Last month we told you that Plextor was launching a new range of SSD’s – the M3 range. We got our hands on one and so here is our review.

As described by Plextor:

The M3 SATA 6 Gb/s SSD is Plextor’s most advanced SSD, maintaining exceptionally high performance even after long periods of intensive use with exclusive True Speed technology. Users can expect to experience real-world speeds of up to 525 MB/s and 445 MB/s in sequential read/write, and 70,000 and 65,000 IOPS in random read/write. Supporting this sustained True Speed performance is a generous five-year warranty.

The True Speed technology used in the Plextor M3 ensures that the drive continuously delivers high performance in actual use. Long-term write speeds remain high and the severe slowdown found with some other SSDs is prevented. Powering True Speed is the unique
fusion of a server-grade controller chip, high-quality Toggle NAND flash from industry leader Toshiba, and exclusive firmware – including the Plextor Instant Restore system, advanced global wear levelling, and bad block management.

Plextor takes an uncompromising approach to quality and every SSD is backed by an extensive five-year warranty. Purchasers have the reassurance of a comprehensive support system including technical support, forums staffed by technicians, and a global network of
dealers and repair centres. Allowing us to offer this ironclad warranty is a combination of high-quality components, excellent quality control, and an insistence on fully testing all SSDs before they leave the factory. Every drive is subjected to a rigorous 20-hour high temperature burn-in test and accelerated tests to simulate real-world use. The results of our approach to testing and quality are reflected in a mere 0.5% average annual failure rate (AFR), the lowest across the industry.

The Plextor M3 series redefines quality and real-world performance; not only giving users the experience of sustained long-term speed, but the reassurance of a five-year warranty. It is available in 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB capacities.

Key Features

* 2.5” Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

* Available in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB capacities

* True Speed Technology for sustained performance over time

* Random read and write speeds of 70,000 / 65,000 IOPS

* Uses server-grade Marvell 88SS9174 controller chip

* Supports SATA III 6Gb/s interface and highest quality Japanese NAND flash

* Boasts lowest average annual failure rate (AFR) across industry

* 1.8V power mode for extremely low power consumption

* Unrivalled 5 year on-site warranty and service support

Who are Plextor?

From their website:

The history of Plextor goes back almost 100 years. Shinano Kenshi Corporation was founded in 1918 to manufacture Spun Silk Yarn, which at the time was one of the most “High-Tech” industries in the world. The silk required a very delicate and precise production process. The right to wear silk was reserved for the highest government officials and dignitaries only, and therefore the quality standards were extremely high. In these circumstances, Shinano Kenshi developed their own business philosophy: “Never Compromise, Always Think Quality”, because only providing the best quality could satisfy their exceptional customers.

As the years passed, Shinano Kenshi embarked on other industrial markets that would grow more progressively, while maintaining its proud history in the Silk Industry.

In the 1960s, Shinano Kenshi decided to diversify its business to electric motors, a fast growing market at the time. Despite changing its core business, the company kept its business philosophy, “Never Compromise, Always Think Quality”. These ventures insights led to the successful expansion into technology-driven, knowledge-intensive fields, such as Electrical Division, Electronic Equipment Division and Printing Equipment Division.

In the 1980’s, Shinano Kenshi expanded their sub-contracting position by recognizing the evolution of the digital age with the advancement of compact discs replacing the older generation of analogue tapes. The company began to manufacture their own compact disc players for the audio industry, and developed a separate brand for the department. The Electronic Equipment Division introduced its first CD-ROM optical disk drive under the TEXEL brand name in 1989. Faced with the prospects of a healthy and ever-increasing demand for its products, Shinano Kenshi identified the importance of this segment, with the Professional and IT markets demanding performance-oriented products. The company naturally transitioned into the optical disc drive industry. Through every generation of optical disk drives, Plextor has continually sought ways in which its CD-ROM’s, CD-RW’s and DVD+R/RW’s could stimulate market demand by offering higher speed and higher reliability devices, while winning numerous awards worldwide.

While maintaining and strengthening its core competences, Shinano Kenshi continued its global expansion by establishing subsidiary companies and promoting its products on a worldwide basis. In 1982 Shinano Kenshi began to expand overseas. The United States was the first country where the company started overseas operation. PLEXTOR US was officially founded in 1990 and three years later a European branch (PLEXTOR EU) was opened.

The subsidiaries are chartered with the continual growth of Resellers and OEM’s in their respective territories, who have come to rely upon Shinano Kenshi for performance, quality oriented and technically superior optical peripheral products. In 1994, Shinano Kenshi announced their new brand name PLEXTOR for their digital technology products, including optical disc drives.

Plextor CD-R/RW drives were introduced in 1998 with technologies developed by the corporation in support of the market growing demand for CD-ROM’s. DVD+R/RW were added to the Plextor product line in 2003. High performance drives enable our users to write and re-write data on a stable platform that has evolved throughout the years. Plextor has also invested heavily on the certification of media to give our users a wide range of compatibility between the various manufacturers.

Plextor’s CD-R, CD-RW and DVD+R/RW optical disk drives have been tested worldwide and evaluated as the “Professional Choice” to satisfy even the most discerning customers. Plextor products have been adopted by financial institutions and government agencies, which require highly reliable data storage technology. Recording studios have come to regard the Plextor products as the “drive of choice,” which they can rely upon for the accurate extraction and creation of Digital Audio.

The business philosophy “Never Compromise, Always think Quality” generated from tailoring luxury silk for the highest dignitaries did not fade over time but became the company’s core value. Also in the optical storage business, Plextor provided the best quality products to high-end customers and professional users in a heavy duty environment, instead of general users. In order to satisfy these professional users and to meet their strict specifications, PLEXTOR always invested many resources in R&D and product testing before any product was released to the market. In line with its high quality standards, Plextor always offered excellent warranty conditions.

In the 21st century PLEXTOR successfully entered new markets with external Hard Disks, Multi Media Players, Network Attached Storage, and more to come…..