Kingston SSDNow SA400S37 240GB: Review & Specs

Hey guys! Today, we're diving deep into the Kingston SSDNow SA400S37 240GB. If you're on the hunt for a reliable and budget-friendly solid-state drive (SSD) to breathe new life into your aging computer, you've come to the right place. We'll cover everything from its performance and features to its pros and cons, so you can make an informed decision. Let's get started!

What is Kingston SSDNow SA400S37 240GB?

The Kingston SSDNow SA400S37 240GB is a 2.5-inch solid-state drive designed as an entry-level option for users looking to upgrade from traditional mechanical hard drives (HDDs). It aims to provide faster boot times, quicker application loading, and an overall snappier computing experience. This SSD is part of Kingston's SSDNow series, known for offering affordable storage solutions. With a storage capacity of 240GB, it's suitable for installing your operating system, essential applications, and frequently used files. The drive utilizes a SATA III interface, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of desktop and laptop computers. Its compact form factor and low power consumption make it an ideal choice for both desktop upgrades and extending the battery life of laptops. Additionally, the SA400S37 is designed to be more durable and reliable compared to traditional HDDs, as it has no moving parts, making it less susceptible to mechanical failures. Kingston also provides a limited warranty for the drive, offering peace of mind to users. Overall, the Kingston SSDNow SA400S37 240GB is a cost-effective solution for users seeking to improve their system's performance without breaking the bank, providing a noticeable upgrade in speed and responsiveness.

Key Features and Specifications

When it comes to the Kingston SSDNow SA400S37 240GB, you're looking at a drive packed with features designed to enhance your computing experience. Here's a rundown:

• Capacity: 240GB – Enough space for your OS, essential apps, and frequently used files.
• Form Factor: 2.5-inch – Standard size for easy installation in most desktops and laptops.
• Interface: SATA III 6Gbps – Ensures fast data transfer speeds, backward compatible with SATA II.
• Controller: Phison PS3111-S11 – A reliable controller known for balancing performance and efficiency.
• NAND Flash: TLC (Triple-Level Cell) – Offers a good balance of performance, cost, and endurance.
• Sequential Read Speed: Up to 500MB/s – Significantly faster than traditional HDDs.
• Sequential Write Speed: Up to 450MB/s – Improves file saving and application loading times.
• Operating Temperature: 0°C to 70°C – Suitable for typical desktop and laptop operating environments.
• Storage Temperature: -40°C to 85°C – Allows for safe storage in a wide range of temperatures.
• Power Consumption: 0.195W Idle / 0.279W Avg / 0.642W (MAX) Read / 1.535W (MAX) Write – Energy-efficient, extending battery life in laptops.
• Dimensions: 100.0mm x 69.9mm x 7.0mm – Slim design for easy installation.
• Weight: 41g – Lightweight, making it ideal for portable devices.
• Vibration Operating: 2.17G Peak (7-800Hz) – Resistant to vibrations during operation.
• Vibration Non-Operating: 20G Peak (10-2000Hz) – Able to withstand vibrations during storage and transportation.
• MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures): 1,000,000 hours – Indicates a high level of reliability.
• Warranty: 3-year limited warranty – Provides peace of mind and protection against defects.

These specifications highlight the Kingston SSDNow SA400S37 240GB's focus on delivering a balance of speed, reliability, and affordability, making it a solid choice for upgrading your system. The SATA III interface and Phison controller work together to provide faster data transfer rates, while the TLC NAND flash ensures decent endurance for everyday use. The low power consumption is a significant advantage for laptop users, and the 3-year warranty offers added security.

