Crucial Announces the BX300 Solid-state Drive

[btarunr]

Crucial, a leading global brand of memory and storage upgrades, today announced the availability of a new offering in its solid state drive product portfolio: BX300. It combines Micron 3D NAND with a value-conscious design to deliver the features DIY upgraders and builders are looking for. The new SSD includes 3D MLC NAND in a 2.5-inch form factor drive, and is available in 120GB, 240GB, and 480GB capacities.

Upgrading from a traditional hard drive to a solid state drive has never been easier. The Crucial Advisor tool helps users determine a compatible upgrade based on their system's manufacturer, make, and model. Supporting the BX300 is Crucial's mobile-friendly install guide so users of all technical ability levels are armed with the straightforward, step-by-step information they need to successfully install an SSD. Data migration is also simplified with free access to Acronis True Image HD software.



"We're excited to share the next evolution of the BX family with our customers. The BX300 is a simpleto-use SSD for the everyday consumer and DIYer who's looking to easily boot up and load apps faster. With its speed, efficiency, and easy install process, the decision to replace an old hard drive has never been easier," said Jonathan Weech, Crucial worldwide product manager. "As a brand of Micron, one of the largest flash storage manufacturers in the world, the new Crucial BX300 SSDs will help consumers extend the life of their older computers with best-in-class quality and innovation."

"Silicon Motion is proud to extend our support to the popular Crucial BX line with the latest BX300 SSD" said Robert Fan, President of Silicon Motion U.S.A. "The combination of our leading-edge SM2258 controller with Micron 3D NAND enables high performance, reliability and excellent value for our customers."

Crucial SSDs have been established, proven, and tested for over seven generations, and the BX300 is supported by the Crucial Storage Executive software tool for easy drive maintenance. Available exclusively for immediate purchase at Crucial.com or at Amazon.com, the BX300 is backed by a three-year limited warranty. For more information, visit our Crucial solid state drive product page.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[RejZoR]

Wasn't BX300 already released ages ago? Also, those capacities!?

 

[bug]

According to Anandtech, this compares very well with 850EVO and even Pro. And unlike the EVO, it sports MLC. Not bad.

 

[Paphoved]

Wasn't BX300 already released ages ago? Also, those capacities!?

I think you're thinking of the MX300 ... But it's not exactly clear from their marketing what the differences are. AFAIK MX300 is TLC and this is MLC.

 

[Chaitanya]

According to Anandtech, this compares very well with 850EVO and even Pro. And unlike the EVO, it sports MLC. Not bad.

It's a definite improvement over older Mx300 drive as well. If this drive represents the improvement we might see with next MX drive then finally Samsung's 850 series of drives have some competition.

 

[Tomorrow]

I think you're thinking of the MX300 ... But it's not exactly clear from their marketing what the differences are. AFAIK MX300 is TLC and this is MLC.

Well that's Crucial's brilliant marketing right there. It used to be the other way around. MX was top of the line (MX100, MX200) and BX was budget oriented (BX100 & BX200). MX300 however was for some reason made with TLC NAND and now BX300 uses MLC instead.

I would argue that continuity in product features is as important as the product itself. I mean look at Samsung EVO and PRO. For two consecutive generations (950 & 960) they have maintaned this. Will be 3rd when they release 970 and 980 in a few months. Or Intel for sticking with i3, i5 and i7 for so long. You didn't even need to look at the specs to know what you're dealing with. That to me is brilliant naming.

 

[RejZoR]

It's so strange that after all this time, there is no demand for 1TB or 2TB SSD drives. People insisting on crappy boot drives are so funny to me. Been on SSD's in laptops since I first stuck Intel 80GB into my ACER Aspire One replacing the crappy 160GB HDD in it. I never looked back since. Desktop went full SSD like 2 years ago with Sasmung 850 Pro 2TB entirely replacing WD Caviar Black 2TB. And I'd NEVER EVER looked back. While it was super expensive at 800€, it's one of better investments of them all. I mean, I had 2TB HDD for years and it was way enough. Which means this 2TB SSD will serve me for years to come. What graphic card for 800€ lasts you 5+ years? Storage depreciates the least, right next to soundcards. And yet people can't be bothered to invest into them and ditch stupid spinning drives one and for all.

