by 11 reviews.
SP Silicon Power 4TB SSD 3D NAND A55 Review: A Budget-Friendly Storage Powerhouse
If you're looking to breathe new life into an aging laptop or desktop, the SP Silicon Power 4TB SSD 3D NAND A55 might just be the upgrade you need. This high-capacity solid-state drive combines 3D NAND flash technology with SLC Cache to deliver impressive speeds, reliability, and durability. Whether you're a gamer, content creator, or just someone who needs a reliable storage solution, this SSD promises to deliver.
With a 7mm slim design, it’s compatible with most Ultrabooks and slim laptops, making it a versatile choice for a wide range of systems. Plus, the SP Toolbox Software allows you to monitor the drive’s health, ensuring long-term performance. Backed by a 3-year warranty, this SSD is a solid investment for anyone looking to upgrade their storage without breaking the bank.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
Performance and Speed
One of the standout features of the SP Silicon Power 4TB SSD is its performance. Customers have praised its ability to significantly improve boot times and overall system responsiveness. One reviewer noted, "The boot time on these bad boys is as good as any other SSD on the market." Another user mentioned that their old laptop, which previously suffered from constant lockups due to "100% Disk Usage," now runs smoothly after installing this SSD.
However, there’s a caveat. While the SSD performs well for short bursts of data transfer, it struggles with sustained large file transfers. One user conducted a large constant speed transfer test and found that speeds dropped significantly after transferring 1TB of data. "Once it passed the 1TB mark, the speeds dropped down to 90MBps," they reported. This makes it less ideal for tasks like 4K video editing or emergency backups, where sustained high speeds are crucial.
Capacity and Value
The 4TB storage capacity is a major selling point for this SSD, especially at its price point. Many customers have highlighted its affordability compared to other SSDs with similar capacities. "Cheap for a 4TB SSD," one reviewer wrote, while another called it a "good deal for someone that needs speed & capacity but is on a tight budget."
For gamers, this SSD is a great option for storing older or less demanding titles. While it may not match the speed of NVMe SSDs, it still outperforms traditional mechanical hard drives. "For gaming, a majority of games will work very well with zero issues," one user noted, though they did mention slightly longer initial load times compared to NVMe drives.
Durability and Reliability
Durability is another area where the SP Silicon Power 4TB SSD shines. Its shock-resistant design and S.M.A.R.T. monitoring ensure that your data stays safe, even in less-than-ideal conditions. One customer shared their experience using the SSD for video editing, stating that it "worked flawlessly doing video editing where preview media do best on fast drives."
The Bad Block Management feature also contributes to the drive’s reliability by continuously monitoring and replacing bad blocks. This, combined with the 3-year warranty, gives users peace of mind when investing in this SSD.
Ease of Use and Compatibility
The 2.5-inch form factor and 7mm slim design make this SSD compatible with a wide range of systems, from desktops to ultra-slim laptops. Installation is straightforward, and the drive works seamlessly with most motherboards that support SATA connections. "This SSD will be compatible with almost any motherboard out there that accepts SATA," one reviewer confirmed.
Additionally, the SP Toolbox Software is a handy tool for monitoring the drive’s health. Users can check temperature, used space, and S.M.A.R.T. status, making it easier to maintain the SSD’s performance over time.
Final Verdict
The SP Silicon Power 4TB SSD 3D NAND A55 is a solid choice for anyone looking to upgrade their storage without spending a fortune. Its 4TB capacity, fast boot times, and shock-resistant design make it a versatile option for gamers, content creators, and general users alike.
However, it’s not without its limitations. The lack of DRAM means it struggles with sustained large file transfers, making it less suitable for tasks like 4K video editing or emergency backups. But for everyday use, gaming, and general storage needs, this SSD delivers excellent value for the price.
If you’re on a budget and need a reliable, high-capacity SSD, the SP Silicon Power 4TB SSD A55 is definitely worth considering. Just be mindful of its limitations when it comes to heavy workloads.
Specification SP Silicon Power 4TB SSD 3D NAND A55 SLC Cache Performance Boost SATA III 2.5'' 7mm (0.28'') Internal Solid State Drive (SP004TBSS3A55S25):
Comments from Amazon:
I have bought many of these. Never have they disappointed. They work perfectly to bring a new breath of fresh air to old laptops. Boot time increases. Thé storage is perfect for my needs.
I ordered the 2 pack because I needed to upgrade 2 separate operating systems that needed the extra 512gb storage. The boot time on these bad boys are good as any other SSD on the market with straight forward installation. This ssd will be compatible with almost any motherboard out there that accepts SATA. Haven't had a single problem with any system freezes and such, it's just a reliable hard drive at a affordable price. Bonus points because the design matches the color of my PCs
Worked perfectly. The drive amazingly increased the speed of mt PC
Pros: -Cheap for a 4TB SSD -Temps never went above 55C even in torture test (1.8 TB Data transfer with different types of files) -Works well for a Steam Drive (older/less demanding titles) with good load times (more in "Other" section). -Also good for general use except for what I'll be covering in the con section. -Better than having a mechanical hard drive. Cons: -No DRAM so this drive Failed the "large constant speed transfer test". it stayed at top speeds until it hit 1TB out of 1.86TB of constant data transferring. Once it passed the 1TB mark the speeds dropped down to 90MBps Average for the remainder of the test. Once the test was over with, and the SSD was left to rest a bit (a few minutes) I was able to regain it's original speed for short burst (under 1GB file size) downloading 10 Minutes to go and do another 1.1TB transfer round (to make sure it was not a fluke) with it repeating at the same 1TB mark. So without any DRAM it's best for small burst file transfers or installing a game, etc.. So this drive is not good as a Emergency Backup Drive, or if you need to save files that are not larger than 25% of your overall SSD capacity (like 4K video production work). If that is what your looking for in a SSD then get a SSD with DRAM. Other: As for gaming a majority of games will work very well with zero issues though you'll maybe have a 3 to 10 extra seconds of initial load times compared to a NVME SSD, but it'll still beats a 1-3 Minutes initial load time of a 7200RPM mechanical hard drive. There are some new titles (Ratchet & Clank for example) that will need a NVME SSD instead of a SATA3 SSD, but for the rest this SSD can really handle them with no problem, and for someone that may be on a tight budget this SSD is a good deal for someone that needs speed & capacity, but it still needs to be budget friendly.
I had such a good experience with tech support a few years ago after trying my first SP SSD drive that I have ordered SP NVME, SD cards, and SSD drives with confidence. This time I was glad that I got it same day thanks to Amazon Warehouse stocking it. It worked flawlessly doing video editing where preview media do best on fast drives.
I have an old HP laptop I forced back into service after my normal laptop had a bit of a battery malfunction. However, the old HP laptop would constantly lockup with "100% Disk Usage". After trying all the fixes I could, I swapped the HDD to this SSD and it's been smooth for weeks now since I did it. No lockups, no slowdowns, nothing. The laptop isn't a powerhouse and I'm sure its not working the SSD too hard but wow am I impressed with how well this worked. Looking back I wish I would have tried this on other laptops in the past which had the same issue.
The performance SP Silicon Power 4TB SSD 3D NAND A55's delivers makes it equally versatile. Its innovative design combines 3D NAND and an SLC caches for efficient write speeds, allowing for fast boot-up times alongside rapid file transfer capabilities even when the drive is under stress. While the 2.5-inch form factor is widely accepted by the public, in my opinion, ease of use for many systems is also considerate for performance enhancement. Overall, an excellent drive for those looking for decent speeds and dependability.