How fast is your SSD, and when did you buy your MacBook Air?

KPOM · 08:52 AM

DeBilbao's recent review of the MacBook Air raised some interesting disk speed results. Specifically, he is getting read and write speeds about 12-20% faster than what the rest of us are seeing.

He downloaded Aja System Test (http://www.aja.com/products/software/) and ran the disk test with a 4GB file at the 1920x1080 and 10 bit video frame setting. Most of us are getting write speeds around 184 MB/s and read speeds of about 208 MB/s. He's getting 207 MB/s and 250 MB/s, respectively.

I'm wondering if Apple has made a running change to the MacBook Air (Rev D). I propose an informal survey. First, what are your read/write speeds running this same test? Second, when did you purchase your MacBook Air? Third, what is your Apple SSD revision number?

I'll start:

Read: 208 MB/s
Write: 184.3 MB/s

Purchased: November 2010

Revision: CJAA0201

Hellhammer · Feb 6, 2011, 08:27 AM

I ran it yesterday and got similar results to yours. The SSD is the same revision as yours. Got it in late November.

c0052350 · Feb 6, 2011, 08:57 AM

Mine are as follows write: 211.8MB/S read:263.3 MB/S 35gb of 128gb used
purchased jan 31st 2011 revision is AXM09A1Q

Narkotiq · Feb 6, 2011, 09:10 AM

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148 Safari/6533.18.5)

How do I find out this info?

Hellhammer · Feb 6, 2011, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Narkotiq

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148 Safari/6533.18.5)

How do I find out this info?

Click  > About this Mac > More info > Serial-ATA > Select the SSD > Revision

Too lazy to check that but I think that's how you find it. As for benchmarking the SSD, use the AJA System Test linked in the first post.

gdeputy · Feb 6, 2011, 09:29 AM

I got 184/205. Interesting! I should add I bought mine on like november 24th i believe.

drison · Feb 6, 2011, 09:35 AM

Revision: CJAA0201

184/204

mmonnh · Feb 6, 2011, 09:39 AM

Cjaa0201
w 181.6
r 206.4

jamesryanbell · Feb 6, 2011, 09:52 AM

This is the THIRD time I've read about later models being faster (SSD). I think there's something to this.

rkaufmann87 · Feb 6, 2011, 10:10 AM

Read: 204.0 MB/s
Write: 176.9 /MB/S

Purchased January 2011 (think it was old stock from ABT)

Revision: CJAA0201

samiznaetekto · 11:53 AM

Similar results for CJAA0201. January 2011 from MacMall.

Can we be more specific?

11.6" or 13"? 64, 128, or 256GB? SSD model? How much space used/left?

Mine: 11.6", 128GB, APPLE SSD TS128C, 68 used/53 available.

Mac32 · Feb 6, 2011, 10:51 AM

Yes, this is important. Larger capacity SSD models tend to be faster than smaller capacity ones. This could be why the speed is varying...

mmonnh · Feb 6, 2011, 10:55 AM

13" MBA 2.13 Ghz - 4 GB Ram - 256GB SSD
149 Used
101 Avalable
Cjaa0201
W 181.6
R 206.4
Apple Store Des Moines 1/30/11

Hellhammer · Feb 6, 2011, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mac32

Yes, this is important. Larger capacity SSD models tend to be faster than smaller capacity ones. This could be why the speed is varying...

Actually, the capacity is pretty irrelevant. When it comes to HDs, that is true because bigger capacity means the drive is denser (assuming they are the same form factor), meaning that more data can be read or written each time the HD spins.

However, this does not apply to SSDs since they don't spin. 40GB SSD is as fast as 480GB one with the same controller. Amount of NANDs may affect the speed but usually they don't.

KPOM · Feb 6, 2011, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samiznaetekto

Can we be more specific?

11.6" or 13"? 64, 128, or 256GB? SSD model? How much space used/left?

Mine: 11.6", 128GB, APPLE SSD TS128C, 68 used/53 available.

It shouldn't make too much of a difference, since I think each version uses the same number of channels, but in any case, I have a 256GB SSD with over 50% free right now.

samiznaetekto · Feb 6, 2011, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KPOM

It shouldn't make too much of a difference, since I think each version uses the same number of channels, but in any case, I have a 256GB SSD with over 50% free right now.

Maybe, not much difference in terms of speed, but with more detailed info we can track down which models of MBA got new revision of SSD.

Beaverman3001 · 01:22 PM

181 write, 209 read. revision CJAA0201

Bought in January from MacMall, prob old stock from original release.