I know Crucial had MX300 2TB drives for like 600€. Samsung 850 Evo 2TB go for like 150-200€ less than 850 Pro as well. What's too bad is that M.2 2TB's are almost unobtainable and so much more expensive. I'd love to have 850 Pro in M.2 format, even if with SATA3 speeds, just so I free up my system of unnecessary data and power cables for stand alone SATA3 drive. But oh well, I guess it'll happen on my next major system swap sometime after next 5 years or more...

 

[Frick]

It's so strange that after all this time, there is no demand for 1TB or 2TB SSD drives. People insisting on crappy boot drives are so funny to me.

There probably is, but the cheapest 1TB SSD is €300. 2TB SSD is close to 10 times the price of 2TB HDD. A snappy OS and browser is morw important than videos and games.

 

[bug]

There probably is, but the cheapest 1TB SSD is €300. 2TB SSD is close to 10 times the price of 2TB HDD. A snappy OS and browser is morw important than videos and games.

This and people fin it easier to add 2-3 256-512GB drives over time. Larger drives would be nicer, or course, especially since SSDs don't like to be full, but prices need to come down first.

 

[rtwjunkie]

It's a definite improvement over older Mx300 drive as well. If this drive represents the improvement we might see with next MX drive then finally Samsung's 850 series of drives have some competition.

Is it really? Normally BX of the same number is inferior to the MX, as they market the BX as basic and MX as more performance-oriented.

I haven't sat down to compare the numbers, but if you are right, that is a departure with past practice.

 

[bug]

Is it really? Normally BX of the same number is inferior to the MX, as they market the BX as basic and MX as more performance-oriented.

I haven't sat down to compare the numbers, but if you are right, that is a departure with past practice.

Anand is also puzzled as to why this is MLC while MX300 is TLC and they conclude Crucial must not have much of a margin with BX300. And numbers say it's pretty competitive, too.

 

[Prima.Vera]

It's so strange that after all this time, there is no demand for 1TB or 2TB SSD drives. People insisting on crappy boot drives are so funny to me. Been on SSD's in laptops since I first stuck Intel 80GB into my ACER Aspire One replacing the crappy 160GB HDD in it. I never looked back since. Desktop went full SSD like 2 years ago with Sasmung 850 Pro 2TB entirely replacing WD Caviar Black 2TB. And I'd NEVER EVER looked back. While it was super expensive at 800€, it's one of better investments of them all. I mean, I had 2TB HDD for years and it was way enough. Which means this 2TB SSD will serve me for years to come. What graphic card for 800€ lasts you 5+ years? Storage depreciates the least, right next to soundcards. And yet people can't be bothered to invest into them and ditch stupid spinning drives one and for all.

You're literally repeating the same crap over and over again for any SSD release. Not bored yet?

 

[Chaitanya]

Is it really? Normally BX of the same number is inferior to the MX, as they market the BX as basic and MX as more performance-oriented.

I haven't sat down to compare the numbers, but if you are right, that is a departure with past practice.

Looking at spec sheet for Bx300 480GB and Mx300 you will notice only things missing from BX300 is the support for encryption and power loss protection of MX series. From the numbers in Anandtech's review BX300 is on par or better than MX300. I am not sure how Crucial managed to package MLC Nand at those prices into BX series of SSDs, but overall it's a step in right direction from Crucial after last years lacklustre MX300 SSD.

 

[RejZoR]

You're literally repeating the same crap over and over again for any SSD release. Not bored yet?

Because literally every SSD release is this dull garbage no one seems to care about. But for as long as people can have their dumb SSD boot drives and everyone's happy. And I'm like WTF every single time...

