SanDisk has introduced a new low-end drive to their line of client SSDs targeted at business and OEM customers. The Z410 is positioned closely to Z400s but is not a direct replacement. Instead, the Z410 focuses on offering just the most popular capacities for mainstream PC usage while the Z400s continues to serve other markets with mSATA and M.2 versions and capacities as small as 32GB.

First announced almost a year ago as the first 15nm TLC SSD, the Z400s sought to cut costs in order to break into new parts of the embedded and client PC markets. The Silicon Motion SM2246XT controller it uses is a DRAM-less two or four channel design that limits potential performance and capacity. The SM2246XT also lacks encryption support and LDPC error correction.

The SanDisk Z410 abandons the mSATA and M.2 form factors to focus specifically on 2.5" with capacities from 120GB to 480GB. The only significant performance difference from the Z400s is a substantial increase in sequential write speed, while sequential read speeds are rated slightly lower and random read and write specifications are similar. The Z410 does benefit from a controller upgrade that allows for LDPC error correction and SLC caching, but it seems the latter's impact on write amplification has kept the write endurance ratings from increasing substantially. The three year warranty period on the Z410 is also shorter than the five years offered for the Z400s.

SanDisk OEM Client SSD Comparison
Drive X400 Z410 Z400s
Capacities 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 120GB, 240GB, 480GB 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
Controller Marvell 88SS1074 ? Silicon Motion SM2246XT
Sequential Read 545 MB/s 535 MB/s 546 MB/s
Sequential Write 520 MB/s 445 MB/s 342 MB/s
Random Read IOPS 95k 37k 37k
Random Write IOPS 75k 68k 69k
Form Factors 2.5", M.2 2280 2.5" 2.5", mSATA, M.2 2242, M.2 2280
Encryption TCG Opal (optional) None None
Endurance 72-320 TBW 40-120TBW 20-72 TBW
Warranty 5 years 3 years 5 years

The introduction of the Z410 puts SanDisk in the unusual position of having three tiers of TLC NAND-based SATA SSDs. While their consumer-oriented product line still includes the MLC-based Extreme Pro, SanDisk's business/OEM line tops out with the TLC-based X400. The X400 distinguishes itself with clearly higher performance and endurance and the availability of a 1TB capacity, but the Z400s and Z410 are close enough to cause some confusion. The Z410 will probably end up displacing the 128GB and 256GB 2.5" Z400s while the rest of the Z400s line sticks around for the less competitive niches.

Source: SanDisk

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  • 8steve8 - Wednesday, April 27, 2016 - link

    non-PCIe SSDs are not interesting anymore, are they?
  • ragenalien - Wednesday, April 27, 2016 - link

    They are becoming interesting as storage drives. The new 3d-nand from micron should lower prices further, evidenced by the first ssd coming (branded by crucial). It should be around $200 for a 750gb drive. I paid more than that for my 256gb 840 pro when it was first released. That should put TB drives cheaper than ever and finally start edging out mechanical drives.
  • close - Thursday, April 28, 2016 - link

    They are no longer *exciting*. But they are becoming more and more interesting as price per GB decreases and they are more tempting.
  • Michael Bay - Thursday, April 28, 2016 - link

    I wish there was something other than 850evo to consider in >1Gb space, or for it to get lower in price, but the segment is just not that interesting to manufacturers.
    Last rust spinner in my computer!
  • Michael Bay - Thursday, April 28, 2016 - link

    >1Tb of course.
  • junky77 - Friday, April 29, 2016 - link

    Mushkin reactor is pretty nice, no?
  • Michael Bay - Sunday, May 1, 2016 - link

    It`s not yet there, and will go for about 500$, which is quite expensive for my tastes.
  • hlmcompany - Monday, May 2, 2016 - link

    There is, the SanDisk X400.
  • Michael Bay - Monday, May 2, 2016 - link

    >1Tb
    I already use Ultra II and it`s pretty good, but to remove spinning rust completely I`ll need a 2Tb drive.
  • nightbringer57 - Thursday, April 28, 2016 - link

    They are no longer exciting. But to the average customer, and even to the enthusiast, they offer 90% of the apparent performance of pci-express SSDs, and SATA SSDs are still closer to pci-e SSDs than closer to hard drives (in apparent performances)

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