The SanDisk Extreme SSD is well suited to anyone wanting to boost the speeds of their computers. I tested it with a 17-inch Macbook Pro sporting a SATA III connection.
The difference in speed when compared to the hard drive disk that I had inside the Mac was dramatic, and well worth the mission of installing the drive. That said, improved speeds are exactly what one would expect when changing an HDD for an SSD.
Look and feel
SanDisk's Extreme SSD is designed for internal use and does not come with an external casing. Those wanting to use the SSD as an external drive will have to buy an external casing.
The Extreme SSD sits in an aluminium chassis, keeping it cool. According to SanDisk, the drive has operating temperatures of between 0˚C and 70˚C.
The drive itself is light, weighing in at a mere 79.5g. This means it won't weigh down a laptop, especially given that the lighter HDDs weigh in at an average of 115g.
SanDisk's SSD comes in 120GB, 240GB and 480GB capacities.
Usability
The SanDisk Extreme does not come with bundled software to help users transfer files from their old HDDs to the SDD. This means users will have to do this using an eSATA cable before or after installing the drive. I would probably do it before, and back the data up to a third drive, in case I muck up the transfer.
Of course, I didn't have to transfer files off my old drive because I am keeping it. That said, transferring the files is pretty painless given the SSD's speeds.
Installing the drive is a bit finicky, but then that's the nature of DIY hardware upgrades. Also, given that SSDs are expected to eventually replace HDDs in laptops, I don't foresee manufacturers releasing laptops that let users pop drives in and out as if they were changing ink cartridges (although that would be nice).
Performance
The SanDisk Extreme SSD did not disappoint when it came to performance. The drive achieved average write speeds of 125MB per second using a SATA III-enabled laptop. Read speeds reached about 420MB per second.
In addition to faster read and write speeds, the Extreme SSD optimises computer boot-up speeds and also reduces waiting times when opening applications. Applications open just about instantaneously, even when the machine is running multiple programs.
According to SanDisk, the drive is also more durable and power-efficient, delivering a reliable computing experience while maximising battery life.
In summary
Starting at R1 299, the SanDisk SSD is well priced for what it offers. Users looking to jack up their PC speeds should definitely consider the Extreme SSD.
Personally, I would have liked to see some bundled software, but I'm guessing users who are upgrading their own hardware will find this sort of thing superfluous.
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