Performance and Benchmarks

When evaluating the Kingston SSDNow SA400S37 240GB, it's essential to look at its real-world performance and benchmark results. While the specifications provide a good overview, benchmarks offer a more concrete understanding of how the drive performs under various workloads. In sequential read and write tests, the SA400S37 generally achieves speeds close to its rated specifications. Read speeds typically hover around 500MB/s, while write speeds reach up to 450MB/s. These speeds are a significant improvement over traditional mechanical hard drives, which often struggle to exceed 100MB/s in sequential operations. In random read and write tests, the SSD also performs admirably, delivering IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) that are much higher than those of HDDs. This translates to faster application loading times, quicker boot-ups, and a more responsive overall system. The Kingston SSDNow SA400S37 shines in everyday tasks. Booting up your operating system becomes noticeably faster, applications launch almost instantly, and file transfers are completed in a fraction of the time compared to using an HDD. Multitasking also benefits, as the SSD can handle multiple read and write operations simultaneously without significant performance degradation. However, it's important to note that the SA400S37 is an entry-level SSD, and its performance may not match that of higher-end NVMe drives. Under heavy, sustained workloads, such as video editing or large file transfers, the drive's performance may decrease slightly as it approaches its cache limits. Despite these limitations, the Kingston SSDNow SA400S37 offers a substantial performance boost over traditional HDDs, making it a worthwhile upgrade for users seeking a more responsive and efficient computing experience. Its consistent performance in everyday tasks and improved IOPS make it a reliable choice for enhancing your system's speed and overall usability.

Pros and Cons

Like any tech product, the Kingston SSDNow SA400S37 240GB has its strengths and weaknesses. Weighing these pros and cons will help you determine if it's the right fit for your needs.

Pros:

• Affordable Price: One of the most budget-friendly SSDs on the market, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
• Significant Performance Boost: Offers a noticeable improvement in speed compared to traditional HDDs, with faster boot times and application loading.
• Easy Installation: The 2.5-inch form factor and SATA III interface ensure compatibility with most desktops and laptops, making installation straightforward.
• Low Power Consumption: Energy-efficient design extends battery life in laptops, making it a great upgrade for portable devices.
• Durable and Reliable: No moving parts mean it's less susceptible to mechanical failures compared to HDDs.
• Compact and Lightweight: Slim design and light weight make it ideal for portable devices and easy installation in tight spaces.
• 3-Year Warranty: Provides peace of mind with a limited warranty covering potential defects.

Cons:

• Entry-Level Performance: While faster than HDDs, it doesn't match the performance of high-end NVMe SSDs.
• TLC NAND Flash: TLC NAND offers a good balance of cost and performance but may not have the same endurance as MLC or SLC NAND.
• Limited Capacity: 240GB may not be sufficient for users with large media libraries or extensive software installations.
• Sustained Write Performance: Performance may decrease during prolonged, heavy write operations as it reaches its cache limits.

In summary, the Kingston SSDNow SA400S37 240GB is an excellent option for users seeking an affordable and reliable upgrade from traditional HDDs. Its significant performance boost, easy installation, and low power consumption make it a compelling choice for enhancing your system's speed and responsiveness. However, users requiring high-end performance or large storage capacities may want to consider other options. Ultimately, the SA400S37 offers a great balance of value and performance for everyday computing tasks.

Who is This SSD For?

The Kingston SSDNow SA400S37 240GB is tailored for specific users and use cases. If you fall into any of the following categories, this SSD might be the perfect upgrade for you:

• Budget-Conscious Users: If you're looking to improve your computer's performance without breaking the bank, this SSD is an excellent choice due to its affordable price point.
• Users Upgrading from HDDs: Those still using traditional mechanical hard drives will experience a significant boost in speed and responsiveness by switching to the SA400S37.
• Laptop Users: The low power consumption of this SSD makes it ideal for extending battery life in laptops, providing a noticeable improvement in portability.
• General Home and Office Use: For everyday tasks like browsing the web, word processing, and running office applications, this SSD offers a smooth and efficient experience.
• DIY PC Builders: The easy installation and compatibility with most systems make it a great option for those building their own PCs on a budget.
• Users Seeking Faster Boot Times: If you're tired of waiting for your computer to boot up, the SA400S37 can dramatically reduce boot times, getting you up and running much faster.
• Users with Limited Storage Needs: If you primarily use your computer for essential applications and don't require vast amounts of storage, the 240GB capacity should be sufficient.

