Samsung introduced two 840 series: the Pro and the “Non-pro” version. Both boast of the same ultra-thin form factor and controller prowess. The difference lies in the type of NAND Flash used. While the Pro version utilized the 21 nm MLC toggle-type NAND, the consumer or “non-pro” version uses a three-bit per cell MLC NAND or also called TLC.
A TLC NAND has lower P/E cycles than an MLC and a slower read and erase time. Samsung confirms that the 840 non-pro SSD is 50% slower than the pro version regarding latency. Performance-wise, there are also some differences between the two versions. While the non-pro retains the pro’s 540 MB/s sequential read speed, it cannot match the latter 520 MB/s sequential write speed. The non-pro’s maximum sequential write speed is 250 MB/s. IOPS numbers for the non-pro is also lower at 96,000 and 62,000 for read and write respectively compared to 100,000 and 90,000 for the pro version.
Lifespan is another difference between the two type of NANDs. An MLC NAND typically lasts three times longer than a TLC for the same NAND capacity and data writes per day. This makes the pro version last longer than the non-pro version. The non-pro comes with a standard 3-year warranty while the pro version comes with a five-year warranty.
Specifications:
- Sequential Read: Up to 540 Mbps
- Sequential Write: Up to 250 Mbps
- NAND Type: TLC (3 bit/cell MLC)
- Interface: SATA III 6 Gbps
- Controller: Samsung MDX Controller
- Form Factor: 2.5 inch
- DRAM Cache: None
- Power Consumption (Active): 0.042 W
- Power Consumption (Idle): 0.068 W
- Warranty: 3 Years
Price Comparison:
Reviews:
Fortunately, the 840 exceeded all our expectations. It’s faster, overall, than most of the previous generation MLC NAND based SSDs we have tested, which says a lot about Samsung’s skill with it comes to designing a controller and firmware.
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