by 3 reviews.
Transcend 120 GB TLC SATA III 6Gb/s 2.5" Solid State Drive (TS120GSSD220S) Review: A Budget-Friendly Upgrade for Your System
If you're looking to breathe new life into an aging laptop or desktop, the Transcend 120 GB TLC SATA III 6Gb/s 2.5" Solid State Drive (TS120GSSD220S) is a solid choice. This SSD promises faster boot times, quicker file transfers, and improved overall performance, all while being energy-efficient and durable. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the details based on real customer experiences.
Pros and Cons: What Do Users Say?
Performance: Speed That Impresses
One of the standout features of the Transcend 120 GB SSD is its speed. Many users have reported significant improvements in their system's performance after upgrading from traditional HDDs. One customer, a computer repair technician, noted that the drive consistently achieves 550MBps read and 400+MBps write speeds, which is a massive leap compared to the 100MBps speeds of older hard drives. This translates to faster boot times, quicker program launches, and smoother multitasking.
Another user mentioned that installing this SSD in an older Gateway desktop reduced boot times from 3-5 minutes to just 30 seconds. Programs like Photoshop and Premiere Pro also opened much faster, making the system feel brand new. For gamers, the drive delivered fast load times for titles like Forza Horizon 3 and The Witcher 3, with no stutters or lockups reported.
However, some users pointed out that the 4K write speeds are relatively slow, which might be a drawback for heavy workloads like video editing. While the drive performs admirably for general use, it may not be the best choice for professionals who need top-tier performance.
Durability and Reliability: Built to Last
The Transcend 120 GB SSD is designed to withstand shock and vibration, making it a reliable choice for laptops and portable devices. One user highlighted the advantage of SSDs over traditional HDDs, stating that the lack of moving parts allows you to move your laptop around without worrying about damaging the drive. This is a game-changer for anyone who frequently works on the go.
In terms of reliability, multiple users reported zero failures or issues with the drive, even after months of use. One customer, who has installed dozens of SSDs over the years, praised Transcend for its consistent quality and reliability, comparing it favorably to more expensive brands like Samsung.
Price and Value: A Budget-Friendly Option
The Transcend 120 GB SSD is often praised for its affordability. One user mentioned picking up the 480GB version for just $86.99 during a sale, calling it a "very good deal." However, at its regular price, some customers feel that there are better-performing SSDs available, such as the Samsung 850 EVO or SK Hynix SL308, which offer superior performance for a slightly higher cost.
For those on a tight budget, the Transcend SSD is a compelling option, especially when on sale. But if you're willing to spend a bit more, you might find better value in higher-end models.
Ease of Installation and Software
Installing the Transcend SSD is straightforward, with most users reporting a hassle-free experience. However, some customers encountered issues with the included SSD Scope software, which failed to image their old drives correctly. One user had to manually reinstall Windows and all their software, which was a minor inconvenience. Despite this, the drive itself performed flawlessly once set up.
Conclusion: Is the Transcend 120 GB SSD Worth It?
The Transcend 120 GB TLC SATA III 6Gb/s 2.5" Solid State Drive (TS120GSSD220S) is a reliable, budget-friendly SSD that delivers impressive performance for everyday computing tasks. It’s an excellent choice for upgrading older systems, reducing boot times, and improving overall responsiveness. While it may not be the fastest or most feature-packed SSD on the market, it offers great value for the price, especially during sales.
Final Verdict
- Pros
Affordable, reliable, fast read/write speeds, durable design, easy installation. - Cons
Slower 4K write speeds, SSD Scope software can be unreliable, better options available at higher price points.
If you're looking for a cost-effective way to boost your system's performance, the Transcend 120 GB SSD is a solid choice. However, if you need top-tier performance for heavy workloads, you might want to consider investing in a higher-end model.
Specification Transcend 120 GB TLC SATA III 6Gb/s 2.5" Solid State Drive (TS120GSSD220S):
Comments from Amazon:
While it's not the fastest or the cheapest among the SSDs, it is still way faster than any conventional HD, even the 7,200 RPM models. I chose the 480GB unit over 512GB model because it was significantly cheaper. I cringe whenever people move about with the laptop in their hands while it's on and not in sleep or off mode. A sure way to potentially damage the HD. One of the main advantages of SSD besides the increased speed is no moving parts, thus it gives you the freedom to lug the laptop around without damaging it while it's on. When you've gone SSD, it's hard to go back to using conventional HD. I must have over dozen laptop HDs sitting in the drawer, merely serving as a backup drive in case SSD crashes and burns. I have installed about two dozen SSDs in laptops past four years. Luckily, none have failed thus far. I keep the original HDs because SSDs can and do fail from time to time. This 480 GB Transcend unit is performing admirably thus far in a Dell unit. I've used couple other Transcend SSDs in the past without any problems.