However, this SSD may not be the best fit for:

• Gamers: While it can improve loading times, serious gamers might prefer higher-end NVMe SSDs for optimal performance in demanding games.
• Creative Professionals: Those working with large media files, such as video editors or graphic designers, may need larger capacities and faster speeds offered by more advanced SSDs.
• Users Requiring Extensive Storage: If you have a large media library or need to store numerous applications, the 240GB capacity may be limiting.

In essence, the Kingston SSDNow SA400S37 240GB is a versatile and cost-effective solution for enhancing the performance of older computers and providing a more responsive computing experience for everyday users. It's a smart upgrade for those looking to breathe new life into their systems without overspending.

Alternatives to Consider

While the Kingston SSDNow SA400S37 240GB is a solid choice, it's always wise to explore alternatives to ensure you're making the best decision for your specific needs. Here are a few alternatives to consider:

• Samsung 870 EVO: The Samsung 870 EVO is a popular SATA SSD known for its excellent performance and reliability. It offers faster read and write speeds compared to the SA400S37 and comes with a longer warranty. However, it's also more expensive.
• Crucial MX500: The Crucial MX500 is another excellent SATA SSD that provides a great balance of performance and price. It offers competitive speeds and is often available at a similar price point to the SA400S37. Crucial is known for its reliability and customer support.
• WD Blue SN570: If you're looking to step up to NVMe, the WD Blue SN570 is a great entry-level option. NVMe SSDs use the NVMe protocol and connect directly to the PCIe bus, offering significantly faster speeds than SATA SSDs. The SN570 provides a noticeable performance boost over SATA drives, although it may be more expensive.
• SanDisk Ultra 3D: The SanDisk Ultra 3D is a reliable SATA SSD that offers good performance at a competitive price. It uses 3D NAND technology for improved endurance and efficiency. SanDisk is a well-known brand in storage solutions.
• Kingston A400: If you're on an even tighter budget, the Kingston A400 is a more basic SSD option. While it may not offer the same level of performance as the SA400S37, it still provides a significant improvement over traditional HDDs and is one of the most affordable SSDs available.

When considering these alternatives, think about your budget, performance requirements, and storage needs. SATA SSDs like the Samsung 870 EVO and Crucial MX500 offer a good balance of performance and price, while NVMe SSDs like the WD Blue SN570 provide significantly faster speeds. The SanDisk Ultra 3D is a reliable option, and the Kingston A400 is a budget-friendly choice. By comparing these alternatives, you can make an informed decision and choose the SSD that best fits your needs.

Conclusion: Is It Worth Buying?

So, is the Kingston SSDNow SA400S37 240GB worth buying? For many users, the answer is a resounding yes! This SSD offers a compelling combination of affordability, reliability, and performance that makes it an excellent upgrade for older computers. If you're tired of slow boot times, sluggish application loading, and an overall unresponsive system, the SA400S37 can breathe new life into your machine without breaking the bank. Its easy installation, low power consumption, and durable design make it a practical choice for both desktops and laptops. The 240GB capacity is sufficient for installing your operating system, essential applications, and frequently used files, providing a noticeable improvement in speed and efficiency. However, it's important to consider your specific needs and usage scenarios. If you require high-end performance for gaming or creative tasks, or if you need a large amount of storage for media files, you might want to explore more advanced SSD options. NVMe SSDs offer significantly faster speeds, while larger capacity drives can accommodate extensive storage needs. Despite these considerations, the Kingston SSDNow SA400S37 remains a top contender in the entry-level SSD market. Its consistent performance in everyday tasks, improved IOPS, and affordable price make it a reliable choice for enhancing your system's speed and overall usability. If you're looking for a cost-effective way to boost your computer's performance, the SA400S37 is definitely worth considering. It's a smart upgrade that can make a significant difference in your computing experience, providing a smoother, faster, and more enjoyable user experience. Ultimately, the Kingston SSDNow SA400S37 240GB offers a great balance of value and performance, making it a worthwhile investment for many users.