[NewsPoster]

Peripheral maker Crucial announced two new SSD devices this week, and software to manage them. The MX200 is the new top-of-the-line model, with features to provide speedy copy rates and data encryption, while the BX100 is a value option with slower-but-still-speedy read/write rates at a more affordable price point. Finally, the Crucial Storage Executive tool is utility software for Windows to manage and maintain these and previous Crucial SSDs.

MX200 in 2.5-inch form factor

The MX200 SSD claims random reads and writes up to 555MB/s and 500MB/s Input/Output Operations Per Seconds (IOPS). In endurance tests, Crucial states the MX200 performed five times better than the average published ratings of the 1TB Samsung 840 EVO, 480GB SanDisk Extreme Pro II, and 480GB Intel 530 SSD. The model also includes AES 256-bit encryption, temperature regulation, and Power Loss Protection to save data if power is lost suddenly. It will be available in 250GB for $140, 500GB for $250, and 1TB for $470 models.

M.2 160mm form factor

The BX100 is reported to deliver sequential reads and writes up to 535MB/s and 450MB/s, more than 15 times faster than a normal hard drive. Crucial says users will be able to run their systems longer, as the BX100 includes "Extreme Energy Efficiency technology," making the drive run on less power. It will be available in capacities of 120GB ($70), 250GB ($110), and 500GB ($200) and 1TB ($400).

M.2 180mm form factor

Already available for download is the Storage Executive for Windows. This tool can be used to update the firmware, set the encryption password, and monitor running stats such as capacity and temperature. The software works with these two new drives, as well as Crucial's existing models the M500, M550, and MX100.

The MX200 mSATA and M.2 form factors, as well as 2.5-inch models of both drives, will be available later this quarter.

mSATA form factor

[macgurunc]

Probably should note in the article that the Storage Executive software is only for Windows.

[Charles Martin]

Thanks, the company didn't specify. I'll fix that.

[Spheric Harlot]

Ah, I was wondering about that, since it's impossible to do disk firmware updates from within Yosemite due to kext signing.

[djbeta]

So, are these good options for Mac users in that case?

[DiabloConQueso]

Unless there's some kind of incompatibility with Macs and the firmware that is on the drive when you receive it, then yes, they're good options for Mac users -- or at least no better or worse an option than any other given 3rd-party SSD drive.

Got an older Micron one in my wife's MacBook Pro and it works just fine, no firmware update needed, and it's speedy and reliable.

[Charles Martin]

It's likely that all the functions handled by the Windows software can just be done by OS X itself, or at most a browser. I mean, who in the Mac world feels the need to monitor the temperature of an SSD? *lol* That's not what I bought a computer to spend my time on.