If our review of the Intel SSD 520 shows anything, it's that engineering is a key component when it comes to SSD performance. Specifically, when thinking about the effort that went into development of the firmware on the SSD 520, we see the effort pays off.

Exceptionally strong performance up against OCZ Vertex 3 Max IOPS; Incredibly fast compressible speeds in our mixed-workload tests; Industry-leading reliability testing; Custom firmware and engineering shows its value

More expensive than other SandForce SF-2200-powered SSDs with synchronous NAND

The Intel 520 test model (240 GB version) has proved its worth in multiple tests and time and again, it landed in the top tiers of our database. Intel aims to offset the issues of reliability of SandForce-based SSDs by extensively modifying and testing the firmware used by the SandForce controller.

September 24, 2012 by Lawrence Lee Product Intel 520 Series 120GB SSDSC2CW120A310 2.5" SSD (OEM model) Manufacturer Intel Street Price US$120 When consumer SSDs began to pick up steam about four years ago, there weren't a lot of solid choices available.

The Intel 520s really scored a knockout in our ‘consumer' RAID testing exercise and, with the speed and latency displayed, it would be hard to go wrong with them. These results are some of the best I have ever experienced with so few SSDs and it wasn't so long ago that it took a whole stack of SSDs,...

Some companies are content to be first to market with an SSD and then spend months and months squashing bugs which had no business being in firmware released to the general public. Intel on the other hand tends to chart a safer course and while they may not be able to take advantage of early adopter...

Intel has not been making SSDs for the mainstream market for as long as OCZ, but it's learned quickly, and as usual quickly worked its way into a position of power in a very short time.

Throughout this review, the Intel 520 has gone head to head with the OCZ Vertex 3, which is really the only other SSD that I have tested that can compete directly with the Intel 520 240GB SSD. In some cases the Intel 520 was faster than the Vertex 3, and in other cases the Vertex 3 came out on top.

Silky smooth operation as a system drive; Excellent sequential reading and writing performance; Excellent 4K random I/O performance; SATA 6Gbps support; The drive is supported by the excellent Intel SSD Toolbox; TRIM support under Windows 7; Lightning fast access times; Completely silent operation,

Expensive

SSDs have made their presence felt across more consumer products, these days, which range from notebooks to the hot new topic in town, Ultrabooks, that primarily use SSDs for storage.

SandForce is back in town and it's here to stay. Intel's 520 Series is a full replacement for the 510 Series, but utilize the SF-2281 controller and custom Intel firmware to deliver one of the best SSDs we seen to date.

When this drive first came in we said that we had high expectations of it based on Intel's technical abilities and the performance of their older 320 series SSD, and to say the least we are not disappointed.