SanDisk X400 SSD Review
The X400 SSD release establishes SanDisk as one of the only companies currently offering 1TB of storage in a single-sided M.2 card. Although the X400 also comes in a 2.5" 7mm-height form factor (which is the focus of our review), the M.2 configuration is the main selling point of this line of SSDs. Installing a 1TB M.2 X400 card will allow users to get the most out of their ultra-thin notebooks in terms of storage, without sacrificing performance or battery life. The X400 makes use of SanDisk's nCache 2.0 technology, which leverages multi-tiered architecture and provides improved performance during taxing operations like sustained-sequential writing. SanDisk's 2nd generation TLC flash node works to maximize reliability and energy efficiency so that the X400 uses minimal power, making it ideal for use in a mobile setting
In terms of security, the X400 comes with TCG Opal 2.0 support, which allows the X400 to be compatible with 3rd-party security ISVs (Independent Software Vendors) if enhanced security is desired. The X400 also has SED (Self-Encrypted Drive) capabilities, giving users access to hardware-based 256-bit AES encryption. Additional features like DataGuard Client and LDPC error correction improve drive endurance, pushing its lifespan up to a reported 320TBW (TB written). SanDisk built the X400 with a specialized hardware core that performs error corrections on the fly, sparing users from experiencing an appreciable drop in latency in the event of a minor writing error.
The SanDisk X400 SSD comes in capacities of 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. Pricing for the 2.5" form factor is around $50.49, $78.99, $122.50, and $249.99, respectively. There is a slight bump in price for the M.2 models, which cost $59.99, $94.99, $142.99, and $259.99, respectively. Each model comes with a 5-year warranty.
Specifications
Available Capacities/Reported Performance
128GB
Sequential Read/Write: Up to 540/340MB/s
Random Read/Write: Up to 93.5/60k IOPS
256GB
Sequential Read/Write: Up to 540/5200MB/s
Random Read/Write: Up to 93.5/75k IOPS
512GB
Sequential Read/Write: Up to 540/5200MB/s
Random Read/Write: Up to 93.5/75k IOPS
1TB
Sequential Read/Write: Up to 545/520MB/s
Random Read/Write: Up to 95k IOPS
Form Factor: 2.5" 7mm cased, M.2 2280
Dimensions
2.5" 7mm cased: 7mm x 69.85mm x 100.5mm
M.2 2280: 1.5mm (max) x 22mm x 80mm
Interface: SATA 6Gb/s
Endurance
128GB: 72 TBW
256GB: 80TBW
512GB: 160TBW
1TB: 320TBW
Weight
2.5" 7mm: 51±3g (128GB), 55±3g (256GB and 512GB), 58±3g (1TB)
M.2 2280: 7±1g
Operating Temperature: 0ºC to 70ºC (32ºF to 158ºF)
Storage Temperature: -55ºC to 85ºC (-67ºF to 185ºF)
Supply Voltage
2.5" 7mm: 5V±5%
M.2 2280: 3.3V±5%
Slumber: 45mW-52mW
DEVSLP: 4.85-8.50mW
Average Active Power: 70mW
Operating Vibrations: 5 gRMS, 10-2000Hz, 3 axes
Non-Operating Vibrations: 4.9gRMS, 7-800Hz, 3 axes
Operating/Non-Operating Shock: 1,500 @0.5ms half sine
Certifications: FCC, UL, TUV, KC, BSMI, VCCI
Warranty: 5 years
Design and Build
The X400 features a simple design, with black casing and red branding. The face has some product information written in white text below the SATA connectors. The back of the X400 just has a white sticker with product information (e.g., serial number). With its casing, the X400 can serve as a drop-in replacement for 2.5" drives.
Removing the card from its casing, the circuit board consists of SanDisk's TLC flash nodes and controller.