MacRuler · Feb 6, 2011, 12:46 PM

i get 167 write and 196 read

whuybr0 · Feb 6, 2011, 01:09 PM

write 204.6
read 246.3

rev AXM09A1Q

bought yesterday

Keybinding · Feb 6, 2011, 01:27 PM

Do you guys know if you can install a Vertex2 2.5 inch SSD in a MBA?

Xeperu · Feb 6, 2011, 01:51 PM

Xmas 2010 purchase.

Hellhammer · Feb 6, 2011, 02:08 PM

Hmmm.. I'm starting to wonder if the SSD in newer MBAs is made by Samsung instead of Toshiba. In the past, Apple has used Samsung SSDs which were reported as "APPLE SSD SM128" in OS X. The new ones are SM128C now. It would make sense if SM stood for Samsung. Toshiba SSDs are "APPLE SSD TS128C" so again, it's logical if TS stands for Toshiba.

If I had to guess, the SSD in newer MBAs is Samsung 470-series as that has speeds of 250/220 MB/s, which makes sense when looking at the benchmarks. Apart from the speed differences, it looks like the newer ones support Native Command Queuing while older ones don't.

DoFoT9 · Feb 6, 2011, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellhammer

Hmmm.. I'm starting to wonder if the SSD in newer MBAs is made by Samsung instead of Toshiba. In the past, Apple has used Samsung SSDs which were reported as "APPLE SSD SM128" in OS X. The new ones are SM128C now. It would make sense if SM stood for Samsung. Toshiba SSDs are "APPLE SSD TS128C" so again, it's logical if TS stands for Toshiba.

If I had to guess, the SSD in newer MBAs is Samsung 470-series as that has speeds of 250/220 MB/s, which makes sense when looking at the benchmarks. Apart from the speed differences, it looks like the newer ones support Native Command Queuing while older ones don't.

how very logical of you

are there any negatives to using the samsung chips as opposed to toshiba? i was always very skeptical of them :/

Hellhammer · Feb 6, 2011, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoFoT9

how very logical of you

are there any negatives to using the samsung chips as opposed to toshiba? i was always very skeptical of them :/

Well, the old Samsungs suffered from pretty heavy degradation issues or so I've heard but that was something like 2008. A lot has happened in SSD world since that.

PBF · Feb 6, 2011, 02:18 PM

Ultimate MacBook Air 13 (bought yesterday):

180.9 / 207.7

Revision: CJAA0201

So it turns out I was sold an older revision, right? That's why it's slower, right? I'm mad!!!

Should I have asked the sales person to pull out the latest revision? Is it even possible to identify one?

Feb 6, 2011, 08:08 AM	#1
KPOM macrumors 604 Join Date: Oct 2010	How fast is your SSD, and when did you buy your MacBook Air? DeBilbao's recent review of the MacBook Air raised some interesting disk speed results. Specifically, he is getting read and write speeds about 12-20% faster than what the rest of us are seeing. He downloaded Aja System Test (http://www.aja.com/products/software/) and ran the disk test with a 4GB file at the 1920x1080 and 10 bit video frame setting. Most of us are getting write speeds around 184 MB/s and read speeds of about 208 MB/s. He's getting 207 MB/s and 250 MB/s, respectively. I'm wondering if Apple has made a running change to the MacBook Air (Rev D). I propose an informal survey. First, what are your read/write speeds running this same test? Second, when did you purchase your MacBook Air? Third, what is your Apple SSD revision number? I'll start: Read: 208 MB/s Write: 184.3 MB/s Purchased: November 2010 Revision: CJAA0201 Last edited by KPOM; Feb 6, 2011 at 08:52 AM.
	0

Feb 6, 2011, 08:27 AM	#2
Hellhammer Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Helsinki, Finland	I ran it yesterday and got similar results to yours. The SSD is the same revision as yours. Got it in late November. __________________ SSD Editor for AnandTech You can also follow me in Twitter!
	0

Feb 6, 2011, 08:57 AM	#3
c0052350 macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2003	Faster Mine are as follows write: 211.8MB/S read:263.3 MB/S 35gb of 128gb used purchased jan 31st 2011 revision is AXM09A1Q
	0

Feb 6, 2011, 09:29 AM	#6
gdeputy macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New York	I got 184/205. Interesting! I should add I bought mine on like november 24th i believe. __________________ iPhone 4S 16GB White iPad 2 WiFi+3G 32GB AT&T MacBook Air 13.3" 1.86ghz, 4GB RAM, 128GB iMac 27" i5 2.8ghz, ATI 5750, 4GB RAM, 1TB HDD
	0

Feb 6, 2011, 09:52 AM	#9
jamesryanbell macrumors 68000 Join Date: Mar 2009	This is the THIRD time I've read about later models being faster (SSD). I think there's something to this. __________________ Mac Mini Quad-Core i7 Server 8GB RAM MBA 11.6" w/OWC 240GB SSD 27" Cinema Display iPhone 4S 64GB, Apple TV3
	0

Feb 6, 2011, 09:10 AM	#4
Narkotiq macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2010	Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148 Safari/6533.18.5) How do I find out this info?
	0

Feb 6, 2011, 09:35 AM	#7
drison macrumors regular Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Chicago	Revision: CJAA0201 184/204
	0

Feb 6, 2011, 09:39 AM	#8
mmonnh macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Iowa	Cjaa0201 w 181.6 r 206.4
	0

Feb 6, 2011, 10:10 AM	#10
rkaufmann87 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Folsom, CA	Read: 204.0 MB/s Write: 176.9 /MB/S Purchased January 2011 (think it was old stock from ABT) Revision: CJAA0201 __________________ 27" iMac i5, 24 GB RAM; MBA 11.6" 1.4GHz 4GB RAM 128GB SSD; Multiple HP Printers; Lacie Quadra D2 external HDs; 4S iPhone; Nikon DLSR
	0

Feb 6, 2011, 10:14 AM	#11
samiznaetekto macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: 	Similar results for CJAA0201. January 2011 from MacMall. Can we be more specific? 11.6" or 13"? 64, 128, or 256GB? SSD model? How much space used/left? Mine: 11.6", 128GB, APPLE SSD TS128C, 68 used/53 available. Last edited by Mitthrawnuruodo; Feb 21, 2011 at 11:53 AM. Reason: Merging posts, please use EDIT to add to a post...
	0

Feb 6, 2011, 10:51 AM	#12
Mac32 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2010	Yes, this is important. Larger capacity SSD models tend to be faster than smaller capacity ones. This could be why the speed is varying...
	0

Feb 6, 2011, 10:55 AM	#13
mmonnh macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Iowa	13" MBA 2.13 Ghz - 4 GB Ram - 256GB SSD 149 Used 101 Avalable Cjaa0201 W 181.6 R 206.4 Apple Store Des Moines 1/30/11
	0

Feb 6, 2011, 12:14 PM	#17
Beaverman3001 macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2010	181 write, 209 read. revision CJAA0201 Bought in January from MacMall, prob old stock from original release. __________________ iPad Mini 16GB Verizon iPhone 4S AT&T ACSP 10.6 CCNA Last edited by Beaverman3001; Feb 6, 2011 at 01:22 PM.
	0

Feb 6, 2011, 12:46 PM	#18
MacRuler macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2010	i get 167 write and 196 read
	0

Feb 6, 2011, 01:09 PM	#19
whuybr0 macrumors newbie Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Belgium	write 204.6 read 246.3 rev AXM09A1Q bought yesterday __________________ Black MacBook (C2D 2.2GHz, 160 GB HD, 4 GB) MacBook Air (C2D 2,13GHz, 250 GB SSD, 4GB) iPhone 4S - 64GB / iPad 2 64GB WiFi/3G iMac 27" (QuadCore i7 2.8GHz, 1 TB HD, 4GB RAM)
	0

Feb 6, 2011, 01:27 PM	#20
Keybinding macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2011	Do you guys know if you can install a Vertex2 2.5 inch SSD in a MBA?
	0

Feb 6, 2011, 01:51 PM	#21
Xeperu macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2010	Xmas 2010 purchase.
	0

Feb 6, 2011, 02:08 PM	#22
Hellhammer Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Helsinki, Finland	Hmmm.. I'm starting to wonder if the SSD in newer MBAs is made by Samsung instead of Toshiba. In the past, Apple has used Samsung SSDs which were reported as "APPLE SSD SM128" in OS X. The new ones are SM128C now. It would make sense if SM stood for Samsung. Toshiba SSDs are "APPLE SSD TS128C" so again, it's logical if TS stands for Toshiba. If I had to guess, the SSD in newer MBAs is Samsung 470-series as that has speeds of 250/220 MB/s, which makes sense when looking at the benchmarks. Apart from the speed differences, it looks like the newer ones support Native Command Queuing while older ones don't. __________________ SSD Editor for AnandTech You can also follow me in Twitter!
	0

Feb 6, 2011, 02:18 PM	#25
PBF macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: NYC	Ultimate MacBook Air 13 (bought yesterday): 180.9 / 207.7 Revision: CJAA0201 So it turns out I was sold an older revision, right? That's why it's slower, right? I'm mad!!! Should I have asked the sales person to pull out the latest revision? Is it even possible to identify one?
	0

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