Processors have been exceptionally fast, graphics cards pump out an astonishing number of calculations per second, and even storage chips have made great strides, but the hard drive is probably one of the biggest bottlenecks in a computer, limited by simple physics: a platter can only revolve so fast before data cannot be read or written.  This is where Solid State Drives come into play; they seek to create a new paradigm in computing storage technology rather than incrementally improving it using decades-old technology.

Solid State Drives (SSDs) are flash-based storage devices that have taken the computer world by storm over the last few years.  They remain very expensive overall, though prices are dropping and increased competition in the market will continue that downward trend. Nonetheless, the promise of massive performance increases is a very attractive lure particularly to enthusiasts.  But in a nod to Wells, not all SSDs are created equal, nor are some more equal than others.  The fact is there is a rather wide range of speeds available on the market; in fact, some SSDs are not as fast as select, traditional hard disk drives.  Careful research and thought must be given before choosing a solid state drive to ensure you’re getting what you think you are.

As a result, today we’re looking at what appears to be the fastest SSD on the market today: the Kingston SSD Now M-series solid state drive.  It is a rebranded Intel X-25M SSD, as Kingston has teamed up to offer a product that promises exceptional speed and eye-watering performance numbers.  Today we’ll pit it against some of the fastest traditional hard disk drives you can buy and we’ll see if this Kingston SSD has the dash for the cash.

We'd like to thank our friends at Kingston Technology for supplying the review sample.

Founded in 1987 with a single product offering, Kingston® Technology now offers more than 2,000 storage products that support nearly every device that uses storage, from computers, servers and printers to MP3 players, digital cameras and cell phones. In 2007, the company's sales exceeded $4.5 billion. With global headquarters in Fountain Valley, California, Kingston employs more than 4,500 people worldwide. Regarded as one of the “Best Companies to Work for in America” by Fortune magazine, Kingston’s tenets of respect, loyalty, flexibility and integrity create an exemplary corporate culture. Kingston believes that investing in its people is essential, and each employee is a vital part of Kingston’s success.