The X400 SSD release establishes SanDisk as one of the only companies currently offering 1TB of storage in a single-sided M.2 card. Although the X400 also comes in a 2.5" 7mm-height form factor (which is the focus of our review), the M.2 configuration is the main selling point of this line of SSDs. Installing a 1TB M.2 X400 card will allow users to get the most out of their ultra-thin notebooks in terms of storage, without sacrificing performance or battery life. The X400 makes use of SanDisk's nCache 2.0 technology, which leverages multi-tiered architecture and provides improved performance during taxing operations like sustained-sequential writing. SanDisk's 2nd generation TLC flash node works to maximize reliability and energy efficiency so that the X400 uses minimal power, making it ideal for use in a mobile setting
In terms of security, the X400 comes with TCG Opal 2.0 support, which allows the X400 to be compatible with 3rd-party security ISVs (Independent Software Vendors) if enhanced security is desired. The X400 also has SED (Self-Encrypted Drive) capabilities, giving users access to hardware-based 256-bit AES encryption. Additional features like DataGuard Client and LDPC error correction improve drive endurance, pushing its lifespan up to a reported 320TBW (TB written). SanDisk built the X400 with a specialized hardware core that performs error corrections on the fly, sparing users from experiencing an appreciable drop in latency in the event of a minor writing error.
The SanDisk X400 SSD comes in capacities of 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. Pricing for the 2.5" form factor is around $50.49, $78.99, $122.50, and $249.99, respectively. There is a slight bump in price for the M.2 models, which cost $59.99, $94.99, $142.99, and $259.99, respectively. Each model comes with a 5-year warranty.
Specifications
Available Capacities/Reported Performance
128GB
Sequential Read/Write: Up to 540/340MB/s
Random Read/Write: Up to 93.5/60k IOPS
256GB
Sequential Read/Write: Up to 540/5200MB/s
Random Read/Write: Up to 93.5/75k IOPS
512GB
Sequential Read/Write: Up to 540/5200MB/s
Random Read/Write: Up to 93.5/75k IOPS
1TB
Sequential Read/Write: Up to 545/520MB/s
Random Read/Write: Up to 95k IOPS
Form Factor: 2.5" 7mm cased, M.2 2280
Dimensions
2.5" 7mm cased: 7mm x 69.85mm x 100.5mm
M.2 2280: 1.5mm (max) x 22mm x 80mm
Interface: SATA 6Gb/s
Endurance
128GB: 72 TBW
256GB: 80TBW
512GB: 160TBW
1TB: 320TBW
Weight
2.5" 7mm: 51±3g (128GB), 55±3g (256GB and 512GB), 58±3g (1TB)
M.2 2280: 7±1g
Operating Temperature: 0ºC to 70ºC (32ºF to 158ºF)
Storage Temperature: -55ºC to 85ºC (-67ºF to 185ºF)
Supply Voltage
2.5" 7mm: 5V±5%
M.2 2280: 3.3V±5%
Slumber: 45mW-52mW
DEVSLP: 4.85-8.50mW
Average Active Power: 70mW
Operating Vibrations: 5 gRMS, 10-2000Hz, 3 axes
Non-Operating Vibrations: 4.9gRMS, 7-800Hz, 3 axes
Operating/Non-Operating Shock: 1,500 @0.5ms half sine
Certifications: FCC, UL, TUV, KC, BSMI, VCCI
Warranty: 5 years
Design and Build
The X400 features a simple design, with black casing and red branding. The face has some product information written in white text below the SATA connectors. The back of the X400 just has a white sticker with product information (e.g., serial number). With its casing, the X400 can serve as a drop-in replacement for 2.5" drives.
Removing the card from its casing, the circuit board consists of SanDisk's TLC flash nodes and controller.
The back of the card is completely blank since the X400 uses a single-sided design for both the 2.5" and its M.2 form factors
Consumer Synthetic Benchmarks
All consumer SSD benchmarks are conducted with the StorageReview HP Z620 Workstation. We compared the SanDisk X400 SSD with the following drives:
- Samsung 850 EVO 2TB (SATA, 6Gb/s, Samsung MHX controller)
- Samsung 850 EVO 1TB (SATA, 6Gb/s, Samsung MEX controller)
- Samsung 750 EVO 250GB (SATA, 6Gb/s)
- Crucial BX100 1TB (SATA, 6Gb/s, Silicon Motion SM2246EN controller)
- Crucial BX200 480TB (SATA, 6Gb/s, Silicon Motion SM2256 controller)
- Crucial BX200 960TB (SATA, 6Gb/s, Silicon Motion SM2256 controller)
- OCZ Trion 150 960GB (SATA, 6GB/s, Toshiba controller)
- OCZ Trion 150 480GB (SATA, 6GB/s, Toshiba controller)
All IOMeter figures are represented as binary figures for MB/s speeds.
In our first test, which measures 2MB sequential performance, the SanDisk X400 held up both in terms of read and write (472MB/s and 428MB/s, respectively), although it was not the top drive in either category. Most drives exhibited a similar performance in this benchmark.