The Transcend SSD220S 480GB is a decent performing budget SSD for you average user. It has relatively slow 4k write speeds, it's not the best performer but the average user that is surfing the web, writing documents and playing games would not likely notice any performance difference. It definitely better than any HDD and is suitable for general computer use, a drives for games, old laptop or PC no used for heavy workloads and as a secondary drives for additional storage. If you do heavy workloads, video editing and the like your probably better off going with a higher end SSD. It is fine for most users though, iIF THE PRICE IS RIGHT. There in lies the problem, at it's current price of $148 there are better options with superior performance for about he same or just a little bit more money (Samsung 850 EVO, SK Hynix SL308 for example). I picked mine up when it was on sale for $86.99 and at that price for a 480GB SSD i a very good deal. Wish I would have picked up two or three more. 2017 has seen prices rise a bi on SSD due to limited manufacturing capacity of NAND chips. Prices are likely to rise more until the end of 2017 or beginning of 2018 when new manufacturing facilities are scheduled to come online. If the SSD220S prices comes down more relative to competing higher performance SSD, it may be a good option, but I'd be willing to spend a little more on a better options as it stands now (Feb 2017). To be clear I'm no saying this is a bad SSD. Most users would be happy with it. I recently placed it oin an old SATA II laptop and i gave it new life and was great. I may move it to anoher laptop with SATA III and use it as a secondary SSD for additional storage. My point is that at it current price there are better performing SSDs, it would be more compelling at around $120 price point or if other drives get significantly more expensive over the course of 2017.
The physical installation was easy as are most SSDs. I used this to replace an old 120gb intel ssd as my main drive for Windows. The SSD Scope software included from transcend failed to image my old drive correctly and I had to manually install windows and all of my software. After that, everything worked perfectly. Performance is excellent for the price point of this drive (got it for $70ish for 480gb version on black Friday). So far been using for 6 months with zero issues, no studders, lockups and very fast load times for games like Forza Horizon 3, Witcher 3 and others. Very happy with purchase! Avoid relying on SSD scope to image your old drive!
Bought this drive on sale through Amazon, great deal. It went into an older but still very usable Gateway Core i7 desktop, 8GB RAM that is used for CS4 programs, mostly Photoshop and Premiere Pro. Cloned 290GB of system drive and data from a 1TB 7200 RPM Barracuda using the free version of EaseUs. Boot time dropped from 3 - 5 minutes to about 30 seconds, and program opening times are slashed. This computer is almost 5 years old and barring any major failures may well be usable for another 5. It's a better workstation than it was when it was new. Photoshop editing is quicker than any hardware I've ever worked on. I have yet to render video, but expect those times to be a third or less than in the past. I'm very pleased, this is my best computer technology purchase in years.
The hard drive had mid level ssd quality. Data transfer is rate is slow. At the midway point of the transfer process, it slows down to half the speed of the first half. I do not recommend this hard drive unless its less than $100. Much better off get a S102.
Got it on a New Years special. Great drive for the price. I'm getting the posted speeds which is a major plus. Put into a new PC and installed windows from USB in under a minute. Can't speak to the life of the drive as I've only used it a short time. Wish I could get some M2 storage. Core i5 6600K MSI Krait Gaming 3x Mobo MSI 1070 Gaming X 8GB 16GB GaiL RAM
Transcend has been in the SSD game since it started! I work as a computer repair/upgrade tech from home and I have been pleasantly surprised by the quality and speed of Transcend SSD drives. In the past 18 months I have replaced 5 or 6 old laptop and desktop hard drives with these SSD drives. Their reliability rating rivals Samsung for a fraction of the price. Speed tests usually show 550MBps read and 400+MBps write. Most laptop drives have a hard time pushing anything over 100MBps read and write. This helps for fast boot times and quicker launching programs. I have replaced these drives on everything from a low-end AMD E3 processor to an Intel Core i7. Obviously the better the processor the quicker the system. I have had zero problems or failures of these drives to date. I highly recommend this product!