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Mushkin Source 2 51GB — Review & Specs | Pricepect | Pricepect

Home Solid State DrivesMushkin Source 2 51GB

📦

Mushkin

Mushkin Source 2 51GB

5.0(0 reviews)

$262.52

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MKNSSDSE512GB51GB

Solid State Drives

Expert Review Analysis

The Mushkin Source is a budget‑focused 2.5‑inch SATA III SSD that uses DRAM‑less architecture with Micron 64‑layer 3D TLC NAND and a Silicon Motion SM2258XT controller. It delivers up to 560 MB/s sequential reads and 520 MB/s writes, making it suitable for everyday PC upgrades while keeping costs low.

✓ Best for: Budget‑conscious users upgrading older HDD laptops or desktops, ultrabook owners needing a thin 7 mm drive, and anyone seeking faster OS boots and everyday app responsiveness without paying NVMe premiums✗ Not ideal for: Heavy video editing, large‑scale data‑center workloads, or power users who require top‑tier random IOPS and sustained performance under intensive mixed‑load conditions

Pros

✓Sequential read speeds up to 560 MB/s and write speeds up to 520 MB/s provide fast file transfers for typical workloads
✓DRAM‑less design keeps the price low while still delivering competitive performance for everyday tasks
✓

Price History

Current

$262.52

Average

$67.46

Lowest

$63.74

Highest

$262.52

Price trend (90d):0.0%

Best Seller Rank History

Now#378Best#378Worst#66,358 +3,002

Lower = better sales rank

Rating Trend

Rating5.0/ 5Reviews2

Specifications

Connectivity

InterfaceSATA III 6Gb/s

Design

Height42.2 mm mm

Width7.9 mm mm

Length133.4 mm mm

Weight91.0 g g

Form Factor2.5-inch, 7mm height

Features

Features TypeS.M.A.R.T., TRIM, Secure Erase, DevSleep, SLC caching, M.E.D.S. with LDPC ECC

Firmware UpgradeableYes

General

BrandMushkin

ManufacturerMushkin Enhanced

Model NameMKNSSDSE512GB

Warranty3-year limited warranty

CertificationRoHS compliant

Performance

Sequential Read560 MB/s MB/s

Sequential Write520 MB/s MB/s

Random Read IOPS90,000 IOPS

Random Write IOPS80,000 IOPS

Power

Power Consumption2 W W

Sensors

Temperature SensorIncluded

Storage

Capacity51 GB GB

NAND TypeMicron 64-layer 3D TLC

ControllerSilicon Motion SM2258XT

Dimensions & Weight

Height1.66 inches

Width0.31 inches

Depth5.25 inches

Weight0.20062065842 pounds

Research Sources

thessdreview.com

tomshardware.com

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User Reviews

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7 mm 2.5‑inch form factor fits ultrabooks and thin laptops without space issues

✓Mushkin Enhanced Data‑Protection Suite (LDPC ECC, wear‑leveling, data refresh) improves data reliability and longevity

✓SLC caching helps sustain high write performance during large file transfers

✓Operating power consumption is only about 2 W, contributing to energy efficiency

Cons

✗Performance drops noticeably in intensive synthetic workloads such as PCMark 8 extended tests, reducing overall responsiveness
✗Random read and write IOPS lag behind DRAM‑equipped competitors, affecting multitasking and mixed‑load scenarios
✗Large‑file copy times are slower on smaller capacities, e.g., a 25 GB copy taking over 400 seconds on the 250 GB model
✗No detailed weight specification or comprehensive warranty information is provided in the sources
✗Firmware upgrade process is user‑upgradeable but lacks bundled management software, limiting convenience

From Expert Reviews

Praised by Experts

✓TweakTown praised the 500 GB model as “a beast” with strong sustained writes and great value for a budget SSD
✓TheSSDReview highlighted the reliable Micron 3D TLC NAND and SM2258XT controller delivering decent performance for a low‑cost drive
✓Professional reviewers noted the SSD matches premium SATA drives in system‑responsiveness benchmarks like SYSmark

Criticized by Experts

✗Professional reviews reported the drive falls flat in intensive PCMark 8 workloads and mixed‑load tests, showing slower recovery times
✗Critics mentioned the random performance is lower than DRAM‑equipped SATA SSDs, trailing by roughly 10‑20 % in IOPS
✗Reviewers observed copy‑paste times are slower compared to competing budget SSDs, especially on smaller capacities

From User Reviews

Users Love

✓Users reported boot times dropping to 8‑11 seconds, a noticeable improvement over HDDs that took around 18 seconds
✓Everyday owners appreciated the noticeable speed boost for Windows loading and application launches
✓The low price point made it an attractive upgrade for older laptops and budget‑conscious desktops

Users Complain About

✗Consumers complained about inconsistent large‑file copy speeds, especially on the 250 GB model where a 25 GB copy exceeded 400 seconds
✗Some users noted the drive’s performance can be erratic compared to more established brands like Crucial
✗Lack of detailed warranty or weight information caused uncertainty for a subset of buyers

Expert Opinion

Professional reviewers consider the Mushkin Source one of the best DRAM‑less SATA SSDs on the market, praising its strong sequential performance, effective SLC cache, and value‑driven pricing. However, they also point out that it struggles in intensive synthetic benchmarks and lags behind DRAM‑equipped competitors in random I/O, making it less suitable for heavy workloads.

What Users Say

Everyday users generally appreciate the dramatic reduction in boot and application load times and the affordable price, but they frequently mention slower large‑file copy speeds and occasional performance inconsistency compared with more established SSD brands.

Common Complaints

Slower large‑file copy times on smaller capacities, lower random read/write performance versus DRAM‑equipped SSDs, and limited warranty/weight details causing buyer hesitation

What People Are Saying

“Boot times are around 8‑11 seconds, much faster than my old HDD's 18 seconds.”
YouTube benchmark

How It Compares

vs. Kingston KC600 512GB

Advantages

✓Higher random read IOPS (90‑100k) giving better multitasking performance
✓Slightly better mixed‑workload consistency than Mushkin

Disadvantages

✗Sequential read speed is marginally lower (550 MB/s)
✗Price is typically higher for comparable capacity

Choose KC600 if random performance is critical; choose Mushkin for the best sequential speeds and lower cost

vs. Inland Professional SATA III

Advantages

✓Stronger initial sequential performance in some tests
✓Often priced competitively for entry‑level builds

Disadvantages

✗Random IOPS are slower than Mushkin's sustained write capability
✗Mixed‑load performance trails Mushkin initially

Inland is a solid alternative for basic upgrades, but Mushkin edges it out on sustained writes and overall value

vs. SanDisk Ultra 3D

Advantages

✓Higher random read/write IOPS and better mixed‑workload performance
✓More established brand reputation and clearer warranty details

Disadvantages

✗Sequential speeds trail Mushkin by over 100 MB/s
✗Typically priced higher than the Mushkin Source

SanDisk Ultra 3D is ideal for users prioritizing random performance and brand confidence; Mushkin is better for those focused on sequential speed and budget