by 4 reviews.
INLAND Professional 512GB SSD 5-Pack Review: A Solid Upgrade for Casual Users
If you're looking to breathe new life into an older laptop or desktop, the INLAND Professional 512GB SSD 5-Pack might just be the upgrade you need. These SSDs are designed for speed, reliability, and durability, making them a great choice for casual users, light gamers, and anyone looking to replace their sluggish hard drives. With a 512GB capacity per drive, sequential read/write speeds of up to 520MB/s and 450MB/s, and a 3-year limited warranty, this 5-pack bundle offers excellent value for bulk upgrades or building multiple systems.
But is it the right choice for you? Let’s dive into the pros and cons based on real customer experiences.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
1. Performance: Fast Enough for Casual Use
The INLAND Professional SSDs deliver impressive performance for everyday tasks. Many users have reported faster boot times, quicker application loading, and smoother multitasking compared to traditional hard drives.
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Pros:
- Quick Boot Times: One user mentioned booting up Windows 10 in less than 10 seconds after installing the SSD.
- Smooth Operation: Another reviewer noted no lag after logging in, even during light gaming sessions.
- Affordable Speed: For the price, these SSDs offer a significant performance boost over HDDs, making them a great budget-friendly option.
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Cons:
- Not for Power Users: While these SSDs are fast enough for casual use, they may not meet the demands of power users or professionals who require high write endurance and faster speeds for tasks like video editing or CAD design.
2. Build Quality and Durability: Reliable but Not Perfect
The INLAND Professional SSDs are built with 3D TLC NAND flash memory, which is known for its reliability and durability. However, some users have reported issues with quality control.
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Pros:
- Shock-Resistant Design: The SSDs are designed to withstand movement, making them a safe choice for laptops and portable systems.
- Longevity: One reviewer who has installed hundreds of these drives noted a low failure rate over five years, with only 2-3 drives coming back for replacement.
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Cons:
- Quality Control Issues: A few users reported receiving DOA (dead on arrival) drives or experiencing freezing issues after a short period of use. One reviewer had to return their first drive due to 100% disk activity even when idle.
3. Usability: Easy to Install and Use
The INLAND Professional SSDs are praised for their ease of installation and compatibility with a wide range of systems.
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Pros:
- Plug-and-Play: Many users found the SSDs easy to connect and install, with no additional setup required.
- Wide Compatibility: These 2.5-inch SSDs are compatible with laptops, desktops, and ultrabooks, making them versatile for various upgrades.
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Cons:
- Limited Documentation: Some users wished for more detailed instructions or documentation, especially for those new to SSD installations.
4. Value for Money: A Budget-Friendly Option
The 5-pack bundle offers excellent value for bulk upgrades or building multiple systems. However, it’s important to consider your specific needs before making a purchase.
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Pros:
- Affordable Bulk Option: The 5-pack is ideal for businesses or individuals looking to upgrade multiple systems without breaking the bank.
- Great for Casual Users: If you’re a light user who primarily consumes content (e.g., browsing, streaming, or light gaming), these SSDs provide a significant performance boost at a fraction of the cost of premium brands.
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Cons:
- Not for Heavy Use: Power users and creators may find the write endurance and performance lacking compared to higher-end options like the Samsung EVO or PRO series.
Conclusion: Who Should Buy the INLAND Professional 512GB SSD 5-Pack?
The INLAND Professional 512GB SSD 5-Pack is a solid choice for casual users, light gamers, and anyone looking to upgrade from a traditional hard drive. With fast boot times, smooth operation, and a budget-friendly price, these SSDs deliver excellent value for everyday use.
However, if you’re a power user or professional who requires high write endurance and faster speeds for demanding tasks, you may want to consider investing in a more premium option like the Samsung EVO or PRO series.
Final Verdict:
- Best For: Casual users, light gamers, and bulk upgrades.
- Not Ideal For: Power users, professionals, or anyone with write-intensive needs.
If you’re looking for an affordable way to speed up your system, the INLAND Professional 512GB SSD 5-Pack is a reliable and cost-effective choice. Just be sure to back up your data and brace for the occasional quality control hiccup.
Specification INLAND Professional 512GB SSD 3D TLC NAND SATA III 6Gb/s 2.5" SATA Internal Solid State Drive, Upgrade Laptop PC and Desktops (5 Pack):
Comments from Amazon:
I bought this SSD for my gaming computer. It works pretty well. It is thin and easy to install. I did not have any issues cloning my existing drive into this SSD. I wanted to change out my current SSD for a bigger storage space. It worked out pretty well. There were really no issues on the boot up. With windows 10, I was able to boot up in less then 10 seconds from pressing the power button. It also does not lag after logging in. I don't have an exact read/write speed, but I have had no issues with the SSD. I highly recommend this SSD. It is a great price runs pretty well in comparison to a lot of other not so well known brand. It hasn't died on me yet after constant use including using it to game. Overall a great buy.
Fast and cheap. Works immediately upon plugging it in. I bought a couple of others to try to save $4 and it wasn't worth it. Spend the $4 extra and get this fast drive instead of a $4 cheaper one that has SMART failure. This drive is the perfect upgrade for old laptops and desktops. Bought two and will buy more in the near future.
I picked up the 480gb model for ~$60 as that appeared to be a good deal. The first drive I got was basically DOA. It would work for 30 mins to an hour then would freeze. I kept task manager open under Performance task and I noticed that the drive would max out at 100% even when nothing was happening on the computer, no programs open, not doing anything, 100% disk activity for the SSD. So I returned that and purchased a new one and have just installed it. So far the disk appears to be working good. I've only been using it for a couple of hours though so I'll update this review if anything changes. The issue on the drive appeared almost immediately so.. so far so good! As for this disk's performance, I'm not getting 550mb read but I am getting close to 490mb for the write which is cool -- this is for the easiest sequential R/W test. See my own accurate CrystalDisk results above for this drive. The main review on this product seems to have a false report, IMO. I still think it's a good deal if the drive holds up but with this being my second unit I've backed everything up and braced for the worst! I recommend you do the same. QA/QC seems to be a little lacking on these units.
The product was easy to connect and very fast
came on time works fine
Now before you go impulsively hit the buy button, there are some caveats. My clients are mostly older, very light computer users. That being said, I mostly sell these and Samsung EVOs and the failure rate of these Inland drives is only slightly higher than that of the EVO. I've installed literally hundreds of these drives and have only had 2-3 come back within the 5 years I've been using them. The write endurance of these drives is higher than most manufacturers and they use the more reliable TLC memory. They're an EXCELLENT value for the money if you're not a heavy computer user. That being said, if you're into video editing, I wouldn't recommend using one of these as a scratch disk / temporary drive. Don't use it in other write intensive applications either. That's not what these drives are designed for. If you're going to be moving files around on a regular basis then know that the performance of these drives is lackluster compared to something like the Samsung EVO. These drives are a HUGE upgrade coming from a hard drive, but they're not meant for people who actually use their computer. There are two types of computer users; those who consume (i.e. watch movies, use social media, browse the internet, etc.) and those who produce (i.e. photo/video editing, music production, CAD design, developer, gaming, storing/organizing large amounts of data, etc.). This is a CONSUMER drive. So long as you use it for its intended purpose, you'll be happy with this drive. If you do more than consume on your computer though, you should really look for something else. I highly recommend the Samsung EVO series for power users and the Samsung PRO series for people who actually create things on their computer. To compare, these Inland drives have a write endurance of 170TBW for the 240GB version. The Samsung EVO 250GB version has a write endurance of 150TBW, but it has DRAM and is significantly faster for power users. The Samsung PRO 250GB version has a write endurance of 600TBW. More expensive computer parts cost more for a reason. You're getting a better quality part that will last longer and perform better. If you're a basic user who just uses their computer to consume, you won't notice a difference between any of these three drives, but if you're a power user and/or creator, then go with the EVO or the PRO. The extra $20 isn't going to break you.