 

[bug]

Because literally every SSD release is this dull garbage no one seems to care about. But for as long as people can have their dumb SSD boot drives and everyone's happy. And I'm like WTF every single time...

So in your mind, there is no possibility that people are ok with 512GB SSDs, because you aren't. Really mature.

 

[RejZoR]

If that's the only drive in your system because that's all you need, by all means. I also only have 128GB SSD in my laptop because I don't need more in it. But sticking a crap HDD next to it is just the biggest heresy.

 

[bug]

If that's the only drive in your system because that's all you need, by all means. I also only have 128GB SSD in my laptop because I don't need more in it. But sticking a crap HDD next to it is just the biggest heresy.

Why?

 

[rtwjunkie]

If that's the only drive in your system because that's all you need, by all means. I also only have 128GB SSD in my laptop because I don't need more in it. But sticking a crap HDD next to it is just the biggest heresy.

I also have to ask why. I use large HDD's for my storage and gaming needs, and fulfills what I need perfectly for a lot less money. I may also have been lucky, but my HDD's in both my system And server have proven very reliable over the long

 

[acperience7]

Because literally every SSD release is this dull garbage no one seems to care about. But for as long as people can have their dumb SSD boot drives and everyone's happy. And I'm like WTF every single time...

I have an SSD boot drive and a seperate game drive, but they're both small (250gb each). I would love to buy larger SSD's, but I don't feel the need to given the pricing. All of the places I really wanted the speed are covered with the OS drive, and it has room for other stuff if I really want a certain program to boot faster. When (large) SSD's come down to around $100 or so for a cheap 1 TB drive, I'll dive in and kick my HDD's out. Till then, I'll happily keep my "spinning rust" as L1 techs like to call them.

 

[Tomorrow]

I got a 1TB MX200 last year. I got it when it was on sale for only 200€ (currently that would be $238). Wich i think at the time and even now is a really good price for MLC based 1TB drive with high performance (granted not as good as 850 Pro). Until 1TB SSD prices are above and beyond 300€/300$ im not suprised that people still prefer HDD's for their bulk storage needs. Remember that some people have a lot of stuff and 1TB or even 2TB SSD is not enough. Granted there are some 4TB versions but i'm not willing to shell out 1100€ for those. Or two of those if i want HDD rivaling 8TB camapacity. I would fill that space very fast with videos. I would rather buy a 250€ 8TB HDD. Besides video access does not require super high speeds.

 

[Deathlokke]

If that's the only drive in your system because that's all you need, by all means. I also only have 128GB SSD in my laptop because I don't need more in it. But sticking a crap HDD next to it is just the biggest heresy.

A 1TB 7200RPM HDD for my laptop only cost me $60; the same drive in an SSD is still well over $300. That's why people use a small SSD for boot, in my case 250GB, and a larger HDD. Hell, I've bought 6TB HDDs for less than $300. Once the prices come down more they'll be more common, but for now the price is pretty steep.

 

[newtekie1]

Looking at spec sheet for Bx300 480GB and Mx300 you will notice only things missing from BX300 is the support for encryption and power loss protection of MX series. From the numbers in Anandtech's review BX300 is on par or better than MX300. I am not sure how Crucial managed to package MLC Nand at those prices into BX series of SSDs, but overall it's a step in right direction from Crucial after last years lacklustre MX300 SSD.

The thing is, we are hitting the limits of SATA, and any performance differences measured in benchmarks isn't really going to be noticed by the user.

 

[Frick]

If that's the only drive in your system because that's all you need, by all means. I also only have 128GB SSD in my laptop because I don't need more in it. But sticking a crap HDD next to it is just the biggest heresy.

Aphex Twin sounds amazing on nvme.

 

[Prima.Vera]

The thing is, we are hitting the limits of SATA, and any performance differences measured in benchmarks isn't really going to be noticed by the user.

Nah my friend. Until we see 510MB/s reads/writes for 4kB, the performance difference is still there: