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| Brand | Intel |
|---|---|
| Model | SSD 520 Series |
| Capacity | 240 GB |
| Usage Class | Consumer/Client |
| Host Interface | SATA 6Gb/s |
|---|---|
| Total Interface Bandwidth | 6 Gb/s |
| Form Factor | 2.5 inch 7mm |
|---|
| NAND Flash | 25nm MLC |
|---|---|
| Drive Writes Per Day | 0.1 |
| Total Bytes Written | 36 TBW |
| Sequential Read | 550 MB/s |
|---|---|
| Sequential Write | 520 MB/s |
| Random Read IOPS | 50000 |
| Random Write IOPS | 60000 |
| Average Latency | 80 μs |
| Mean Time Between Failures | 1.2 Million Hours |
|---|---|
| Uncorrectable Bit Error Rate | 1.0×10⁻¹⁷ |
| Power Loss Protection | No |
| MPN | SSDSC2CW240A301 |
|---|
Intel’s SSDSC2CW240A3 stands out in the SSD 520 Series by pairing mature 25nm MLC NAND with near–SATA 6Gb/s saturation at 550/520 MB/s and a notably strong 60,000 random-write IOPS profile, making it a solid fit for read-heavy boot, application, and client virtualization workloads that still need predictable write responsiveness. Compared with the prior SSDSC2CW240A301, the SSDSC2CW240A3 is best positioned as a lower-risk generational refresh with the same proven 240 GB, 36 TBW, and high-IOPS performance envelope, enabling qualification continuity and easier drop-in replacement without sacrificing throughput.
With an endurance rating of 36 TBW, the SSDSC2CW240A3 is well suited for typical OS, boot, and light office workloads where daily write volumes are modest. In practical terms, if the drive averages around 10 GB of writes per day, it can support roughly 10 years of use, making it a dependable choice as a system drive rather than for write-intensive applications. In reliability terms, the specified UBER of 1.0E-16 indicates a very low rate of uncorrectable bit errors, supporting strong data integrity during normal operation. This model does not include power-loss protection (PLP), so while it remains appropriate for client and non-critical system use, environments exposed to sudden power interruption should pair it with stable power safeguards such as a UPS.
1. The SATA interface makes this drive a drop-in upgrade for mainstream server backplanes, enabling low-risk storage refreshes without changing existing platform architecture.
2. Its near-bus-limit sequential read performance helps accelerate boot storms, VM image loading, and large dataset retrieval in read-centric enterprise workloads.
3. Strong random read capability improves responsiveness for OLTP databases, virtual desktop environments, and metadata-heavy applications under concurrent access.
4. The light write-endurance profile is best aligned with read-mostly deployments such as content distribution, reference data repositories, and boot or cache tiers rather than write-intensive logging workloads.
5. The MLC NAND foundation and microsecond-class latency provide a balanced mix of better flash durability and consistently fast access times for predictable application performance in enterprise operations.
Lower capacity reference: 180 GB Higher capacity reference: 480 GB Capacity positioning analysis: In the SSDSC2CW family, the 240 GB model sits at the practical sweet spot. Compared with the 180 GB version, it gives noticeably more room for OS images, logs, patch growth, and spare capacity, reducing the risk of early space pressure. Compared with the 480 GB option, it keeps nearly the same class of sequential throughput and random IOPS while delivering a better balance of purchase cost and usable capacity. It is best suited to small-to-mid deployments, such as boot and application storage for about 20 to 30 lightweight virtual desktops or edge workloads.
Q: Is SSDSC2CW240A3 suitable for a write-heavy database server?
A: No. With only 0.1 DWPD and 36 TBW, this 240GB SATA SSD is better for read-centric or light mixed workloads, not write-heavy database server environments.
Q: How many full drive writes per day can it actually endure over its warranty period?
A: It is rated for 0.1 DWPD, meaning about 24GB of writes per day on a 240GB drive over the warranty period. This equals one-tenth of a full drive write daily.
Q: Does it include power loss protection (PLP) and why is that critical?
A: No, it does not include PLP. Power loss protection is critical in enterprise systems because it helps prevent in-flight data loss and reduces metadata corruption during unexpected power failures.
Q: What RAID level is recommended for this SSD?
A: RAID 1 or RAID 10 is generally recommended for better redundancy and stable performance. Given the modest endurance and lack of PLP, avoid parity-heavy RAID for write-intensive workloads.