SanDisk X400 128GB Review • Requirements: M.2, SATA 6Gbps connection on your motherboard
Our third M.2 SSD is the entry-level model from the SanDisk X400 range, which includes capacities from 128GB up to an impressive 1TB in both M.2 and standard 2.5″ forms.
This multi-layer TLC NAND (single-sided) memory device features a Marvell 88SS1074-BSW2 controller and measures 22 x 80 x 1.5mm while weighing 7g. Power consumption averages out at around 2.8W when active, dropping to 0.5W when idle, with an MTBF of 1.75 million hours.
Other features include TCG Opal 2.0 support, which offers security compatibility with third-party independent software vendors, should a more advanced secure encryption be necessary.
As well as that, the X400 range has 256-bit AES Self-Encrypted Drive capabilities. You’ll also find error correction in the form of DataGuard Client Technology, a five-year warranty and SanDisk’s own nCache 2.0 technologies that will boost performance.
As for benchmarks, we recorded the SanDisk X400’s ATTO 8192KB read speed as 540MB/S, with a write speed of 476MB/S. For the 4KB test, the read speed was 332MB/S while the write speed came back as 261MB/S. While not the fastest SSD, M.2 or otherwise, in the group, the SanDisk X400 certainly held its own.
As with the other 128GB drives on test, there’s enough space to comfortably fit Windows, the usual set of productivity programs and possibly a game or two.
Remarkably the SanDisk X400 128GB is priced the same as the Samsung 850 M.2. While the Samsung model is slightly faster, the SanDisk X400 has a lot more features, with newer technology being used too. Of course, a lot of that technology has gone into the encryption side of things, which is a business-led feature. While average users won’t ever use 256-bit encryption or anything extended via any ISVs, it’s something worth considering, especially if you plan to carry the SSD onto newer motherboards in the future.
The SanDisk X400 is a good SSD. It’s remarkably thin, has decent capacity and is fast enough in its reads and writes to keep up with most users’ needs. Flowever, there are better models available for around the same price or less, so it’s worth shopping around.