning software. Considering the performance and the extras $190 is not a bad deal at all.
Conclusion - Kingston has been working very hard to break away from their reputation for compatibly over performance. They have accomplished this in many ways with their HyperX line of products. However they have not forgotten to take care of their customers either. We see this in the attention to customer needs in the SH100S3B upgrade kit. The USB enclosure and the mini-screwdriver included are great touches on an already great product. If you do not need these you can get the standalone drive from Kingston for a little less. The read and write speeds are solid and will keep your data moving along very nicely indeed. We had no problems watching videos stored on the drive, installing from loose files or .ISOs that were on the SH100S3B. If you are looking to make the jump to an SSD then the Kingston upgrade kit should be at the top of your list; you get a great performing product and all the tools you need to get it working. For its combination of performance, accessories and value we are awarding the Kingston SH100S3B 120GB Upgrade kit our Gold Key Award.Discuss this in our Forum
